how to make banana bread step by step (banana bread recipe)

how to make banana bread step by step (banana bread recipe)how to make banana bread step by step (banana bread recipe)

I'm super excited because we're ALL talking about banana bread. Yes, I'm excited about banana bread because it's one of my favorite things to bake and eat. I ask myself every day yes, " so what I have to do with bananas ?" The answer is always BANANA BREAD! Who doesn't love a warm slice of banana bread topped with butter?

I have baked and eaten a LOT of banana bread in my day. I prefer to make different versions, like chocolate banana bread, but we are gonna talk today about classic banana bread. Banana bread that will remind you of your mom's recipe or your grandmother's recipe... but even better. This soft banana bread has an intense banana flavor and the perfect amount of sweetness. It's our favorite quick bread!

                      

                     The kind of bananas to use for a banana bread recipe

how to make banana bread step by step (banana bread recipe)
how to make banana bread step by step (banana bread recipe)

To make banana bread, you have to start with bananas that go bad... or if you ask me for bananas that turn good! I like it when bananas turn brown because as you know that means banana bread. The ideal banana for banana bread is yellow with brown spots. You want them browner than yellow. Bananas should be overripe. Brown bananas are what makes banana bread soft and fluffy.

Can you make banana bread with fresh bananas? Over-ripe bananas are best, but if you are in a hurry, you can ripen bananas by baking them in the oven. Place unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 250° F until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Allow the bananas to cool. Peel, mash, and bake!

You can use frozen bananas if you are in a hurry, but I prefer unfrozen bananas. To freeze bananas, peel them and put them in a freezer bag. I put them in a single layer so they don't stick together and expel all the air from the bag. Bananas as you know can be frozen for up to 6 months. When you are ready to use, let the bananas thaw on the counter for about an hour. You want them to be soft but not liquid. You can also mash over-ripe bananas and freeze crushed bananas. I  really like to freeze them in cup size portions in the freezer. Be sure to write the date, cup size, and frozen bananas on the bag so you know what's inside. Thaw before use.


Ingredients

  • 125 g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing (at room temperature)
  • 2 large  eggs
  • 4 ripe bananas
  • 2 tablespoons runny honey
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened apple juice
  • 250 g self-raising flour and plus extra for dusting
  • 1 big pinch of ground cinnamon
  • finally 50 g pecans
The method

1-Preheat oven to 180 c degrees / 350°F / gas 4.

2-Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 1-liter loaf pan with a little butter - I use a piece of folded kitchen paper for this.

3-In a large bowl,  you should use a wooden spoon to beat the soft butter until creamy that's it.

4-Break the eggs and beat them with the butter. It may feel a little lumpy, but don't worry, it will come together later.

5-Peel 3 bananas, then mash them and mash them into the mixture with a fork to make a smooth, chunky mixture.

6-Stir in the honey and apple juice, then use a spatula to stir in the flour and cinnamon, taking care not to over mix.

7-If using, chop the pecans on a cutting board using the cross-cut method (or you can crush them with a rolling pin), then fold them into the mixture.

8-Pour all of the mixtures into the loaf pan, then peel and slice the remaining banana and press the top down. Bake for 35-50 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. To check if it's cooked, stick a cocktail stick or skewer in the middle of the bread, remove it after 5 seconds, and if it comes out clean the cooked bread; if it's slightly sticky, it takes a little longer.

9-Allow the bread to cool slightly, then gently spread it on a wire rack to cool completely.

10-Transfer to a nice plate, cut into slices and serve. It's a delicious spread with butter, honey, your favorite jam, or even chocolate spread. It's fun!


TIPS

- This works best with very ripe bananas, so use the ones you have at home.
- Instead of pecans, you can try chopped peanuts, nuts, hazelnuts, dried fruit or chocolate, or a pinch of chocolate chips.