James Beard Banana Bread

Dienia B.'s Note:

From James Beard Bread Book. One of the must have books. It's simply the best. I make muffins instead of bread, it's faster to make. The bread's not gummy and easier for my mum-in-law to eat. I grate up a little orange peel sometimes to be different.

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

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 4 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup honey
• 2 large eggs
• 3 ripe bananas , mashed
• 1 ½ cups flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup chopped nuts
• 1 teaspoon orange zest (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Cream the butter and sugar together.
3. Add honey, bananas, and eggs; mix well.
4. Sift dry ingredients together and fold into banana mixture.
5. Fold in nuts and optional orange zest.
6. Grease baking pan or muffin tins.
7. Bake at 350° for 1 hour. If you bake this in muffin tins, it's about 20 minutes. It is done when toothpick comes out clean.

Reviews

[fawn512]

fantastic banana bread. The honey keeps them stay moist. Though i find them a bit too sweet. Will reduce the sugar next time by 3/4 of the original amount. Baked them for 25-30min

[Kittencalskitchen]

I whipped this up today, and baked them in mini loaf tins. The addition of brown sugar and honey gave it such a wonderful taste. The only thing I changed was I added in 1 tsp baking powder instead of the 1/2 tsp stated in the recipe, and added some toasted walnuts into the batter... I got 3 small loaves, and they turned out just wonderful! I will be giving two away and keeping one for myself. Thank you Dienia, for a great recipe!...Kittencal:)