Banana Loaf

This easy-to-make banana loaf recipe is an ideal way of using up any spare bananas you have in your kitchen before they spoil. Now, there's a popular belief over here in the UK that a nice, strong cup of tea is the perfect pick-me-up and cure for all manner of ills... Well, while it might not be taking over from penicillin just yet, you certainly can't beat a nice cuppa and a thick slice of this banana loaf spread with a little butter or raspberry jam - pure heaven!

Preparation Time 15 mins - Cooking Time 1 hour - Makes 1 medium loaf

Ingredients

3 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed into a puree

125g caster sugar

125g butter or margarine

225g self-raising flour

2 eggs, lightly beaten

Method

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter/margarine and sugar, then add in the beaten eggs.

2. Next add in a quarter of the flour and stir well, then a quarter of the bananas and stir well. Repeat several times until all the flour and bananas are mixed in and the mixture is of a smooth consistency.

3. Pour into a lightly greased 2lb (900g) cake tin and bake in a preheated oven at 190 degrees celsius / 375 degrees fahrenheit for 50-60 minutes until the top of the loaf has turned golden brown. Insert a skewer into the middle of the cake to check it has cooked thoroughly. Remove from oven and leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool for a bit longer.

Variations

You could also try adding in some finely chopped walnuts if you like to give your loaf a little extra crunch and subtle nutty flavor.

Top Tip

Always use bananas that are really ripe - the best ones are those whose skins have turned slightly brown and speckled.

Nutrition Nugget

Bananas are a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and potassium, and can help to build strong bones and may offer some protection against high blood pressure and strokes.

So, before you start to feel too guilty about indulging in a slice of this banana loaf , check out this useful article which looks at the many different health benefits of bananas (opens new window).

For more yummy vegetarian cakes like this banana loaf recipe, click here.

Or return to our home page for more delicious vegetarian recipes.

P.S. We also now have a fantastic FREE monthly newsletter, Bon Appetit!, which you can sign up to for exclusive recipes, handy cooking tips and techniques, and honest product reviews.