I use Pinterest for a lot of things, it’s great for food inspiration, like if you have a lonely ingredient in the fridge and don’t know what to do with it just type in “asparagus” and see what recipe roulette you get. I’ve been through the gluten free, sugar free, wheat free, dairy free phases with baking as I’m always trying to find a healthy alternative or ingredient substitute. When it comes to the classic South African Banana Bread, those recipes just don’t cut it. In fact, I have had more flops than successes with those recipes so for a change, here is a flop proof, utterly delicious Banana Bread recipe for you to try with substitutes! Win win situation really.
Original Banana Bread Recipe (justrecipes.co.za)
Ingredients:
- 125g butter or margarine
- 1 cup castor sugar (white or brown sugar is okay though) – I used 1/2 cup of brown sugar, xylitol is ok too but will influence the colour.
- 2 cups flour – I used self raising flour as I didn’t have the regular stuff.
- 2 eggs
- 3 large bananas, mashed – I used 1 banana and 2 grated carrots as the husbo ate my other 2 banana’s. I’ve also made the recipe with 3 banana’s.
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
Method:
- Preheat oven to 180°C
- Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. (I don’t own an electric beater so I chucked everything into a blender)
- Add bananas and vanilla and fold in dry ingredients. (I mashed the banana’s and mixed with creamed butter and sugar and then folded the wet ingred. into the dry ingred.)
- Bake in a greased loaf tin for 45 minutes. (it really does take this long to bake, so patience is key. If you want to make a round cake, muffins, square cake etc it will probably take less time to cook. Approx. 20mins)
Variation:
- Grate an apple or pear or some carrot as well and put in the mixture.
Tips:
I like to freeze half the loaf as it makes a really big one and it avoids the husbo and I over eating. I have to cut really thin slices to make it last. (Not sure if he’s as chuffed about this as I am.) At the end of the week, when there wasn’t much left, I made french toast for brekkie. Make a basic egg/milk mixture and some cinnamon, soaked into the pieces and fry them lightly in butter. Serve this with as healthy or unhealthy accompaniments, who’s gonna know?
