Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure even baking.

In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth, leaving a few small chunks for texture.

Stir in the melted butter into the mashed bananas. Then mix in the beaten egg and vanilla extract until well combined.

Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture, then add the sugar and flour. Gently mix until just combined, avoiding overmixing.

If you like nuts, fold in the chopped walnuts until they are evenly distributed in the batter.

Grease a 4x8 inch loaf pan, then pour the batter into the pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.

Place the pan in your preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Once baked, let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.