Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips or Pecans

Banana bread is one of the most popular quick breads, simple to make, yet so comforting and delicious.   This is my favorite version, its moist and full of bananas and chocolate chips.  However, when I am in a nutty mood using pecans instead of the chocolate chips is my favorite version too, what's yours?

 

 

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
4 overripe bananas
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips or 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
Confectioners sugar for dusting
Instructions:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9 X 5 loaf pan with baking spray.  Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl, set aside.  Mash 2 of the bananas with a fork in a small bowl so they still have some of their texture.  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the remaining bananas and sugar together for about 3 minutes until you have a light and fluffy banana cream.  Add the butter, eggs and vanilla and beat well, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed..  Add and mix in the dry ingredients until just incorporated.  Fold in the chocolate chips or pecans and mashed bananas.  Pour the batter into prepared pan.  Bake for about 1 hour and 15 mins - rotating the pan throughout baking to insure even cooking, or until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool in the pan for about 10 mins then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.  Dust slices with confectioners sugar and serve.
You can make this into 4 mini loaves ~ divide batter evenly amongst 4 mini loaf pans and bake for 40-45 minutes, rotating pans several times, until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean.
Adapted from Tyler Florence, Food Network Recipe

Enjoy!