ATK Banana Bread

I'm a creature of habit.  I like love having a routine.  I like familiarity.  Sometimes, err  most of the time I get pretty set in my ways.  I understand that change is necessary.  I get it.  I'm not  opposed to it.  Sometimes it just takes me a little while to get on board.  I can be stubborn...I know it, I admit it.

I've been using the same banana bread recipe for years.  Years!  It's been my favorite, and my go-to.  I used to force myself to try other recipes, but nothing ever seemed to live up to my go-to.  So, I stuck with that I loved.  I stopped trying new recipes for a long time.  Why mess with what works, right?  Hmmm....I eventually started to second guess this and wondered if I might be missing out.  And more than falling out of my routine, I hate missing out on things.

Last year for my birthday, one of my lovely friends got me this awesome America's Test Kitchen Cookbook.  I love America's Test Kitchen!  Every recipe I've tried from this book has been a complete win.  Clearly, no surprise that this banana bread is also a complete win!

Print Recipe

ATK Banana Bread

(Adapted from The Complete America's Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook 2001-2011)

2 cups flour

1/2 cup ground flax seed

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 ripe bananas, mashed (the more brown & ugly looking, the better)

1/4 cup Greek yogurt

2 eggs, lightly beaten

3/4 stick unsalted butter, melted & cooled

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup walnuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease & flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan (or line it with foil, my preference).

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, ground flax, sugar, baking soda and salt together.  Set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix the mashed bananas, yogurt, beaten eggs, melted butter & vanilla.  Gently fold the banana mixture into the dry ingredients, until just combine.  Fold in the walnuts.  Add batter to the prepared loaf pan.

Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Enjoy!