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.
