BANANA LOAF RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Butter a 2lb loaf tin and line the base and sides with baking parchment.
• Cream 140g softened butter and 140g caster sugar until light and fluffy, then slowly add 2 beaten large eggs with a little of the 140g flour.
• Fold in the remaining flour, 1 tsp baking powder and 2 mashed bananas.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for about 50 mins, or until cooked through. Check the loaf at 5-min intervals from around 30-40 mins in the oven by testing it with a skewer (it should be able to be inserted and removed cleanly), as the time may vary depending on the shape of your loaf tin.
• Cool in the tin for 10 mins, then remove to a wire rack.
• Mix 50g icing sugar with 2-3 tsp water to make a runny icing.
• Drizzle the icing across the top of the cake and decorate with a handful of banana chips.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
• Mash 2 of the bananas with a fork in a small bowl so they still have a bit of texture. With an electric mixer fitted with a wire whisk, whip the remaining bananas and sugar together for a good 3 minutes; you want a light and fluffy banana cream. Add the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla; beat well and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Mix in the dry ingredients just until incorporated; no need to overly blend. Fold in the nuts and the mashed bananas with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Give the pan a good rap on the counter to get any air bubbles out.
• Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Don't get nervous if the banana bread develops a crack down the center of the loaf; that's no mistake, it's typical. Rotate the pan periodically to ensure even browning.
• Cool the bread in the pan for 10 minutes or so, and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. Toast the slices of banana bread, dust with confectioners' sugar, and serve.