banana bread, cake or muffins?

NualaBuala

This is one my favourites but the recipe I used last time wasn't all that great. Could anyone help me with a recipe for this? Either one you've got or help me invent one based on the two below.

I found these two recipes on Be-ro, one for banana tea bread and the other for date and walnut loaf. So I'd like to merge the recipes. Could anyone advise about adjusting the amounts.

Thanks in advance.

Date and Walnut Loaf
225 g (8 oz) dates
pinch bicarbonate of soda
150 ml (¼ pint) boiling water
75 g (3 oz) margarine
75 g (3 oz) caster sugar
1 medium egg, beaten
225 g (8 oz) Be-Ro Self Raising Flour
75 g (3 oz) walnuts, chopped

Banana Tea Bread
225 g (8 oz) Be-Ro Self Raising Flour
1 x 1.25 ml (¼ tsp) spoon bicarbonate of soda
pinch salt
75 g (3 oz) butter
175 g (6 oz) caster sugar
2 medium eggs, beaten
450 g (1 lb) bananas weighed with skin, peeled, mashed
100 g (4 oz) walnuts, chopped

marmiterulesok

Hi.I also have the Be-Ro recipe book.
Do you know why you need boiling water for the dates?(I'm just curious).
Looking at the two recipes,the flour and butter/marg are the same quantities,so I wouldn't change them,obviously.
TBH,I would be tempted to follow the recipe for the Date and Walnut Loaf,and just add 1 or 2 bananas.
Sorry that I can't be of more help.

janb5

I have the same recipe and think the boiling water is to help the bicaarb to activate. Certainly the cake - I have a slightly different version and makes 2 loaves- works well.

psso

In the recipe I use for date and walnut loaf, you have to put the dates, bicarb and boiling water in a bowl and leave them to soak till you mix up the rest of the ingredients. Think it helps to soften the dates.

I would use the date/walnut recipe and add a couple of bananas to the mix.

NualaBuala

Thanks a mill for the replies, I think I will just add in a couple of bananas then. That's very helpful - wouldn't have thought of it myself!

I had wondered about the bicarb and posted on OS asking about it - apparently it breaks down the dates so they become nice and sticky. Yum! I think the hot water allows the bicarb to dissolve better than it would in cold water.

marmiterulesok

NualaBuala wrote: »

I had wondered about the bicarb and posted on OS asking about it - apparently it breaks down the dates so they become nice and sticky. Yum! I think the hot water allows the bicarb to dissolve better than it would in cold water.

Thanks,that's interesting to know.

Hope it turns out nicely!

NualaBuala

I don't know when I'll make it but I have a load bananas so it will probably be soon.

zippychick

Hi Nuala

I've merged this with our banana bread thread .

I would make the banana tea bread using that method - i would throw in *some* walnuts and dates (having soaked the dates in bicarb - assuming that's what the book suggests?)

I have used this recipe for banana bread by thriftlady and it keep s fresh for around a week and is lovely and moist. I did try it without the egg, but for me it was just too crumbly personally.

good banana muffin recipe which can be made in a cake or loaf tin if you give it a bit longer in the oven. Thriftlady

Btw, you can freeze bananas for baking .Just put them unpeeled in a bag in the freezer.I always do this with over-ripe ones-perfect for baking.

Banana Muffins/Cake/loaf

Put in a large mixing bowl
10 oz plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarb
1/2 tsp salt

In another bowl mash 3 bananas(the riper,the better)
Add
4 oz sugar
1 egg,beaten with a fork(I never use the egg as dd allergic-you can replace it with 3-4 tbsp of milk)
2-3 fl oz milk
3 fl oz vegetable oil or melted butter

Add the liquid ingredients to the dry and combine thoroughly,BUT be careful not to over-beat,on no account use an electric beater,the mixture should look quite lumpy.

Line a muffin tin with muffin cases,or grease the cups well and fill about 3/4 of the way up.Bake at 190-200c for about 25 mins.
If you want to make a cake pour mixture into a greased 1lb loaf tin or a 7 inch round cake tin and bake for about 35 mins.check for doneness with a skewer-if it comes out of the centre of the cake clean it's cooked.
I usually double up the mixture,so I'm not entirely sure about the tin sizes ,I'm afraid.

You can obviously add chopped nuts,raisins,dried apricots or choc chips.Some mixed spice is nice too.

NualaBuala

Thanks Zippy, that looks like one I've used in the past before I got this date addiction!

I have a huge pile of soft bananas now so I'd better bung some in the freezer till I get round to making this.

zippychick

Yeah, i have bananas in the freezer too - why not just make the bread up now and freeze most of it?

Dates are so nom nom tasty!