Banana Loaf

Banana loaf always goes down well and it’s a great way of using up very ripe bananas that would otherwise be thrown away. You can find banana chips for the topping in larger supermarkets and health food stores, but don’t worry if not, either bake ‘naked’ or top with a few walnut or pecan nut halves instead.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 40

Total Time 50

Servings 12

Calories 163

Ingredients

oil for brushing or spraying
2 very ripe bananas about 225g peeled weight
1 tsp ground mixed spice
5 tbsp sunflower oil
3 medium eggs beaten
50 g soft light brown sugar
200 g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
25 g dried banana chips

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/Gas 4. Line the base of a 900g loaf tin with baking parchment and lightly grease with a little oil.
2. Peel the bananas and cut into short lengths. Put them in a food processor and blend to a rough puree. Add the spice, sunflower oil, eggs and sugar and blitz until lightly combined. Add the flour and baking powder blend on the pulse setting until just combined. Don’t over-blend the cake batter or the cake will be too close textured when baked.
3. Pour the cake batter into the prepared tin and smooth the surface. Top with the banana chips if you have them. Bake for 40 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out a little moist but clean.
4. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack. Gently flip the cake the right way up and leave to cool. Cut into thin slices to serve.

Notes

To freeze

Freeze the cooled cake wrapped in foil and place in a large freezer for up to 3 months. Unwrap and defrost at room temperature for about 3 hours before serving. Alternatively, slice the loaf before freezing and wrap the individual slices in foil. Unwrap and defrost for about 30 minutes before serving. Warm through for a few seconds in the microwave for best results.