Prepare the Ingredients:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter or cooking spray, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.

Mash the Bananas:
In a large bowl, mash the bananas until smooth, leaving a few small chunks for texture if desired.

Mix Wet Ingredients:
In the same bowl, add the melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Stir until well combined.

Mix Dry Ingredients:
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Sift them together for an even mix.

Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the banana bread dense.

Add Optional Mix-ins:
If you’re adding nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruit, fold them into the batter now.

Bake the Banana Bread:
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top is browning too quickly, cover it loosely with aluminum foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.

Cool the Bread:
Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.