Spicy Banana Bread

Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F) and grease a 9x5 inch (23x13 cm) loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray, then line it with parchment paper for easy removal.

In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until almost smooth. Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.

In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir gently just until no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix.

Fold in the chopped walnuts or pecans and chocolate chips, if using, to add texture and extra flavor.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly.

Bake in the preheated oven for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean or with only a few moist crumbs.

Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Serve warm or at room temperature. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.