How to Make Banana Bread
Guide Note
The best banana bread is made at home. How to Make Banana Bread shows you how to bake up a nice warm loaf anytime you want!
Table of Contents
Making Banana Bread Tips
- Use bananas that are very ripe.
- Check with a toothpick to see whether the bread is done.
- Add nuts or chocolate chips to your batter for a twist.
- Spread salted butter on warm banana bread for a treat.
- A slice of banana bread makes a good snack.
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Introduction
- Warm banana bread with a dab of butter melting on top is almost irresistible. While you can often buy banana bread (or at least banana bread mix) at the store, there's nothing like bread, with real bananas, made from scratch. Not only does it tickle the tummy, but your nose is in for a treat as well while your bread bakes in the oven. Banana bread is a quick bread leavened by baking soda, baking powder or both, so it doesn't take long to make and involves no kneading.1
What You'll Need
(Creative Commons photo by Matthew F)
Ingredients
- 1 cup mashed banana
- 1½ cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Equipment
- 2 bowls
- Whisk or sifter
- Spoon or electric mixer
- 9x5" loaf pan
Make the Banana Bread
- The best banana bread is made with very ripe bananas that are easily mashed.2 It's a great chance to use fruit that you wouldn't otherwise eat.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Grease and flour a 9x5" loaf pan.
- Sift or whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
- Cream together the eggs and sugar.
- Add the bananas, vanilla and oil to the sugar mixture.
- Gradually stir in the flour mixture.
- Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan.
- Bake at 350° for about an hour, or until a toothpick stuck into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
Variations
(Creative Commons photo by wEnDy)
- To change things up, you could add 1/2 cup of walnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts or chocolate chips to the batter before baking. Including some sour cream in your bread can help moisten it.3 Below, find some other variations on the classic banana bread recipe.
Conclusion
- Enjoy your banana bread warm with salty butter, fruit preserves or a little cream cheese. It's great for breakfast, an afternoon snack or dessert. If you've got a big family or have invited friends over, your bread is guaranteed to disappear quickly. Other quick breads you may enjoy baking include gingerbread, muffins, pancakes, corn bread and biscuits.
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References for How to Make Banana Bread
- ↑ AllRecipes: Baking Quick Breads
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 All Recipes: Spiced Banana Bread
- ↑ Chow: Sour Cream–Banana Bread
- ↑ FoodNetwork.com: Coconut and Macadamia Nut Banana Bread
- ↑ Martha Stewart: Banana Cupcakes with Honey–Cinnamon Frosting
- ↑ All Recipes: Maple Banana Bread
- ↑ RecipeZaar: Apple Banana Bread (March 6, 2000)
- ↑ RecipeZaar: Chocolate Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Banana Bread (August 21, 2003)
- ↑ All Recipes: Lower Fat Banana Bread I
More Banana Bread Recipes
- Accidental Hedonist: Banana Bread (September 11, 2006)
- Epicurious: Aunt Holly's Banana Bread (March 2006)
- Epicurious: Banana Bread (August 2003)
- Epicurious: Banana Nut Bread (May 2004)
- Epicurious: Banana–Nut Bread (November 1998)
- FoodNetwork.com: Banana Bread
- FoodNetwork.com: Banana Bread
- Martha Stewart: Banana Bread
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