In a sea full of banana bread bakers, how can you stand out? Simple—step up from the basic recipe by getting creative and adding in ingredients for a more interesting twist.
Before anything else though, it’s important to first master the basic banana bread recipe, as well as learn some hacks.
With ingredients as simple as banana, sugar, egg, cooking oil, salt, vanilla essence, all-purpose flour and baking soda, there’s no wonder why a lot of novice bakers are starting their journey in the kitchen with this loaf recipe.
Based on my experience, overripe bananas are the best to use as it helps bring out the flavors of banana bread. Additionally, overripe bananas are much easier to mash since they are already soft, which makes the batter smoother.
This recipe hack also suggests separating the yolks and egg whites prior to mixing it with your banana bread batter. While setting the yolk aside, whip the egg whites before incorporating it into the batter. This makes the texture of your bread lighter.
Another hack is to bake a sliced banana into the top of the banana bread to add more texture to the final product.
Ready to amplify your basic banana bread recipe? Here are some inspirations.
Banana Bread Brownies
Create a banana bread and brownie hybrid by following this vegan “banownies” recipe. Alternatively, you can make this by melting chocolate chips and butter together first and setting them aside to cool. Afterward, mash the bananas and add sugar and vanilla extract. Mix these together and add beaten eggs, flour, salt and the chocolate chips and butter mixture you made earlier before baking in the oven.
Banana Cranberry Walnut Bread
Although this recipe uses cranberries and walnuts, you can also switch it up by using any dried fruits (raisins are also a favorite among the banana bread community) which will serve as an added source of moisture and sweetness in this baked treat.
Banana Nutella Bread
Why settle for regular banana chocolate bread when you can make banana Nutella bread instead? Kidding aside, Nutella lovers can use this recipe which incorporates the hazelnut chocolate spread into the batter.
Banana and Carrot Bread
This cross between carrot cake and banana bread requires ripe banana, finely grated carrots, flour, sugar, eggs, melted butter, baking soda or powder, vanilla essence and salt—plus nuts, if you want.
Header photo by Jeff Siepman on Unsplash
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Writer: YANN MAGCAMIT
