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

Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray to prevent the bread from sticking.

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

Add the melted butter to the mashed bananas and mix well.

Stir in the beaten egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.

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

Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet banana mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the bread tough.

Fold in the sifted 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 a spatula.

Bake in the preheated oven for 60-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The bread should be golden brown on top.

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