Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Banana Bread

I have baked this Banana Bread, which actually a cake really, many times ever since I got this book of Nigella ages ago. For those of you who have tried Nigella's recipe would know that this is one delicious banana bread/cake. Most of us have our own favourite recipe when it comes to Banana Cake, and at the moment, this is my favourite.


This is one of the best banana cake (I'll just refer this as a cake!) that I've eaten. The yellow raisins (sultanas), are first boiled for a minute with some rum and left to cool so that the raisins soaked up all that rum and gets all plump and yummy. The raisins are then drained before use. A small amount of walnuts are used, which I did not bother toasting. I use 3 bananas which comes to about 300gm in weight without the skins. The recipe calls for 4 small bananas, the ones I had was medium to large, thought of using 2, but I had three, so I used all three. I just mashed them with a fork, leaving some pieces chunky and some mashed.


The cake bakes up beautifully with a lovely crust, mine was done in exactly an hour.


Look at the plump raisins and the chunky bananas with bits of walnuts. The raisins are really nice, plump and juicy with a slight crunch when you bite into it, and the fragrance of the rum really came through, yummy! Of course, the bananas are delightful and with the nutty walnuts, simply delicious!


The texture of the cake is really moist, soft and "banana-ey"! This cake was gone in no time! Give it a try, especially if you are a fan of banana cakes.


Banana Bread
(adapted from "How To Be A Domestic Goddess" by Nigella Lawson)
Makes 8 to 10 slices
scant 1/2 cup golden raisins
6 tablespoons or 3 ounces bourbon or dark rum
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt (I omit this as I use salted butter)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
4 small, very ripe bananas, mashed (I use 300gm, without skins)
1/4 cup chopped walnut
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


9x5-inch loaf pan, buttered and floured or with a paper insert


Put the golden raisins and rum or bourbon in a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat, cover, and leave for an hour if you can, or until the raisins have absorbed most of the liquid, then drain.
Preheat the oven to 325F and get started on the rest. Put the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium-sized bowl, and using your hands or a wooden spoon, combine well. In a large bowl, mix the melted butter and sugar and beat until blended. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the mashed bananas. Then, with your wooden spoon, stir in the walnuts, drained raisins, and vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture, a third at a time, stirring well after each bit. Scrape into the loaf pan and bake in the middle of the oven for 1 to 1-1/4 hours. When its ready, an inserted toothpick or fine skewer should come out clean. Leave in the pan on a rack to cool, and eat thickly or thinly sliced, as you prefer.


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I'm linking this post to Cook Like A Star, All-Stars Anniversary Party, hosted by Zoe of Bake For Happy KidsMich of Piece of Cake and Joyce of Kitchen Flavours.
(click on any of the hostess blog for further info and to link your posts)

All-Stars Anniversary Party featured chefs :  Ina Garten, Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson, Curtis Stone, Ree Drummond, Bill Granger, Masterchefs, Martha Stewart, Delia Smith, Donna Hay




See you at the Party!
From 1st March to 30th April!

and

I'm linking this post to :


 photo 77951578-1914-4b72-8eda-9e40a91183ac_zps331eb4b4.jpg

29 comments:

  1. Banana and raisins (with rum!) sound good, Joyce! I love banana cake and I would love to try this one :)

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  2. Hi Joyce this is lovely. Can I turn into cupcakes? Any changes or tips for me if I want it to be into cupcakes. Usually what type of banana you're using?

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    1. Hi Angeline,
      A great idea to turn this into cupcakes, as the cake is moist and tender. I don't see of any changes to make these into cupcakes, except of course watch out for the baking time. I use pisang berangan for these, I like using these bananas for baking. Hope you give this cake a try, it is really good! Happy Baking!

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  3. Hi Joyce
    Good day to yoy. I love banana in bakes. They will make the cakes real moist and the aroma while baking filled the house. Yes, raisins and rum in this recipe sounds wonderful.

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  4. Hi Joyce, Banana bread with rum? Interesting and sounds good too.

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  5. this sounds delicious and they came out super perfect

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  6. Hi Joyce, I'm here to try your banana cake, oh, banana bread.

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  7. I meant to bake some banana bread.... But I was starving and ate the overriped bananas... Sigh... This time I'm the culprit.... So I can only make do by admiring your bread

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  8. This banana cake does look very moist!

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  9. Hi Joyce, I love banana cakes. Your cake look moist and the combination with rum sounds great!

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  10. Looks so moist and beautiful! I love it.

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  11. Se ve delicioso y perfecto,abrazos.

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  12. Hi Joyce , I bet the banana bread melts in your mouth , gorgeous thanks for sharing :)

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  13. I have not yet using rum to soak raisins and use in baking. This banana cake sounds and look delicious ! Shall try once I have some banana.

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  14. Hi Joyce,

    What an co-incidence! I have just visited Yen's banana bread... Best banana bread!!! Looks like this is the recipe that I have to bake if I have excess banana.

    Zoe

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  15. I love raisin soaked in rum, but never thought in adding into a banana bread...looks delicious Joyce...yum!
    Thanks for the recipe and have a great week :D

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  16. Wah Haha, must be very delicious looking at the picture of this cake. Soft and moist. Definitely better than Kuih Kolok...

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  17. Your bread looks really good and delicious!

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  18. Who doesn't love a delicious piece of Banana Bread Cake? Yours looks so yummy, Joyce. I have soaked raisins before but never for banana bread and those chunks of bananas, what a great idea. I always mush them way too much, lol...I love the idea of keeping some chunks in there. A mouthful of this "cake" must be heavenly!!! I can see why it's gone:) Thank you so much for sharing, Joyce...

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  19. I love banana bread. I have made so many different versions of it. This looks SUPER tasty ;)

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  20. hi Joyce, best banana cake!! yes, i love banana bread too, delicious!

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  21. This sounds like a delicious variation of a favorite, Joyce!

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  22. I must bookmark this recipe too! I always have leftover bananas than I know what to do with them...I ended up bringing the whole bunch to office to distribute to the boys:P

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  23. Hi Joyce, this banana bread looks so yummy and tempting. It reminds me of fruits cake. Already drooling. Thanks for sharing, Joyce and you have a great day ahead :)

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  24. I love your banana bread, looks so moist and delicious!

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  25. Awesome post, thanks for sharing this post..

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