Banana and Pecan Bread

With these colder days persisting I couldn’t resist the temptation of baking a beautiful banana bread to warm us all up and put a smile back on our faces. I make many versions of banana bread but this one is perhaps the most wholesome. I know that bananas are about one million dollars per kilo at the moment but I have thankfully got an ample supply in the freezer. I always put the bananas that have gone brown into a container in the freezer so that they are there for whenever the urge to bake takes over me. Aside from being frugal, the frozen bananas tend to produce the best banana bread.

I baked these ones in little muffin cases which makes them easier to pop into lunchboxes but also gives them a shorter cooking time. If you want to bake this recipe in a loaf tin you need to reduce the heat to 160°C and bake them it for a little longer

Ingredients:

½ cup macadamia oil

6 bananas

3 heaped tablespoons of brown sugar

1 tablespoon golden syrup

2 cups wholemeal flour

1 cup plain flour

2 heaped teaspoons of baking powder

1 level teaspoon of bicarb soda

1 cup pecan pieces

Sesame seeds and slivered almonds for decorating

Method:

First you need to defrost your bananas by either leaving them at room temperature for a while or heating them in a little saucepan on a low heat until they become soft. Once your bananas are soft, mash them up then stir in your brown sugar, golden syrup and macadamia oil. Pour your flours, bicarb soda and baking powder into a separate large mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Pour the wet banana mix slowly into the flour mix until it is all mixed together. Fold through the pecan pieces. Spoon the mix into 12 muffin cases and sprinkle with sesame seeds and slivered almonds.

Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 30 mins or until golden brown and the muffin bounces back when tapped on the top. Don’t be tempted to test these with a skewer because they will remain quite soft inside but if you cook until the skewer is dry you will get a horrible dry muffin or bread. This banana bread is great toasted with butter and it is just as good when served at room temperature with a beautifuly warming cup of tea or coffee.