Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray, and lightly dust with flour, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.

Step 2: Mash the Bananas

In a medium bowl, mash the overripe bananas with a fork or potato masher until smooth. You should have about 1 1/2 cups of mashed bananas. Set aside.

Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together using an electric mixer or whisk until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. This will help evenly distribute the dry ingredients before adding them to the wet mixture.

Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in the large bowl. Mix just until combined – be careful not to overmix, as this can result in dense bread.

Step 6: Add the Mashed Bananas and Milk

Stir the mashed bananas and milk into the batter until fully incorporated. The batter should be thick but smooth.

Step 7: Prepare the Cinnamon Sugar Topping

In a small bowl, mix together the 1/4 cup of granulated sugar and 2 tsp of cinnamon. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the banana bread batter.

Step 8: Bake the Bread

Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. If the top is browning too quickly, loosely cover the bread with foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.

Step 9: Cool and Serve

Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a cooling rack. Let it cool completely before slicing into it. Serve and enjoy the warm, spiced goodness!