The BEST Banana Bread

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and grease the bottom and ½" up the sides of a 9x5" bread pan. Set aside.

Step 2

Combine mashed bananas, canola oil, and melted butter in a large bowl and stir until well-combined.

Step 3

Add sugars and stir well.

Step 4

Stir in eggs and vanilla extract.

Step 5

Add buttermilk and stir until thoroughly combined.

Step 6

In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Step 7

Add dry ingredients to wet and carefully, gently using a spatula (not an electric mixer) fold ingredients together until just combined. Don't overmix the batter or your banana cake could end up dense/dry. If adding nuts/chocolate chips, stir them in here.

Step 8

Pour batter into prepared pan and, if desired, sprinkle generously with coarse sugar.

Step 9

Transfer to 350F (175C) oven and bake 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted all the way into the center of the cake comes out clean or preferably with a few moist crumbs. Do not over-bake your banana bread or it will be dry.