Banana bread - A healthy breakfast with the goodness of banana

This recipe is re-posted with updated step by step pictures.

Bananas are really yummy and are rich in vitamin B6. Using banana in cakes,breads and muffins does add an additional flavor.Banana bread is very easy to make by making use of all the ingredients we have at home.It is great for breakfast and kids love them.

While making banana bread make sure to use very ripe bananas as they are more sweeter than regular bananas.We often discard the bananas which are very ripe as they have brown spots on them and they are really mushy.Well, those are the bananas which we are gonna use in this recipe.

I love adding chocolate to anything :) .Adding chocolate to banana bread does give an amazing exotic flavor.This recipe makes moist banana bread which can be stored for almost a week if refrigerated.

Preparation time : 5 min

Cooking time : 40-45 min

Makes : 10 - 12 slices

Ingredients

Ripe bananas - 3

All purpose flour - 230 gms

Large eggs - 2 (at room temperature )

Butter - 80 gms (at room temperature )

Canola Oil - 50 ml

Granulated white sugar - 150 gms

Baking powder - 1 tsp

Baking soda -1/4 tsp

Salt - 1/4 tsp

Vanilla extract - 1 tblsp

unsweetened cocoa powder -1 tblsp

Chocolate chips - a handfull

Assorted nuts (walnut,hazelnut,cashew) - a handfull 

Method:

Preheat your oven to 350° F . Make sure that the butter and eggs are at room temperature.

Take the bananas and peel off the skin .In a small bowl, mash the bananas using a fork.Gently start mashing them.It is ok if the bananas are chunky.

All the dry ingredients and wet ingredients must be mixed separately.


Dry Ingredients

• In a large bowl, add the all purpose flour , sugar, salt ,cocoa powder,baking powder,baking soda and mix well using a spatula.

• Add the chocolate chips, assorted nuts and make sure they are evenly distributed.

Wet Ingredients

• Using a wire whisk , slowly beat the eggs in a bowl.

• Add the vanilla extract , softened/ melted butter and oil.Whisk them well.

Mixing the batter

This recipe doesn't require a hand mixer or electric mixer.Just use a wire whisk or spatula to mix the ingredients.Do not over- mix the batter as this will make the bread to rise too high at the center.

• Make a small well in the dry ingredient bowl and add the wet ingredients slowly and start folding gently.

• Take a loaf pan and grease it using butter or cooking spray.Pour the batter till it reaches just half of the pan and not full.

• Place the pan into the preheated oven of 350° F  and let it bake for around 40-45 mins.

• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the bread comes out clean.

• Take the pan out and let it cool for 15 mins.Take a flat knife and slowly insert it around the corners.

• Take a plate and turn the pan upside down on it.Let it cool off completely.

• Using a bread knife cut the bread into thick slices since the bread is moist .If the slices are too thin ,they will crumble into pieces. 

Top it off with your favourite ice cream ,yougurt or fresh fruits. I hope you try it out and please do share your suggestions :)

I am submitting this recipe to the following contests 

Sharans samayalarai - cook.eat.delicious