1. Prepare Your Baking Pan and Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 F (175 C). Lightly grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.

2. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas thoroughly with a fork until mostly smooth, leaving a few small lumps if you like a chunkier texture. Add the eggs, unsweetened applesauce, milk, maple syrup (or honey), and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Whisk everything together until well combined and smooth.

3. Mix Dry Ingredients Separately: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, vanilla protein powder, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Make sure there are no lumps and all the dry ingredients are evenly distributed.

4. Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredient mixture. Stir gently with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as overmixing can lead to a tough banana bread. A few streaks of flour are perfectly fine.

5. Fold in Optional Add-ins: If you’re using chopped walnuts or chocolate chips, gently fold them into the batter now. This is the perfect time to customize your bread with your favorite additions.

6. Transfer to Loaf Pan and Bake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan. You can sprinkle a few extra walnuts or chocolate chips on top for a nice visual touch.

7. Bake Until Golden: Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. The top should be golden brown and the edges pulling slightly away from the pan.

8. Cool Before Slicing: Once baked, remove the loaf pan from the oven and let the banana bread cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes. Then, carefully lift it out using the parchment paper overhang or invert it onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving. Cooling completely ensures the bread sets properly and is easier to slice.