Banana bread

Banana bread

Banana bread is a type of quick bread that contains mashed yellow bananas. Banana bread is often a moist, sweet, cake-like bread which typically uses baking soda as the leavening agent instead of yeast; however, there are some banana bread recipes that are traditional-style yeast breads.

Banana breads can also be made from frozen bananas. Wrapped in clingfilm, still in their skins, bananas will keep in the freezer for up to six months to be used for breads, cakes, etc.

History

Banana bread first became a standard feature of American cookbooks with the popularization of baking soda and baking powder in the 1930s, and appears in Pillsbury's 1933 Balanced Recipes cookbook. The origin of the first banana bread recipe is unknown, though some speculate it was originated in the 18th century by housewives experimenting with pearlash. The home baking revival of the 1960s and the simplicity of its recipe led to an explosion in banana bread's popularity. The cookbooks of the 1960s added to its popularity because they commonly listed multiple variations of bread that added fruits, nuts, and even chocolate chips.

Sample recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup white flour
• 1/2 cup wheat flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1 egg
• 1 cup mashed banana (3 medium)
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 tsp. lemon zest (optional)
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Instructions

• Grease a bread loaf pan and set aside. In a medium mixing bowl combine the flours, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and make a well in the center.
• In a separate bowl combine the egg, bananas, sugar, oil and lemon zest.
• Add egg mixture all at once to dry mixture. Stir just till moist. Fold in nuts, if desired.
• Spoon batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 350F (175C) for 50 to 55 minutes (or convection bake at 330F (165C) for 40 minutes). Bread is done when a knife or toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.
• Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Optional: You can also sprinkle brown sugar and/or chopped pecans on top of the bread before cooking, for added tastiness.

• Banana nut bread - chopped nuts, often walnuts or pecans, are added to the recipe.
• Chocolate chip banana bread - chocolate chips are added to the recipe.
• Other variations: try adding raisins, or substituting nutmeg for cinnamon

See also

• Bánh chuối, a banana cake from Vietnam.