Joy's Amazing Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup soft butter
• 3 very ripe bananas
• 1 3/4 cups flour (great with part whole wheat flour)
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons milk

Optional mix-ins

• 1/4 cup flax seed (optional)
• 1/3 cup raisins (optional)
• 1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut (optional)
• 1/4 cup carob chips (optional) or chocolate chips (optional)
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter (optional)

Topping

• 1/4 cup chopped nuts (I use pecans)
• 3/4 cup oats
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon flax seed
• 1/3 cup melted butter

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350.

2. 2

   In a small bowl, beat together (with mixer if you have one): sugar, softened butter, bananas.

3. 3

   In a large bowl, combine: flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda. Mix these dry ingredients together, then add banana mixture from step 2.

4. 4

   Add eggs, milk, any of the optional mix-ins. Mix together well to a smooth batter.

5. 5

   Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.

6. 6

   For the crumble topping - combine in small bowl: chopped nuts, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, flax seeds, melted butter. Mix until crumbly.

7. 7

   Spread crumble topping mixture on top of the batter in the loaf pan.

8. 8

   Bake approximately 45 minutes at 350. Note: in the oven, the bread will lift and the topping will overflow a bit, so I recommend placing a cookie sheet underneath to catch the droppings.