Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Banana Bread

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan.

2. Step 2

   In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. 

3. Step 3

   In a large bowl, using a hand-held electric mixer on medium-high speed (or by hand with a spatula or wooden spoon), beat the butter and sugar until smooth and creamy, about 1½ minutes, stopping and scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla. Beat in the banana and sour cream until well blended.

4. Step 4

   Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Beat on low just until blended, scraping the side of the bowl as necessary, then stir in the nuts.

5. Step 5

   Transfer the batter to the prepared pan; sprinkle the top lightly with sugar. Bake 55 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 

6. Step 6

   Let the bread cool slightly in the pan, then loosen and remove from the pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool. Let cool thoroughly before serving. Wrap leftover banana bread in foil and store at room temperature for up to 4 days.