Better Banana Bread

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F) and adjust a rack to the center position.
2. 2
   Lightly butter and flour a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan (regular or nonstick).
3. 3
   Whisk together the first four ingredients in a large bowl and set aside.
4. 4
   Place the eggs, sour cream, butter and vanilla in the bowl of a food processor.
5. 5
   Process until the mixture is homogenous, about 30 seconds.
6. 6
   Break up the bananas into 1 inch pieces and add them to the food processor.
7. 7
   Pulse until the bananas are broken up but not quite pureed with small chunks remaining (about six 1 second pulses).
8. 8
   Add the banana mixture along with the optional mandatory nuts to the dry ingredients.
9. 9
   Using a rubber spatula, fold together until the dry ingredients are just moistened and no streaks of flour remain.
10. 10
    Transfer to the prepared loaf pan and bake until the top is a dark golden brown with a cracked, domed top, and a tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 55 to 60 minutes.
11. 11
    (Start checking bread after 45 minutes.) Cool for 5 minutes before removing bread from pan.
12. 12
    Continue to cool on a wire rack for several minutes more.
13. 13
    Serve warm or at room temperature.