Caramelized Banana Bread

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Butter and flour a 9×5 loaf pan. Set aside.

In a medium skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Continue to cook, stirring, until butter begins to brown and smells nutty. Add 1 tablespoon brown sugar and stir until sugar is melted. Add sliced bananas and stir so that the brown sugar/butter mixture coats the bananas. Cook bananas, stirring frequently, until they are soft, brown and caramelized, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and mash with a fork until smooth.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat yogurt, remaining butter and brown sugar until smooth and light, about 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time and beat until incorporated, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Mix to combine.

Add caramelized bananas and mix until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts, if using.

Scrape batter into prepared pan. Bake 55–60 minutes, until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 1 hour, then remove a finish cooling on a wire rack.