Easy Banana Bread

This is a brilliant and easy Banana Bread Loaf Cake recipe and is as good as I have ever had. It is delicious, really moist and so moreish it's dangerous. Gently spiced and buttery, it is one of my children's favourite bakes and one I don't feel so guilty about putting in their lunchboxes, the lucky whatnots.

How could a simple Banana Bread Loaf Cake conjure up such enthusiasm? Because it's ssssssspecial, that's why.

I love it in many banana ways. I love how robust it is, it doesn't even contemplate dipping in the middle. It's a really fool proof recipe.

I love how moist it seems to be but with no signs of squishiness and I LOVE it's buttery, caramel banana flavour.

*There is a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.*

Banana Loaf Cake Recipe

175 grams (7 oz) Bananas - I try to use up the brown bananas but bananas that aren't going brown are good to use too. Who knew?

225 grams (9.5 oz) Plain Flour - You can use Self Raising and omit the baking powder

225 grams (9.5 oz) Sugar - I usually use unrefined caster sugar as it has a slight caramel flavour. You could substitute light brown sugar. If you were to use the white caster sugar then you will lose some of the caramel flavour.

120 grams (4.9 oz) Butter - salted butter and melted. Baking spread won't do here I am afraid. You could substitute unsalted if that is all you have but then you would need to add a pinch of salt.

1 tsp Cinnamon - Ground. You could add your favourite ground spices to suit.

2 Eggs - Medium or Large

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 

1 tsp baking powder

I have also added, from time to time, 100 grams of milk chocolate chunks just because. You could also add chopped walnuts or pecans.

Recipe Steps

• Preheat your oven to 170 C/325 F/Gas Mark 3
• Place your eggs and sugar in a mixing bowl or your free standing mixer. Using a hand held electric whisk or your mixer beat together for a couple of minutes.

• Add the mashed bananas and mix again for 30 seconds or so.
• Add the dry ingredients and mix again until all is incorporated and smooth.

• Add the melted butter and slowly beat in as the butter can shoot everywhere at first. Speed up your mixing when the butter is mostly mixed in and mix until completely combined.

• Tip into a lined 2lb loaf tin. I use paper liners for ease, they're brilliant.

• Bake for 1 hour. It usually cracks open along the centre a little leaving a craggy dome on top of the cake. Leave to cool in the tin. I test it with a cocktail stick to see if there is any wet mixture left on it when I skewer it right in the thickest part. I also carefully press the centre of the cake. If it is firm to the touch that tells you it's baked too.

Baking Tips

• Use an independent oven thermometer as oven temperatures can vary greatly to those that you program in
• Be accurate with your measurements
• Make sure the bicarbonate and baking powder are in date (it's easy to miss their expiration date)
• Get all ingredients ready before you begin
• Line your loaf tin with a paper case for all round ease
• Take time to make sure it is baked all the way through

How Do I Store Banana Loaf Cake?

I wrap it in cling film- plastic wrap and then store it in my cake dome or air tight container.

It is at its absolute best eaten within 4 days and then after that it is still INCREDIBLE  spread with salted butter and still pretty fantastic served plain. I may heat it for 10/20 seconds in the microwave for added squeals.

Can I Freeze It?

Yes you can. Freeze once completely cooled. You can freeze a whole loaf or slices.

Double wrap  individual slices  in clingfilm and then silver foil before placing in an air tight plastic container. Do the same for a whole loaf. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Don't forget to label them otherwise you'll find it in 2034 and still be none the wiser.

Defrost at room temperature still wrapped for 4 hours depending on size of frozen cake.

If you love a nice bit of cake then you might like these too.

Carrot Loaf Cake

Easy Chocolate Cake

Apple Crumble Cake

Light Fruit Cake

Victoria Sponge Cake

Or take a look at the whole gorgeous category here. It's packed full of fabulous easy baking recipes.

Do let me know how you get on in the comments below or tag me in your social media. here's my Facebook Page and Instagram. I love to hear all about it.