Easy banana bread

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This easy banana bread recipe from actress and Celebrity Masterchef winner Sophie Thompson is a winning snack for elevenses or afternoon tea. It is really easy to make and brilliant for using up over-ripe bananas.

First published in 2015

Sometimes all the bananas get eaten, sometimes they don't and a wee mottled bunch sits sadly on the side gathering frenzied fruit flies . . . moist banana bread to the rescue! If you'd prefer, this recipe can be turned into banana bread muffins by simply splitting the mixture into muffin cases before baking.

This recipe is from Sophie Thompson's book My Family Kitchen: Favourite Recipes from Four Generations published by Faber & Faber, September 2015.

Ingredients

Metric

Imperial

For the bread

  • 100g of soft butter
  • 100g of caster sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 200g of self-raising flour
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 5 bananas, ripe (approx. 400g peeled), mashed

For the topping

  • 150g of caster sugar
  • 2 tbsp of water
  • 150ml of double cream
  • dried banana, to decorate

Method

1
Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/Gas 4
2
Line a 1kg loaf tin with baking paper
3
In the bowl of an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, put the butter, sugar, eggs, flour and vanilla extract. Alternatively use a large bowl and a handheld electric mixer. Beat on medium speed for a few minutes, until everything is well combined
4
Stir in the baking powder and bicarbonate of soda and mashed bananas
5
Turn into the prepared tin and smooth the surface with the back of a spoon. Loosely cover the tin with baking paper or foil and bake in the middle of the oven for 45 minutes–1 hour, removing the paper or foil for the last 20 minutes
6
Meanwhile make the toffee topping. Melt the caster sugar and water in a pan and then bubble over a medium heat until golden. Reduce the heat and then beat in the double cream (take care as the mixture will splutter). Mix until smooth and then transfer to a bowl to cool
7
When the cake is ready, leave to settle in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out on to a wire rack. When it is still just warm, transfer to a plate
8
Spread with the toffee topping and decorate with dried banana chips, or whatever tickles your fancy
First published in 2015

Sophie Thompson is an award-winning actress and Celebrity MasterChef winner. Her new cookbook, My Family Kitchen, is a collection of fuss-free, delicious recipes relayed with her trademark humour, warmth and vivaciousness.

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