Banana Bread

I might say this a lot, but this really is the best banana bread ever!  It's from Cook's Illustrated, the best source for the best ever recipes.  You'll need 5 insanely ripe bananas, so plan ahead.

Ultimate Banana Bread

makes one loaf

1 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 t baking soda

a few shakes of salt

6 large VERY ripe bananas, peeled (5 frozen and one fresh is ok)

1 stick butter, melted

2 eggs

3/4 cup sugar

one glug of molasses

1 t vanilla extract

Raw sugar, for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease loaf pan.

Place 5 bananas in microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap and cut steam vents.  Microwave about 5 minutes until bananas have released liquid.  Strain bananas for about 15 minutes or more, reserving liquid (about 1/2 to 3/4 cup).

Reduce banana juice in saucepan on medium-heat for about 5 minutes, until reduced to 1/4 cup.  In a large mixing bowl, mash cooked bananas until fairly smooth, then whisk in butter, eggs, sugar, molasses, vanilla, and slightly cooled reduced banana juice.

Add in flour, baking soda, and salt.  Stir until just combined.  Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.  Slice remaining banana (the fresh one), diagonally into 1/4 inch slices.  Shingle the slices on top of either side of the the loaf, leaving a space down the center for the bread to rise.  Sprinkle a little raw sugar over the top.

Bake 55-75 minutes.  Cool bread on wire rack for 15 minutes then remove from pan and continue to cool.