Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides for easy removal of the banana bread.
In a mixing bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In another mixing bowl, cream together the unsalted butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer or whisk until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then, stir in the vanilla extract.
Gradually add the mashed bananas to the wet mixture, mixing until well combined.
Alternately add the dry ingredients and the sour cream or Greek yogurt to the wet mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
If using, gently fold in the chopped nuts until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it out evenly with a spatula.
Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Once baked, remove the banana bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.
Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the banana bread out of the pan and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once cooled, slice and serve your delicious Ina Garten's Banana Bread, and enjoy the comforting flavors of this homemade treat!
