Simple Banana Bread

Original Recipe HERE

I must have at least fifteen banana bread and muffin recipes saved, all very similar to each other.  So I'll keep making my way through my inventory, keeping my standards high, until I have it narrowed down to just a few.  Many bread attempts are too dry on the outside yet still gooey on the inside.  That's why I often make them into full-size muffins instead (because while I like the quick-eating convenience and feeding-of-the-masses ability of mini-muffins, I find the texture of regular size muffins is usually better and the taste somehow seems more pronounced).

This recipe was super easy: the batter was made in less than ten minutes and didn't even require a whisk, much less an electric mixer.  Reading through the comments shows many variations, so I took a few tips and ended up with the following recipe that was delicious.  It had a strong banana flavor, was perfectly crusty on top while perfectly moist inside.

Ingredients

3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed

1/2 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

pinch of salt

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup shredded dried coconut [optional]

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips [optional]

Directions

(1) Preheat oven to 350°F.  Grease 4x8" loaf pan or 12-cup muffin tin.

(2) Mash bananas to uniform, smooth consistency.  In separate bowl, whisk egg.

(3) With wooden spoon, mix yogurt and mashed bananas in large mixing bowl.

(4) Mix sugar, egg, and vanilla into banana-yogurt mixture.

(5) Sprinkle baking soda & salt over mixture; stir.  Add flour; mix thoroughly.  Add coconut and chocolate chips (if using); stir until just mixed.

(6) Pour mixture into loaf pan or muffin tin.  Bake 1 hour for bread or 25 minutes for muffins (done when knife inserted in center comes out clean).

(7) If bread, cool on rack before removing from pan.  If muffins, remove immediately from tin and cool on rack.

Notes: For the sake of comparison, I would use apple sauce instead of yogurt (or using a vanilla or strawberry or banana yogurt).  I would also try honey in place of sugar, and a lime glaze would add a nice tartness.

Kid Participation

* Mash bananas

* Stir wet ingredients

* Crack egg

* Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients

* Sneak chocolate chips when they think Mama isn't looking