Monday 10 December 2007

Banana nut loaf



Aah, banana nut loaves/bread, you might think 'tried one, tried them all' -- but no, there are as many variations as there are recipes. For a while I used up overripe bananas by adding them to Nick Malgieri's Buttery Nut Cake recipe. About 2 bananas for half the recipe, with crushed walnuts. Rich and moist. A colleague brought in Tyler Florence's version with some chocolate chips. Dense and bread like. That was added to my tiny repertoire - with walnuts instead of pecans (somehow I can't stand them) and finally I think I've hit the jackpot with good ol' Martha's banana nut loaf. You judge, I've made it twice in a month (recipe yield 2 loaves!). Using vegetable oil keeps it lighter, IMO, and fresher. The coconut adds an interesting complexity to the taste, but is so subtle that unless told you might not know it's there. Very unusual.
Adapted from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook
Ingredients
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
3 large eggs
2 cups sugar
11/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tbsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup unsweetened coconut
11/2 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3-4)
1 cup (4 oz) walnuts or pecans, toasted and finely chopped
1/2 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray/butter 2 9 inch loaf pans.
In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, or bowl of an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sugar and oil on low-medium speed until mixed. Beat in the dry mixture, then add the remaining ingredients until just combined. Divide batter evenly between the two tins, smooth top. Bake until tester comes out clean, about 60 minutes. do rotate and swap positions half way through.
WHen done, cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing. Stores well at room temperature in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic. Can be frozen for 3 months.
Enjoy!
Posted by Picasa

6 comments:

Unknown said...

hey its so good to finally see a post my you! and the loaf looks so soft! Even I throw in some chocolate chips while making banana bread and it too disappears fast!

Cheryl said...

I am convinced that making banana bread is the best thing you can do to fill up your home with wonderful smells.

Cheryl said...

I am convinced that making banana bread is the best thing you can do to fill up your home with wonderful smells.

aisha said...

you're right!

Deborah said...

I was just looking for a good banana recipe to use up some bananas, but I didn't feel like banana bread. But now I am craving banana bread - this recipe sounds wonderful!

Unknown said...

hey at our place if we have some overripe bananas it means either some banana bread with walnuts and chocolate chips or banoffi pie! banoffi pie more often coz if you have the toffee its a fast and simple, no bake thing and so damn delicious!