Banana-Oatmeal Bread

Vino Girl's Note:

I love bananas and oatmeal, so when I saw this in the September 2004 issue of Cooking Light, I just knew I had to make it! I wasn't at all disappointed. The oatmeal makes it hearty and somewhat chewy, while the bananas and buttermilk make it sweet and moist - yet it is not as sweet or sticky-moist as some other banana breads I've had. This makes a smaller loaf than some recipes. I made 2 mini-loaves instead of one large one, and they were done in 30-35 minutes. EDITED to mention- Since I posted this recipe, I've made it several times. It has become THE banana bread recipe for this household, and when I give it as gifts it never fails to receive compliments. It is extremely versatile also. I have made it with yogurt in place of buttermilk, walnut oil for the vegetable oil, and I have cut back the sugar and added cinnamon as a couple reviewers suggested. This last time I made an eggless version by substituting 2 Tablespoons ground flax seed + 6 Tablespoons water for the eggs. (I think next time I will try a vegan version by also replacing the buttermilk with soymilk.) Every time it has turned out perfect!

• Total Time: 1 hrs 5 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 55 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 12

• 1 ½ cups flour
• 2⁄3; cup sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup oats
• 1 cup mashed banana
• 1⁄3; cup buttermilk (recipe says low-fat, but I used regular dry buttermilk)
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (I used more)
• 2 eggs , beaten
• cooking spray

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 8 x 4 inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
2. Combine dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
3. Combine banana, buttermilk, oil, vanilla, and eggs in a small bowl or measuring cup.
4. Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently just until the dry ingredients are moistened.
5. Spoon batter into the prepared pan and bake for 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Cool on a wire rack, in the pan, for about 15 minutes (I left mine in longer and it was fine).
7. Remove the bread from the pan after 15 minutes and cool thoroughly on the rack.

Reviews

[ecraw]

Wonderful Banana Bread!! great texture. Used Scottish Oats, half whole wheat, half white flour. Used Greek Yogurt instead of buttermilk. Add a quick Streusel Topping for those with a sweet tooth. Baked at 325 for 30 minutes with a lid (just placed another bread pan upside down over the top of the other one) to seal in the moisture and prevent burning of edges, then increased the temp. to 350 for another 20-30 minutes without a lid to finish the baking at brown the bread nicely. New Favorite! Might add more bananas next time, perhaps with some cranberries :)

[Geniale Genie]

I also modified the recipe quite a bit... First off, mixed the oats with the buttermilk (which I increased to 1/2 cup) and set aside to soak. I also halved the sugar and subbed all of the oil with applesauce. I used 1 1/4 cups of bananas. I also added 1/4 cup of poppy seeds, 1/4 cup of raw cocoa nibs, and 1 tsp rum extract (it could've used more). Baked in a loaf pan at 325F for 55 minutes and got a wonderful crust with a moist interior!

[JohnnyK]

Like most reviewers, I modified this recipe - I was not sold on the "chewy" aspect of the oats in the finished product, so instead I pre-cooked the oats (something learned from making Oatmeal Cake.) I combined the oats with 1/2cup boiling water and let them set to cool. Also, I did not have buttermilk on hand. Instead, I added butter (3 tablespoons) and 1/4 cup packed brown sugar-splenda blend to the oats . I combined the slightly cooled oats with the wet ingredients - and eliminated the oil altogether. In addition, I added 3/4 cup of chopped walnuts and then added the dry ingredients (I lowered amount of sugar to 1/3 cup.) The resulting bread came out moist and tasty. Not too sweet, and not at all chewy.