Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that the bread bakes evenly and reaches the perfect texture. While the oven is heating up, gather and prep your ingredients.

Peel your overripe bananas and place them in a mixing bowl. Use a fork to mash them until smooth. The more spots and ripeness, the better! Overripe bananas bring natural sweetness and moisture to the bread, so don’t worry if they’re very soft.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Make sure everything is well blended. The melted butter adds richness, while the sugar provides sweetness for the perfect balance of flavor.

In another bowl, sift the flour, baking soda, and salt. Sifting ensures a smooth batter without lumps and gives your bread a soft, even texture. You can also add a pinch of cinnamon here if you want to add a little extra warmth to the flavor.

Add the mashed bananas into the wet mixture and stir gently to combine. This is the part where the sweet banana flavor really starts to shine through. Be sure to fold gently so the bananas blend without overworking the batter.

Gradually fold in the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined. The key here is not to overmix, as this can lead to a dense loaf. Stir just enough to bring everything together.

Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray. Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the top with a spatula. This step helps ensure that your banana bread bakes evenly, with a beautiful golden-brown top.

Place your pan in the preheated oven and bake for 60-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top of your bread starts to brown too quickly, you can tent it with a piece of aluminum foil for the remaining baking time.

Once the bread is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. After that, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents it from getting soggy and helps preserve that perfect texture.