Ultimate Banana Bread Recipe
An indulgent and moist cake infused with ripe bananas and cinnamon
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour *spoon and leveled
- ⅓ cup plain low-fat yoghurt *Greek yoghurt is ideal
- 2 large eggs *at room temperature
- ½ 1 stick unsalted butter *softened to room temperature
- 4 ripe bananas *mashed
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup chopped pecans/walnuts *optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F/177C and move your rack down so that your banana bread will not be baking on the top row.
- If you are using a metal loaf baking tin, line it with parchment paper or grease with some butter. I use a silicon loaf tin so if you opt for that, you can skip this step.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt) in a large bowl.
- In another bowl, whisk the butter and sugar together until creamy. You can do this by hand or a electric mixer if you have one.
- Add each egg one by one and whisk in until incorporated. (If you're using an electric mixer, temper the speed accordingly--now is the time for a medium setting)
- Now beat in the yoghurt, mashed bananas and vanilla extract until the mixture is blended.
- Lower the speed on your mixer if using one, and sift in the dry ingredients to avoid lumps. Fold in carefully until all is incorporated and do not overmix.
- If you are adding nuts, carefully fold them in to the mixture with a spatula.
- Spoon in the mixture into the baking tin and smooth out. Lightly tap the tin on the counter to remove air bubbles.
- Now place in the oven and let it bake for an hour. Half way through, cover the banana bread with aluminium foil to prevent it from over-browning.
- After the hour has passed, insert a toothpick into the center of the bread and if it comes out clean, the bread is ready! If not, leave to bake at 10 minute intervals, checking for doneness as you go.
- Remove the banana bread from the oven and place on a wired rack until completely cooled.
- Carefully remove the bread from the tin (this should be very simple if you are using a silicon e mold) and slice into individual portions.
- Enjoy with a hot, steaming cup of coffee or tea!