Easy Banana Bread

• 3 very ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or chocolate chips (optional)

1. 1Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment.
2. 2In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until mostly smooth. Stir in the melted butter.
3. 3Stir in the brown sugar, egg and vanilla.
4. 4Sprinkle the baking soda, salt and cinnamon over the top and stir them in. Add the flour and stir just until no dry streaks remain. Fold in the nuts or chips, if using.
5. 5Pour into the pan and bake 55–65 minutes, until a toothpick in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If the top browns too fast, lay a piece of foil over it.
6. 6Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then lift out and cool on a rack before slicing.

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