Banana Bread/Cake

One of my all time favourites with a freshly brewed espresso coffee in the morning or afternoon. This has to be the best and most enjoyable fruit bread or cake, made with one of the most popular fruits. There is always those few bananas that become just too ripe to eat, turning that awful colour. But why let them go to waste when you can make them taste even better! The recipe is 100% foolproof every time, packed with great taste.
The secret to a great banana bread is not just the overripe bananas, but the golden syrup as well. Some recipes have sugar instead of syrup, however the flavour and texture of the cake is just not the same. The recipe makes enough for a small bread tin. If you want a loaf looking just like a slice you can get from a cafe, double the mixture and cook for about 1 hour or until the cake tester comes out clean. Due to the extra time in the oven, the cake may begin to brown too much, I normally cover the tin with baking paper creating a dome so the cake still has room to rise.

Banana and Walnut (Right) and Banana Bread (Left)

Banana and Walnut Bread

Banana Bread

Banana and Walnut Bread and Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 3 overripe bananas mashed
• 1 3/4 cup plain flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp bi-card soda
• 2 eggs whisked
• 4 tbsp cream
• 1/2 cup golden syrup
• 125g butter

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180^oC.
2. Grease bread tin with butter and line with baking paper.
3. Sift flour, baking powder and bi-carb soda in a bowl.
4. Melt butter and golden syrup in a saucepan over low heat. Allow to cool slightly and transfer to a bowl. 
5. Add cream, mashed banana and whisked eggs. Combine all wet ingredients thoroughly.
6. Fold the wet mixture through the flour until combined.
7. Pour into a bread tin and cook for about 40mins or until the cake tester comes out clean.
8. Allow to cool in the tin before moving to a serving plate. Best eaten warm with butter.

Hints!

• Golden syrup can be very tricky to work with as it is very thick and sticky. Place jar in the microwave for a short time to soften or place jar in a saucepan with hot water. This makes the syrup runny and easy to pour.
• For Banana and Walnut Bread add 1 cup of roughly chopped walnuts
• Like sultanas as well? Add 1/2 a cup to the mixture.