Baking Best Bits: Banana Loaf

With two (sometimes fussy) toddlers, I try to do as much as I can to sneak in fruit and vegetables to their food.  As mentioned in a previous post, they also love baking at the moment, so what better way than to combine the two. And it's a great way to use up overripe bananas.

Today I found myself with them both a bit under the weather and thought a good way to cheer them up would be to make some yummy Banana Loaf with them. It's really easy to make and doesn't take too long in the oven, which means they don't get fed up waiting.

Today I have made two versions...Banana & Chocolate Chip and Banana, Honey & Sultanas.  You can mix and match depending on what kind of version you like.  But here is the basic recipe:

Banana Loaf

Ingredients (this is based on a small loaf tin, however today I have doubled up all quantities)

1 ripe banana
3 dessert spoonfuls of sunflower/olive oil
50g caster sugar
110g plain flour
1 level teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
Raisins or sultanas (add to taste)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 200C
• Mash banana in a bowl and add in the oil
• Mix together the sugar, flour and baking powder in a separate bowl
• Beat egg and add to the banana
• Add raisins/sultanas (or chocolate chips) to banana and stir
• Then add all of the dry ingredients and stir well
• Grease loaf tin and pour in the mixture
• Bake in the oven for 30-40mins at 200C, or until golden brown and a skewer comes out clean
• Leave to cool in the tin

This is amazing when eaten slightly warm (especially the choc chip version as the chocolate is still all gooey!)

And of course, it's made with fruit so it must be good for you...