Chocolate chip Banana Bread

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• Optional: Chopped nuts (e.g., walnuts or pecans)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. Mash Bananas: In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork or potato masher.
3. Mix Wet Ingredients: Add melted butter to the mashed bananas and stir until well combined. Add vanilla extract, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and the egg. Mix until smooth.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
6. Add Chocolate Chips and Nuts: Gently fold in the chocolate chips and, if desired, chopped nuts.
7. Fill the Loaf Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly.
8. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for about 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely cover it with aluminum foil.
9. Cool: Allow the banana bread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Slice and Serve: Once cooled, slice the banana bread into pieces and serve.