Banana Loaf

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes

Cooking Time: 1 Hour

Serves: 8 

Ingredients:

• 2-3 ripe bananas
• 200g self-raising flour
• 2 eggs
• 175g caster sugar
• 150g butter, softened at room temperature
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 75g chopped mixed nuts
• 50g dark chocolate chips
• 1 tsp vanilla essence

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C or gas mark 3. Grease and line a 2Ib loaf tin with greaseproof paper.

2. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until soft. Place the chopped nuts (if using) in a single layer on a lined baking tray and ask a grown-up to pop them in the oven to lightly toast them for 5 minutes, being careful not to let them burn. Ask a grown-up to remove them from the oven and set them aside – be careful because they will be very hot.

3. Peel the bananas, place them in a bowl, and mash them with a fork until smooth. Add the banana to the butter and sugar mixture and stir to combine. Sift the flour into the mixture. Beat the eggs in a measuring jug and add to the bowl. If using, add the nuts, chocolate chips, and vanilla. Give everything a good stir round, and then tip the mixture into your lined loaf tin.

4. Place on a baking tray and ask a grown-up to pop it into a pre-heated oven and bake for 1 hour to an hour and ten minutes. Ask a grown-up to take the loaf out of the oven and check it is cooked through by inserting a skewer into the middle of the loaf – when it is cooked, it will come out clean.