Molly of Orangette tweeted about banana bread the other day and now I can't stop thinking about it. (Thanks, Molly!) What I wouldn't give for a thick slice of nut-studded, slightly sweet, banana-tastic banana bread on our plate right now. What is it that makes banana bread so gosh darn good?
Personally, I think a great deal of it is texture. My ideal slice of banana bread is so tender that you barely have to chew. You can easily break off little nibbles over the course of a long coffee session, and yet the slice holds together with surprising sturdiness.
I like to hold that nibble on my tongue for just a second before biting in. The soft banana flavor. The floral vanilla. The spiciness of the cinnamon and cloves, if those are the spices that were used. Nuts are ok in my book, though I tend to steer clear of chocolate chips for some reason I can't explain. I also like the depth of flavor a little whole wheat gives.
Yes, I have no choice now. If you need me I'll be in the kitchen with one of these recipes:
• Banana Bread with Cinnamon Crumble Topping from Orangette
• Banana Bread (with Coconut!) from Mark Bittman in The New York Times
• Banana Bread (with Sour Cream!) from Martha Stewart
What's your favorite kind of banana bread?
Related: Are Bananas Going Extinct?
(Image: Flickr member shimelle licensed under Creative Commons)
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I love me some good banana bread or really, just about any fruit inspired quick bread. I prefer mine toasted however so the edges get crunchy but yet the insides remain tender.
The picture doesn't look like any banana bread I've ever eaten...?!
I make the Banana Bread from " Mad Hungry" by Lucinda Scala Quinn.
I usually put walnuts in mine, but before Christmas I bought some peanut butter chips on sale and didn't end up using them. So I'm going to try adding those. Should be good, just like a PB&B sandwich.
I like mine with walnuts.
I made a gluten-free version of Joy the Baker's healthy banana bread, subbing plain, full-fat yogurt for the oil. I skipped the gums and funny chemicals and it still turned out amazing. Low sugar, no oil, no butter, yet so addictive.
I love peanut butter banana bread! It's the perfect combo, especially with nutella or honey.
love this bread. i prefer no nuts in bread, but give me a slice and some real butter! yum. the toasted edges and honey are thing i'll have to try!
I have to limit my banana bread, because since I was small, I've been addicted to pan-frying it up in a little butter and topping it with cream cheese. Recently, I made it into french toast...and a new addiction was born.
The lower-fat spiced banana bread from Veganomicon is a staple of mine for gift-giving, and everyone always raves about it. It`s perfect in every way, though I especially like it with peanut butter!
http://thebakingbird.blogspot.com/2009/02/best-vegan-banana-bread.html
Banana bread + butter = breakfast.