Cook's Illustrated's Awesome Banana Bread
Submitted by paisleypark20 on October 21, 2003 at 10:22 pm

DESCRIPTION
Cook's Illustrated's Awesome Banana Bread

SUMMARY
Yield 0 File under Muffins Quickbreads Scones

INSTRUCTIONS
2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups toasted walnuts, chopped coarse (optional)
3 very ripe, soft,darkly speckled large bananas, well mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup plain yogurt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
6 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour bottom only of regular loaf pan, or grease and flour bottom and sides of nonstick loaf pan; set aside.
Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and walnuts together in a large bowl; set aside.
Mix mashed bananas, yogurt, eggs, butter and vanilla with a wooden spoon in a medium bowl. Lightly fold banana mixture into dry ingredients with rubber spatula until just combined and batter looks thick and chunky. Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan; bake until loaf is golden brown and toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Makes 1 9" loaf.