Before you get your hands dirty, make sure your oven is preheated to 350°F (175°C). You want it nice and hot when you put that bread in. Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper. No one likes bread that sticks to the pan, so take a minute to make sure it's well-prepared.

In a medium bowl, whisk together your flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set this aside for later. Mixing your dry ingredients first ensures that the baking soda and cinnamon are evenly distributed through the flour, giving your bread that perfect texture.

In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This is where the magic happens! The butter and sugar create that wonderful sweetness and texture. It’ll only take a couple of minutes, so don’t overdo it. When it's done, it should look pale and a little airy.

Next, add your eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, stir in the vanilla extract. This gives the bread that comforting, familiar flavor that ties everything together.

Now it’s time for the fun part! Gently fold in the drained pineapple. I usually leave a little juice in the can because it adds just a bit more moisture and pineapple flavor. Don’t worry if the mixture looks a little lumpy — that’s perfectly fine. You don’t want to overmix this part, as it can make the bread dense.

Now, fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined. You don’t want to overmix, or your bread might come out tough. A few lumps are totally okay. If you’re adding nuts, fold them in now. I like the extra crunch that walnuts give, but you can skip them if you're not a fan.

Pour your batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Pop it into the preheated oven and bake for about 60 to 65 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (or with just a few crumbs attached). Be sure to check around the 55-minute mark to avoid overbaking. Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.