If you’re wondering what to do with those bananas sitting on your counter, especially if you’ve bought too many, don’t worry! If they’re already ripe, you can quickly turn them into a delicious banana bread.

But what if you don’t want to wait days for them to ripen? No problem! You can speed up the process and make banana bread today, instead of waiting a few days.

How to Quickly Ripen Bananas:

1. Preheat your oven to 150°C (300°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Place unpeeled bananas on the sheet, leaving some space between them.
3. Bake for about 20 to 30 minutes, checking every 15 minutes. The bananas will soften, and their peels will turn black when they’re ready. The less ripe the bananas, the longer they may take.

Once they’re done, the bananas will be too mushy to eat raw but perfect for baking!

How to Make Banana Bread:

Banana bread is a classic comfort treat that’s incredibly easy to make. Most of the ingredients are common kitchen staples, so it’s a great option whether you’re looking for a quick breakfast or a snack to pair with your afternoon tea.

I like to mix in walnuts and dark chocolate chips for added flavour and texture, but these are completely optional, your banana bread will still be delicious without them.

Key Ingredients:

• 2 medium ripe bananas
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• A pinch of salt
• 2 eggs (at room temperature)
• 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) butter (at room temperature)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup crushed walnuts (optional)
• Chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and position a rack in the middle.
2. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, and a pinch of salt.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with granulated sugar and vanilla extract until smooth.
4. Mash the ripe bananas and mix them into the egg-sugar mixture until fully combined.
5. Stir in the crushed walnuts (if using) and set the bowl aside.
6. Melt the butter over low heat on the stove, then allow it to cool slightly.
7. Gradually combine the wet ingredients (from steps 3 and 4) with the dry ingredients (from step 2). Add the melted butter and fold everything together gently until just combined.
8. Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
9. Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If you’re using chocolate chips, add them to the batter before baking.
10. Cool the bread: Let the banana bread cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

This recipe makes one large loaf of banana bread, or about four mini loaves if you’d prefer smaller portions.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas celebration with your loved ones. Happy baking!