Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips
⭐⭐⭐(V) ⭐⭐⭐⭐(D)
Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 6 bananas, very ripe (heavily speckled or even black)
- 8 Tablespoons butter (melted and cooled)
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup chocolate chips (or chopped nuts, if you prefer)
- 2 teaspoons sugar (I use Swedish pearl sugar)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- Peel 5 bananas and microwave in a covered bowl for 5 minutes until soft and they have released liquid.
- Place bananas in a fine mesh strainer over a medium mixing bowl and let drain for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer liquid to a medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/4 c.
- Add reduced liquid to banana pulp and mash with potato masher until mostly smooth. Whisk in 8 T melted, cooled butter, 2 large eggs, 3/4 c brown sugar and 1 t vanilla.
- Pour banana mixture into dry ingredients; stir until just combined (some flour streaks remain). Fold in chocolate chips (or nuts).
- Scrape batter into greased bread pan.
- Cut 6th banana on the bias in 1/4" slices and shingle along the top edges leaving about 1 1/2-2" open top. Sprinkle with sugar all over top of bread.
- Bake at 350° F for 55-75 minutes. Test with toothpick for doneness. Let cool in pan 10-15 minutes before removing, and cool completely before slicing and serving.