Banana Nut Bread | Life, Love and Sugar

There are a few zillion banana bread recipes on the market, so I get it when you’re questioning, “Why ought to I do that one?” Properly…let me let you know! As somebody who has experimented with seemingly infinite recipes for this all-time basic through the years, that is the one. It’s obtained 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 delicate 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?

Certain, 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. The vast majority of banana bread recipes use butter as their main fats. I do it slightly in another way, choosing half butter and half vegetable oil. The oil makes the bread a lot extra moist and virtually 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 means of. That large, actual banana taste mixed with a touch of warming, candy cinnamon takes this loaf to the subsequent stage.
• Simple-peasy. This banana bread recipe makes use of such a easy mixing technique! 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 procuring cart and head to the baking aisle! Right here’s what you’ll have to make this top-notch banana nut bread. You’ll want to 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, pace 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 comfortable. You too can place them in a paper bag with different ripening fruit (like avocado) and the gases launched will assist the bananas ripen extra shortly.
• Freezing bananas – If in case you have ripe bananas that you simply need to freeze for later, you’ll be able to go away them within the peel and freeze them entire, or peel them, lower them into items and retailer them in a container for freezing. Once they thaw, you will have bananas which are all able to go for this banana bread!

Avoiding Frequent Issues

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

Sunken Heart

• Oven temperature. In case your oven isn’t preheated to the right temperature, you could find yourself with a sunken heart. Use an oven thermometer to keep away from this challenge.
• An excessive amount of moisture. Utilizing an excessive amount of oil or too-ripe bananas may end up in a sunken heart. Measure with care, and don’t let your bananas flip utterly brown. You need some yellow in there.
• Not sufficient flour. Use a meals scale or the spoon and stage technique to measure your flour. Too little flour can go away you with a sunken heart.
• 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 heart.

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 substances, combine simply till every little thing is integrated. Mixing previous this level could cause the glutens within the flour to overdevelop, which is able to virtually definitely offer you an over-dense bread.
• An excessive amount of flour. For those who use an excessive amount of flour, your banana bread will end up dry and dense. Be certain that to measure your flour utilizing a meals scale or the spoon and stage technique.
• Your bananas aren’t ripe sufficient. Beneath-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 coated in brown spots!
• Points with leveling brokers. In case your baking powder and/or baking soda are expired (or when you didn’t use sufficient of 1 or the opposite), your bread gained’t rise accurately, and it may end up over-dense because of this.

Uneven Baking

• Oven points. Baking on the incorrect temperature or earlier than the oven is preheated is a number one explanation for uneven baking. You’ll want to permit your oven to preheat earlier than popping the banana bread in. Use an oven thermometer to test 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 surface of the bread too shortly, leaving you with darkish edges and an undercooked heart.
• An excessive amount of liquid. For those who use an excessive amount of oil or in case your bananas are too ripe (and thus, overly moist), it’s probably that you simply’ll find yourself with a gooey, under-cooked heart. So measure with care, and don’t let these bananas get too brown!

Tips on how to Retailer

• Counter/fridge. Retailer the bread in an air-tight container at room temperature for 3-5 days. You possibly can retailer it within the fridge for as much as every 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 here are a few of my different all-time favourite banana-centric recipes: