The Banana Bread is the first dessert of the column “Around the World in 20 Desserts” now in its second edition.
➡The banana is that fruit that was introduced into American crops in 1516, thanks to the Portuguese who imported it directly from Africa.
Traditionally, banana bread is made from a batter based on mashed ripe bananas (not blended!) further enriched with dark chocolate chips and nuts.
In the 1950s, Banana bread had already gone viral in the United States, thanks to the spread of the recipe through the 1950 Chiquita Banana’s Recipe Book.
Some food historians believe that Banana Bread is a derivative of the Great Depression when housewives were forced to recycle and reuse leftovers (especially, for example, overripe bananas); others, however, think it all started in corporate kitchens.
February 23 is #nationalbananabreadday.
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 6 servings
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: American
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas
- 1.5 cups flour
- 0.6 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3/4 cup nuts (of your choice)
- 2 eggs
- to taste ground cinnamon
- 1 packet baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- to taste salt
- to taste lemon juice
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)
Tools
- 1 Loaf Pan 10×12
Steps
Mash the bananas with a fork until you get a puree. Drizzle with a few drops of lemon juice to prevent them from darkening.
In a bowl, beat the butter – at room temperature – with the sugar, salt, and cinnamon to obtain a soft cream.
Then incorporate the eggs one at a time and finally add the banana puree.
And mix everything together.
Add the sifted flour with baking powder and baking soda, mixing at low speed if using an electric whisk.
Add half of the chocolate chips (optional) and the nuts.
Pour into a well-greased loaf pan and complete by adding the rest of the nuts and chocolate chips on the surface – if you like, you can decorate with banana slices.
Sprinkle with cinnamon.
Bake in a static oven at 356°F for about 40/45 minutes.
Affiliate Link #adv
The Chiquita Banana’s Recipe Book was described as a “strategic attempt to sell the ‘exotic’ banana as an appealing fruit for the entire American family.”
Now unattainable except at prices suitable only for collectors, you can turn to a more current and easier to find book: Le ricette di Capitan Bananas.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the difference between Banana Bread and Banana Cake?
Banana bread:
⏺ Has a firmer and denser texture compared to banana cake.
⏺ Is a type of bread made with mashed bananas, while banana cake is a type of cake made with banana as the main ingredient.
⏺ Uses only very ripe bananas.
⏺ Does not have frostings.
⏺ Typically contains baking soda as a leavening agent, while banana cake relies on baking powder for leavening.
Banana cake:
⏺ Also contains butter or oil which gives a softer texture compared to the bread counterpart.
Both contain natural sugars, fibers, and vitamins.
