Saturday afternoon was baking time in my mama’s house. One of my mama’s favourite recipes was definitely Banana Bread…made with nuts.

Baking was fun and still is! It gets so busy with family and work but I try. Malope loves baked treats and this gets me baking more often these days. So, I work with simple recipes and this encourages me to keep baking.

Here’s my simple Banana Bread recipe to try!

INGREDIENTS

6 tablespoons margarine or butter
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
3 medium-sized bananas (very ripe)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda.
1/2 cup cooking chocolate (grated)

1. Pre-heat your oven at 180 degrees.

2. Melt the margarine/butter in the microwave or over low heat on the stove top.

Photo: Mama Malope

3. Combine margarine and sugar. Whisk until properly combined.

Photo: Mama Malope

4. Add eggs. Whisk until they are completely combined and the mixture is nicely smooth.

Photo: Mama Malope

5. Add milk. Whisk the milk into the mixture.

Photo: Mama Malope

6. Add the mashed bananas. You may wish to peel and add the bananas into the mixture and then mash them in with a folk. I prefer to mash the bananas in a separate bowl and then add to the mixture and whisk.

Photo: Mama Malope

7. Add the flour and baking soda. It’s important to note that baking soda is extremely important for this recipe. You can’t replace it with baking powder. You may want to add some baking powder but it cannot replace the baking soda. The baking soda evens out the bananas and prevents density. Stir the flour and baking soda into the mixture gently until just barely combined and no more dry flour is visible.

Photo: Mama Malope

8. Fold in the grated cooking chocolate gently.

Photo: Mama Malope

9. Pour the mixture into the pan and pop into the oven for 50 to 65 minutes. Bake until the top is dark brown and cracked open with some if the yellow inside peeping through. Check for readiness using a toothpick. If it comes out clean, it’s ready!

Photo: Mama Malope

10. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then gently free up the sides from the pan and turn over onto a board or tray and cool for another 10 minutes and slice!