The Perfect Banana Bread Recipe

Order of Ingredients, Hand Mixing are Key

The perfect banana bread recipe does exist! It only requires a few standard ingredients and, more importantly, it is the order in which these ingredients are placed that is the real secret to its wonderful flavor. What's more, no mixer is needed. This recipe uses old-fashioned spoon-stirring for its mixing and blending.

Before giving out this special banana bread recipe, a bit of history is needed. This banana bread recipe was found online and came with the following message:

"The best recipes come tried and true from friends who begged them from other friends and so on and so on. That's the wonderful thing about sharing recipes -- the more good recipes we share, the better we all get to eat! This banana bread comes from my friend Heidi who years ago begged this recipe from a ski friend's mother -- Mrs. Hockmeyer (parents of friends are always Mr. and Mrs. no matter how old we get). Mrs. Hockmeyer passed away years ago, but her simple but perfect banana bread lives on for all of us to enjoy."

Mrs. Hockmeyer's Perfect Banana Bread Recipe

• 3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour

Order of Ingredients Key to Success

No need for a mixer for this recipe, but the ingredients must go in the order listed for sure success.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 degree C).
2. With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl.
3. Mix in the sugar, egg and vanilla.
4. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in.
5. Add the flour last, mix.
6. Pour mixture into a buttered, 4 x 8 inch loaf pan.
7. Bake for 50-60 minutes.
8. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

Thank You, Mrs. Hockmeyer! Your wonderful banana bread recipe truly does live on.