Orange Zest Banana Bread

Apr 19 2022

This recipe for basic banana bread includes chopped pecans or walnuts, your choice. Choose orange zest or vanilla to add a bit of extra flavor.

Ingredients

2 ¾
cups all-purpose flour
1
tablespoon baking powder
1
teaspoon salt
¼
teaspoon baking soda
½
cup butter or margarine, softened
1
cup sugar
3
eggs
2
ripe bananas, peeled and mashed, about 1 cup mashed bananas
¾
cup chopped pecans, or walnuts
2
teaspoons orange zest, finely grated; or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or orange peel

Step 1
Gather the ingredients.
Step 2
Grease and flour a 5x9x3-inch loaf pan. Heat the oven to 325 F. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
Step 3
In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat the butter or margarine with sugar for about 2 to 3 minutes, until fluffy.
Step 4
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until well blended.
Step 5
Stir in flour mixture, alternating with mashed bananas.
Step 6
Fold in pecans and orange zest or vanilla. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
Step 7
Bake the banana bread for 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until golden brown and a wooden toothpick, when inserted in center, comes out clean.
Step 8
Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully turn the bread out onto a rack to cool completely.
Step 9
Make this banana bread a day ahead of time for best flavor.