Banana Nut Bread | Life, Love and Sugar

There are a few zillion banana bread recipes on the market, so I get it in case you’re questioning, “Why ought to I do that one?” Nicely…let me inform you! As somebody who has experimented with seemingly limitless recipes for this all-time basic through the years, that is the one. It’s acquired a barely lighter texture than my Simple Banana Bread, whereas nonetheless being good and dense, and it’s SO tender and moist with plain banana taste and a refined trace of cinnamon.

A heat slice of this candy (however not too candy) loaf is a complete dream for breakfast, a mid-day snack, and even for dessert. So get your self within the kitchen and activate that oven!

What Makes This Banana Nut Bread Stand Out?

Positive, you’ve had banana bread earlier than, however not like this. Right here’s what makes this magical loaf the perfect of the perfect:

• Additional moist. Nearly all of banana bread recipes use butter as their major fats. I do it just a little otherwise, choosing half butter and half vegetable oil. The oil makes the bread a lot extra moist and nearly velvety, whereas nonetheless getting good taste from the butter.
• Excellent taste combo. I didn’t skimp on the bananas (I used 4!), and the flavour actually comes by. That large, actual banana taste mixed with a touch of warming, candy cinnamon takes this loaf to the following stage.
• Simple-peasy. This banana bread recipe makes use of such a easy mixing methodology! The batter actually comes collectively in minutes with no fancy creaming or whipping. The toughest half is exercising endurance because it bakes for an hour.

Recipe Substances

Seize a purchasing cart and head to the baking aisle! Right here’s what you’ll have to make this top-notch banana nut bread. You should definitely scroll to the recipe card under for exact measurements.

Get Your Bananas Prepared

• Ripening bananas – if you wish to make this bread, however don’t have ripe bananas, velocity up the method by placing unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet and baking at 250°F for 15 to twenty minutes, or till very darkish and really mushy. You can even place them in a paper bag with different ripening fruit (like avocado) and the gases launched will assist the bananas ripen extra rapidly.
• Freezing bananas – When you have ripe bananas that you simply wish to freeze for later, you’ll be able to depart them within the peel and freeze them complete, or peel them, lower them into items and retailer them in a container for freezing. Once they thaw, you could have bananas which can be all able to go for this banana bread!

Avoiding Widespread Issues

Sunken middle? Dense texture? Uneven baking? Don’t despair! They’re all simple fixes, and I’m right here to assist:

Sunken Middle

• Oven temperature. In case your oven isn’t preheated to the correct temperature, you might find yourself with a sunken middle. Use an oven thermometer to keep away from this concern.
• An excessive amount of moisture. Utilizing an excessive amount of oil or too-ripe bananas may end up in a sunken middle. Measure with care, and don’t let your bananas flip fully brown. You need some yellow in there.
• Not sufficient flour. Use a meals scale or the spoon and stage methodology to measure your flour. Too little flour can depart you with a sunken middle.
• Expired leveling brokers. The baking powder and baking soda work collectively to assist the banana bread rise. Utilizing too little or expired leveling brokers will lead to a sunken middle.

Dense Texture

• Over-mixing. Your banana bread could also be overly dense since you over-mixed the batter. When you mix the moist and dry elements, combine simply till all the pieces is integrated. Mixing previous this level could cause the glutens within the flour to overdevelop, which is able to nearly actually offer you an over-dense bread.
• An excessive amount of flour. When you use an excessive amount of flour, your banana bread will prove dry and dense. Be certain that to measure your flour utilizing a meals scale or the spoon and stage methodology.
• Your bananas aren’t ripe sufficient. Below-ripe bananas have an excessive amount of starch for this recipe, which is able to result in over-dense banana bread. Be certain that your bananas are totally lined in brown spots!
• Points with leveling brokers. In case your baking powder and/or baking soda are expired (or in case you didn’t use sufficient of 1 or the opposite), your bread gained’t rise appropriately, and it may prove over-dense because of this.

Uneven Baking

• Oven points. Baking on the unsuitable temperature or earlier than the oven is preheated is a number one reason behind uneven baking. You should definitely permit your oven to preheat earlier than popping the banana bread in. Use an oven thermometer to examine the temperature (oven thermostats are notoriously inaccurate).
• Pan choice. Attempt to use a lighter colour aluminum pan or stainless-steel loaf pan. They distribute warmth extra evenly than darker-colored pans that cook dinner the skin of the bread too rapidly, leaving you with darkish edges and an undercooked middle.
• An excessive amount of liquid. When you use an excessive amount of oil or in case your bananas are too ripe (and thus, overly moist), it’s seemingly that you simply’ll find yourself with a gooey, under-cooked middle. So measure with care, and don’t let these bananas get too brown!

The way to Retailer

• Counter/fridge. Retailer the bread in an air-tight container at room temperature for 3-5 days. You’ll be able to retailer it within the fridge for as much as per week, however the bread will dry out a bit.
• Freezer. Wrap the banana bread in a double layer of plastic wrap (you’ll be able to wrap the entire loaf or particular person slices) and retailer it within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Enable the leftovers to thaw at room temperature earlier than having fun with. Banana bread is finest at room temperature, so let it sit on the counter for some time (if it was within the fridge) earlier than having fun with.

Extra Banana Recipes to Strive

Bought some further bananas available? I do know simply what to do with them! Listed below are a few of my different all-time favourite banana-centric recipes: