Preheat the oven to 350℉/180℃/Gas Mark 4.

In a medium bowl, whisk the all-purpose/plain flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.

In a large bowl, take the ripened bananas and mash them up.

Add the softened, unsalted butter and the vanilla extract and whisk together.

Whisk the egg into the wet ingredients.

Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix together until fully incorporated.

If adding the chocolate chips, add them here. Save some for topping the batter.

Grease a 9”x13” loaf pan.

Pour the batter into the loaf pan and top with chocolate chips.

Bake for 1 hour or until a knife inserted into the loaf comes out dry.

Let cool for 10 minutes in the loaf pan then remove from the pan and continue to cool on a cooling rack.

Slice up and serve!