Banana Bread

 

It’s hard to imagine that a fragrant loaf of banana bread requires only four steps, but that’s exactly how it is. Here’s how to make the classic – all you need to do is combine everything, and pop it into the oven for some moist and sweet goodness!

INGREDIENTS

• 125 g butter, softened
• 1 cup (220 g) firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1½ cup (400 g) mashed ripe banana
• ¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup
• 1⅔ cup (250 g) plain all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt flakes
• ½ cup (25 g) coarsely chopped roasted walnuts

STEPS

01.

Preheat oven to 160 C. Grease a 13 cm x 26 cm, 2 litre (8 cup) loaf pan; line with baking paper.

02.

Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until paler and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until just combined, then mashed banana and maple syrup.

03.

Sift over flour, baking powder, soda, cinnamon and salt. Add walnuts; stir with a large spoon until combined. Spoon into pan; smooth the surface.

04.

Bake for 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave in pan for 10 mins before turning, top-side up, onto a wire rack to cool.

To make Meghan Markle‘s famous chocolate ginger banana bread, stir through 2 tablespoons of finely chopped crystallised ginger (or 1 to 2 teaspoons of ground ginger) and 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips into the batter before baking.

 

Photo: bauersyndication.com.au / Additional reporting: Cherrie Lim