Banana Bread.. with Chocolate Chips!

Not only do we like to go out to eat, but we also love to cook and bake! Growing up, my mom was the baker and my dad was the cook. I wouldn't say I necessarily ever learned to do either, but I do enjoy both from time to time.

One of my absolute favorite recipes to bake is Betty Crocker's Banana Bread. However, I take an extra step and add chocolate chips. It is quite possibly my favorite bread (mom - your zucchini bread is a close second!). You can also add chopped nuts, peanut butter, or butterscotch chips.. there are so many ways you can put your own unique spin to it.

Banana Bread Recipe from Betty Crocker

 

Ingredients 

• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (3 to 4 medium)
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped nuts, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, etc., if desired

Directions

1. Move oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans, 8 1/2x4 1/2x2 1/2 inches, or 1 loaf pan, 9x5x3 inches.
2. Mix sugar and butter in large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Add bananas, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt just until moistened. Stir in nuts. Pour into pans.
3. Bake 8-inch loaves about 1 hour, 9-inch loaf about 1 1/4 hours, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans and place top side up on wire rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours, before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days.

Let me know if you kept to the basics or added your own twist!