Instructions:
- Peel the very ripe bananas and mash thoroughly in a separate bowl until mostly smooth. Measure out exactly 1 cup.
- Gently melt the butter and allow it to cool for 5 minutes to prevent cooking the eggs.
- Consult your bread machine’s manual for layering order, but generally, add the wet ingredients first: Melted Butter, mashed Bananas, Eggs, and Vanilla Extract.
- Gently layer the dry ingredients on top: Flour, Sugar, Baking Soda, Cinnamon, and Salt. Keep these dry ingredients away from the sides and the paddle if possible.
- If using nuts, scatter them carefully over the top layer of dry ingredients.
- Secure the lid and select the 'Quick Bread,' 'Cake,' or 'Bake Only' cycle on your machine. Do not use the standard yeast bread cycles.
- Start the cycle. The machine will mix, rest, and bake the loaf automatically.
- When the cycle finishes, immediately test the centre of the loaf with a thin skewer. If it comes out clean, it is done. If wet batter remains, use the 'Bake Only' setting for an additional 10-15 minutes.
- Carefully remove the pan from the machine. Turn the loaf out immediately onto a wire rack and allow it to cool completely before slicing to ensure the best texture.