Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that the banana bread bakes evenly and rises properly.

Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan with butter or line it with parchment paper. This prevents the bread from sticking and makes for easier removal.

In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth. The riper the bananas, the sweeter the bread will be.

Add the melted butter to the mashed bananas and mix until combined.

Stir in the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt.

Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently with a rubber spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to dense bread.

Gently fold in the sifted all-purpose flour until no dry streaks remain. If using, fold in the chopped walnuts at this stage.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with the spatula.

Bake in the preheated oven for 60-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. This ensures that the bread is fully cooked through.

Once baked, remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Once cooled, slice the banana bread and serve it plain or with a spread of butter. Enjoy your delicious homemade banana bread!