Who doesn’t end of up with a large number of over ripe bananas occasionally (or in my case for the past three weeks)? I usually end up peeling them and freezing the bananas for use in smoothies. This week I made two different recipes of banana bread.
These two recipes are super easy when you have an abundance of ripe bananas on your countertop. The riper the fruit, the better your banana bread will taste. This recipe is very quick and can be made in a 9-inch square pan right in my Breville (Toaster oven) in 30 minutes.
Ingredients
| Option 1 | Option 2 | Banana bread |
| 1 1/2 | 1 | cups all purpose flour |
| 1/2 | cup dutch processed cocoa | |
| 1 | 1 | teaspoon baking soda |
| 1/2 | 1/2 | teaspoon salt |
| 1 | 1 | Additions - see below |
| 1/2 | 1/2 | butter or oil, use a total of 1/2 cup. Soften the butter before using |
| 2/3 - 3/4 | 2/3 - 3/4 | cup sugar - any kind, remember to tightly pack if using brown sugar |
| 1 1/2 | 1 1/2 | cups mashed bananas |
| 1 | 1 | teaspoon vanilla extract |
| 2 | 1 | large egg |
- Heat oven to 360º F. Line the pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking soda (and cocoa powder, if using).
- In the bowl of a mixer, cream the butter and sugar together.
- Add the eggs one at a time.
- Add the mashed bananas and vanilla.
- Mix in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Fold the mix ins and pour into prepared pan. Top with additional nuts or chocolate chips.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes if using larger pan or at 350º F in a loaf pan for 50-60 minutes.
Test with a knife before taking it out of the oven. This bread will stay on the counter for two days. If you refrigerate it, toast a slice before eating after taking it out of the refrigerator.
| Mix-ins - 1/2 cup | |
| Chocolate chips | Mini chips are better. Add 1/4 cup in batter and sprinkle 1/4 on top |
| White chocolate chips | Mini chips are better. Add 1/4 cup in batter and sprinkle 1/4 on top |
| Butterscotch chips | Mini chips are better. Add 1/4 cup in batter and sprinkle 1/4 on top |
| Walnuts | Finely chopped, roasted are better than regular |
| Pecans | Finely chopped, roasted are better than regular |
| Mix of the above | Use 1/4 cup of nuts and 1/4 cup of chocolate chips in the batter |
| Almonds | Use 1/4 cup of nuts and 1/4 cup of chocolate chips in the batter |
| Cinnamon | No more than 1 teaspoon if you like the taste |
| Cardamom | No more than 1 teaspoon if you like the taste |
Notes
- Bananas – Use over ripe bananas and mash them thoroughly.
- Mix-ins – More than ½ a cup of mix-ins in the batter will change the structure of the batter, if you like more mix-ins, you can sprinkle another ½ cup on the top.
- The recipe can be made in a loaf pan and baked for 50-60 mins at 350º F. However, since I am increasing the surface area, I increased the temperature to 360º F and baked it for 27-30 minutes. Baking at 350º F will take longer and might dry out the batter.
- If you are using a loaf pan, bake at 350º F for 50-60 minutes depending on the oven.
- Sugar – Increase or decrease the sugar depending on the type of sugar used. If you are using brown sugar, remember to tightly pack it.
Recipe Type