Prep the Bananas Mash the ripe bananas in a bowl with a fork or potato masher until smooth, leaving a few small lumps for texture. The more ripe your bananas are, the better the flavor of the bread!
Mix the Wet Ingredients In a separate bowl, combine the melted butter, sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract. Stir in the mashed bananas until everything is well combined.
Add the Dry Ingredients Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the wet ingredients, then mix in the flour. Stir just until the flour is incorporated—overmixing can lead to dense banana bread, so stop when the flour disappears!
Bake the Bread Pour the batter into a greased 4×8-inch loaf pan. Smooth the top with a spatula, then place it in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 60 minutes. Check with a toothpick around the 50-minute mark—when it comes out clean, the bread is ready!
Cool and Serve Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. Slice and enjoy this warm, comforting treat!