Blueberry Banana Bread

If you have noticed a lot of blueberry recipes lately, that is because it's blueberry season in New Jersey!  The season doesn't last long, only a little over a month, so we have been trying to enjoy as many blueberries as we can in as many ways as possible!

And I just knew that one of the things I had to make this season was blueberry banana bread!  

Your Shopping List for the Blueberry Banana Bread:

• 2 cups plus 1 tablespoon of flour, divided 
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 stick butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 eggs 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 overripe bananas
• 1 generous cup of blueberries plus extra for sprinkling

This is what I mean when I say "a generous cup of blueberries."  See how they are overflowing out of the measuring cup! 

Now Let's Make the Blueberry Banana Bread:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease 2 loaf pans (mine are 8 1/2 x 4 1/2)
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer using the whisk attachment, beat together the butter and both types of sugar until light and fluffy
3. Add in the eggs one at a time, mixing until thoroughly combined
4. Add the vanilla extract and the bananas and beat until desired consistency is reached (I like some pieces of banana) 
5. In a medium bowl, whisk together the 2 cups of flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt
6. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on the lowest speed until just combined
7. Toss the cup of blueberries with the remaining 1 tablespoon of flour (this keeps them from sinking to the bottom of the bread) and then gently fold the blueberries into the batter
8. Divide batter between two loaf pans and sprinkle a few extra blueberries over the tops
   
9. Bake in preheated oven for approximately 40 - 45 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean
10. Cool bread in loaf pans for 10 minutes
11. Turn out onto wire racks to cool completely