Banana bread
Posted by Marit on April 26, 2008
Banana and bread are the two words which I have never used together, side by side. Before I tried this recipe of course. I mean, banana bread? Are you serious? To me - and maybe it is more of an Estonian thing - banana is something sweet and bread is something salty. So what’s next, broccoli sponge cake?
Anyway, after I did some research I found out that banana bread is apparently a completely normal dish, nothing unusual. I found a lot of recipes and decided to give it a try. After all, C was coming over to see some Desperate Housewives and I still owed her a birthday cake. Risky business of course, to offer a cake which you have not made before (and I did not have a back-up dessert), but…sometimes you have to live life on the edge. Anyhow. Here’s what you need for one 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf:
1 3/4 cups (245 grams) flour 1/4 cup (30 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder 1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar 1 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 cup (85 grams) white chocolate, grated or processed 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, melted and cooled 3 ripe bananas, mashed well 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. You might think that there is too much of this dry stuff - but don’t worry, it is just right amount. Just make sure that you use a large bowl which would fit both the dry and the wet ingredients (you know, eventually you have to fold everything together).
Combine mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla in another bowl. With a rubber spatula or wooden spoon fold the wet ingredients (banana mixture) into the dry ingredients until just combined. Also add the chocolate.
Scrape batter into prepared pan and at 180 degrees C until the bread has risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 60 to 70 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
I must say, I was impressed - it was rich, moist and tasty. So this is what a banana bread tastes like. Yum! When you’ll have leftovers, heat them in a microvawe oven before serving, to bring out the flavours - it really tastes better when warm.
