Banana Loaf got us through 2020 and I think I know why. There's nothing more comforting than a cup of tea and warm piece of banana loaf, smothered in butter. No one ever objects to banana loaf. That being said, this is a very easy recipe that is satisfying and delicious. I quite often put choccy chips in mine, but if you're a purist, you can leave all the additions out and just have a lovely slab of this moreish loaf.
Loaf
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon or vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup rice bran or vegetable oil
3 large very ripe bananas (if your bananas aren't black-ripe, you may want to add another 1/4 cup sugar for sweetness)
Optional - to mix through batter
1/2 cup chopped chocolate or chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped nuts (e.g. walnuts, pecans, cashews)
Topping
¼ cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp butter, at room temperature
¼ cup chopped nuts
Preheat oven to 180°C bake. Line a loaf tin with baking paper, so that it overhangs - this will make it easy to pull the loaf out.
Place flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and sugar in a large bowl and whisk together.
Place eggs, oil and bananas in another bowl and mash together, until smooth.
Combine wet and dry ingredients and stir through chocolate and nuts, if using. Transfer to loaf tin.
In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and butter until little clumps form. Sprinkle over loaf along with chopped nuts.
Bake for 45-55 minutes, until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
