Go Bananas with Banana Bread!

Everyone has some memory of their mother in the kitchen baking Banana bread or their elementary school teacher bringing banana bread to class as a healthy snack for the kids.This tasty treat has been around for decades and it still has not lost its appeal. Banana Bread is a moist, sweet bread that is quick and easy to make. It's absolutely delicious and can be made with many variations from adding chocolate chips to blueberries. It is typically a no-yeast bread made with mashed ripened or over-ripened bananas.

Banana Bread is as American as Apple Pie. It still maintains a high level of popularity in the united states among families and is almost always seen at bake sales. Though the banana has existed for thousands of years and is believed to have its origins in Asia, banana bread has its origins in the 1930s right here in the United States. Its popularity is associated with the acceptance of baking powder as a leavening ingredient.

Fun Fact: February 23rd is National Banana Bread Day in Australia.

There's nothing better than the smell of good ol' fashion banana bread wafting through your home. Despite the many variations of this delectable delight, nothing beats original banana bread.

Prep Time: 15 Min.
Bake Time: 55 Min.
Servings: 2 Loaves

What You'll Need:

• 2 1/2 Cups of all purpose flour
• 1 1/4 Cups of sugar
• 2 Packages of instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 1/4 Tsp of baking soda
• 1 Tsp of salt
• 1 Tsp of ground cinnamon
• 5 Eggs
• 2 Cups of mashed bananas, ripened or over-ripened
• 1 Cup of canola oil
• 1 Tsp of vanilla extract
• 1 Cup of nuts, chopped (optional; only for Banana Nut Bread)

Directions for Making Banana Bread:

1. Combine the flour, sugar, vanilla pudding mix, baking soda, salt and ground cinnamon in a large bowl.
2. Whisk in the eggs, mashed bananas, oil and vanilla extract.
3. Stir in the chopped nuts if you plan to make Banana Nut Bread.
4. Mix until it's well blended.
5. Pour the mixture into two greased loaf pans (8x4 in.).
6. Bake at 350°F for 55 to 65 min. or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
7. Let it cool for 10 minutes before removing the bread from the pans.

This is an interesting variation of Banana Bread that include another healthy fruit: Blueberries. This bread is sure to fill your home with the sweetest scent your nose has ever smelt!

Prep Time: 10 Min.
Bake Time: 30 Min.
Servings: 3 Mini-loaves

What You'll Need:

• 1/2 Cup of shortening
• 1 Cup of sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 2 Tsp of vanilla extract
• 2 Cups of all purpose flour
• 1 Tsp of baking soda
• 1/2 Tsp of salt
• 2 Medium ripe or over-ripened bananas, mashed
• 1 Cup of blueberries, fresh

Directions for Making Blueberry Banana Bread:

1. Beat the shortening and sugar, in a large bowl, until it's light and fluffy.
2. Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract.
3. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt and steadily add it to the creamed mixture.
   
4. Beat until its well mixed.
5. Stir in the mashed bananas.
6. Fold in the fresh blueberries.
7. Pour the mixture into three greased loaf pans (5 3/4 x 3 x 2 in.).
8. Bake at 350°F for 30 to 35 Min. or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
9. Let it cool for 10 minutes before removal from pans.

This variation offers up everyone's favorite fruit and everyone's favorite sweet: Bananas and Chocolate. Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is probably one of the oldest variations of banana bread (next to Banana Nut bread of course).

Prep Time: 20 Min.
Bake Time: 45 Min.
Servings: 1 Loaf

What You'll Need:

• 3 Bananas, mashed
• 1 Cup of sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Cup of flour
• 1 Tsp of baking soda
• 1/2 Cup of chocolate chips
• 1 Stick of butter or margarine, softened

Directions for Making Chocolate Chip Banana Bread:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Melt the softened butter or margarine for greasing the loaf pan.
   
3. In a large bowl, mix the mashed bananas and sugar together.
4. Beat in the eggs until well mixed.
5. Stir in the flour and baking soda until well blended.
   
6. Stir in the chocolate chips.
7. Pour the bread mixture into the greased loaf pan.
8. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
9. Let it cool for 10 minutes before removing the bread from the loaf pan.
   

Traditional banana bread frosted with chocolate and peanut butter. Chocolate and peanut butter addicts' mouths will be watering (I know mine is just thinking about it).

Prep Time: 15 Min.
Bake Time: 1 Hr.
Servings: 1 Loaf

What You'll Need:

• 1/2 Cup of shortening
• 1 Cup of sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Cup of bananas, mashed
• 2 Cups of all purpose flour
• 1 Tsp of baking powder
• 1/2 Tsp of baking soda
• 1/2 Tsp of salt
• 1/2 Cup of peanuts, chopped
• 1/2 Cup of chocolate chips, semi-sweet
• Chocolate frosting
• Creamy peanut butter

Directions for Making Monkey Tail Bread:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Grease the loaf pan (9 x 5 x 3 In.) with shortening.
   
3. In a large bowl, beat the shortening and sugar, until fluffy.
4. Beat in the eggs and bananas until well mixed and smooth.
5. Beat in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, until well combined.
6. Stir in the peanuts and chocolate chips.
7. Pour the mixture into a greased loaf pan.
8. Bake on 350°F for 1 hour or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
9. Let it cool for 10 Minutes before removing the loaf from the pan.
10. Once removed, Let it cool complete for at least 1 hour.
11. Put some chocolate frosting in a small plastic food-storage bag and microwave it for 6 to 10 seconds, until it's pourable.
12. Add some peanut butter to the bag and gently squeeze it until the peanut butter and the frosting are well combined.
13. Snip off a tiny corner of the bag and squeeze it to drizzle the mixture over the banana bread.

Enjoy your Banana Bread!!

Skylar Spring © copyright 2011