Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This will ensure that your banana bread bakes evenly.
Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray. You can also line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Set this mixture aside for later.
In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the eggs, mashed bananas, buttermilk, and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until well combined.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring gently with a rubber spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix!
If you’re adding nuts or chocolate chips, fold them into the batter now.
Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with the spatula.
Bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Once baked, remove the banana bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
