banana bread Archives - Splash of Sherri

I’m about to turn your breakfast world upside down with my creation of banana bread waffles! You read that right Banana bread WAFFLES! It’s no secret banana bread was the official baked good during Covid-19 and hand up – I’m guilty and have baked dozens. At one point, when my son saw me about to bake yet another banana bread, I think he went pale! After splashing a little water on his face I asked “what am I going to do with all of these bananas?” Of course I freeze a lot for smoothies, but at the rate I have been buying them I still had plenty left over.

Since I already had the ingredients out for the bread, I said okay, how about banana bread waffles? His eyes lit up and this is how a recipe is born! I took my mom’s banana bread recipe (which we love) and tweaked a couple of things. I grabbed my waffle iron to see how they would come out, SUPER YUMMMMMMMY – that’s how! The waffles have everything you love about banana bread; they are naturally sweet from the bananas, soft and cakey like banana bread on the inside, and slightly crispy on the outside like a waffle.

When I served them I turned it into a party and set out a topping bar with sliced bananas (because why not?), fresh blueberries, toasted walnuts, sliced almonds, chocolate chips, strawberries, and maple syrup. Toppings always make everything better, don’t you think? Get creative with yours and set out what you like. You can also add finely chopped walnuts or mini chips right to the batter.

Here’s the best part, now that little by little we are all taking steps to get back to life outside our homes, you can have your banana bread in a fraction of the time. Start to finish breakfast is ready in less than 30 minutes. If you’re still looking for something special to make Dad for breakfast/brunch today this is it! These are perfect anytime you want to make breakfast or brunch a little bit more special. The recipe makes 8 waffles depending on your waffle iron, you can them warm in the oven until ready to eat, and they freeze great, but I don’t think there will be leftovers! What are you waiting for? Start mashing some of those bananas on your counter! As always, Enjoy! And happy Father’s Day!

ingredients
1 ½ cups all-purpose unbleached flour
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 to 3 large ripe bananas (1 cup mashed a little more will be fine)
2 extra-large eggs at room temperature
¼ cup sugar
½ cup Greek yogurt or low-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
chopped walnuts (optional)
mini chocolate chips (optional)

directions
In a large bowl add all the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk to blend together and set aside. If you are going to add any of the optional ingredients like the walnuts or chocolate chips, add them to the flour mixture.

In a second bowl add the mashed banana, yogurt, eggs, sugar and butter and mix until well blended. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet and mix just until blended. Do not over mix.

I used a waffle iron with four squares using about a half cup batter in each well and yielded 9 waffles. Follow your waffle iron directions and cook accordingly.

When I moved from Florida to New York in in the late 80’s, I lived with my sister and her family for a year. It was a lot of fun living there and being able to spend time with my niece and nephew. They were a couple of cuties! Every couple of months my sister would get a package from our mother. Inside were banana breads, mandel bread (Jewish biscotti), and sometimes the newest candy she found and would send to my niece. My mother loved candy and had a knack for finding the newest and greatest candy on the market to send her.

Anyway, her banana bread was good, but back then we weren’t really into banana bread. It was loaded with walnuts and raisins and my brother-in-law was probably the one who enjoyed it the most. It made my mom so happy to send us her baked goods and she always put a post it note on top that said “enjoy”. When I moved into my own apartment about a year later, I started getting my own packages of banana bread. Luckily, it was my boyfriend’s favorite! Maybe that’s why he asked me to marry him? It might have been her banana bread that sealed the deal!Fast forward a few years. I am married to the banana bread lover and I have children of my own. I was always looking for a healthy snack or a fast breakfast when it hit me, they love bananas, how about my mother’s banana bread recipe? It is so easy to make and such a treat and they loved it. The first time I made it exactly like the recipe was written. Then I cut way down on the sugar (from 1 1/4 cups to 1/3 cup) I figured the bananas were sweet enough plus, I added an extra banana, why not! Then, instead of using margarine or butter, I used sunflower oil (from Trader Joe’s of course!) but of course you can use vegetable oil.

Her original recipe also called for sour cream, which I now swap out with Greek yogurt. A couple of little tweaks and voila! A delicious banana bread is born! I have to tell you, I was really missing out years ago. I just made a couple loaves this morning using avocado oil and wow, was it delicious! BTW… Avocado oil is one of my new favorite things (I’ll be writing about that soon). I hope you give this recipe a try, it’s so good and if your single, try it out on your boyfriend, who knows what will happen! If you do get engaged because of it, please let me know! Enjoy!

3 to 4 large ripe bananas (1 1/2 cups)
1 1/2 cups all purpose unbleached flour
2 large eggs at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
4 tablespoons non-fat Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla) or sour cream
1/3 cup sunflower or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon good vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup walnuts (optional)
1 cup raisins (optional)
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional, but highly recommended!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare either one large loaf pan or two smaller ones. Lightly spray with canola oil.

In a large bowl add all the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk to blend together and set aside. If you are going to add any of the optional ingredients like the walnuts, raisins or chocolate chips, add them to the flour mixture.

In a second bowl blend the eggs, sugar and oil until well blended. You can use a hand mixer on low for this step but I like to whisk it by hand until light and fluffy. Mash the bananas with a fork and add them to the sugar and egg mixture. Mix to incorporate, then add the yogurt and vanilla. Once this is blended together start adding your dry ingredients slowly. Mix just until blended. Do not over mix or it will make a tough bread.

Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Test with toothpick and if it comes out dry, it’s done.

Splash of Sherri

Tag: banana bread

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