Instructions

1. Mash three to five ripe bananas to a soft, creamy consistency. Use three large bananas or up to five small bananas for one box of yellow cake mix. A potato masher works well to mash large banana pieces, while a simple dinner fork allows you to mash them into a finer consistency.

2. Prepare the yellow cake mix according to the package directions, which usually requires mixing about 1/3 cup of oil and three eggs with one box of dry cake mix. Some yellow cake mixes might be butter recipe cakes, which require butter as a full or partial substitute for oil.

3. Add the mashed bananas to the cake mix and mix until thoroughly incorporated.

4. Add your choice of spices or extra ingredients to the banana and cake batter mixture. For example, you can add spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg to taste for a warmer, spicier flavor. Other ingredient options include walnuts for crunch or chocolate chips for extra sweetness.

5. Divide the banana bread batter evenly between two greased loaf pans. You can grease the loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray or rub shortening over the insides and dust with flour.

6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake the banana bread for about 50 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the center of the loaf; the bread is done when the toothpick comes out clean.

7. Remove the pans from the oven and allow the banana bread to cool completely before removing from the pans and slicing. The banana bread will crumble easily if you try to remove it from the pans before it cools.