I'm all things Fall. We grow pumpkins, decorate our porches like a pumpkin patch threw up on a field of mums, and light all the scented candles. I do really enjoy the change of seasons, especially when it comes to Fall baking and cooking. Sure Pumpkin bread screams fall more than Banana Bread, but with the added kick of Allspice and a heavy dose of Cinnamon, I promise no one is going to miss the pumpkin in this dish! It's sweet, and chocolatey, rich and savory with the spices.
So I was snack-mom for Preschool last week and they requested a bunch of baby bananas. I had a crazy week so I just did a Target Drive-Up and ended up with about 20 too many bananas. I was kind of happy though because I've been really craving banana bread. I let the girls help me come up with a recipe and after testing a few out, we landed on this one as our favorite.
It's soft and moist and the loads of chocolate chips and some of that caramelization of the brown sugar makes it pretty divine. I snacked on it for dessert more than breakfast, but you choose how to enjoy it :)
How to Make Fall-Spiced Banana Bread
Start by preheating your oven to 375°. Then get to work creaming your room temperature butter and sugars until a thick paste. From there, add in your extra ripe bananas and beat until mixed well. The riper the better on the bananas! They should be extra soft and just about ready to be tossed out if you don't use the within the next day or two.
Next, begin to mix your dry ingredients. This banana bread goes heavy on the Allspice, which is a pretty potent spice as well as on the cinnamon. It gives it a savory kick that reminds me of Fall. I used All Purpose Flour for this bread and got a good rise from it but Whole Wheat Flour would also be a great option!
I mixed up my wet and dry ingredients until they're just combined. Too much mixing and your bread will get chewy. After everything is mixed, determine the add-ins. We went simple with chocolate chips, but a 1/2 cup of chocolate chips and a 1/2 cup toasted walnuts or pecans (or both) would be delicious. Raisins are also a great option!
Add the banana bread to a greased loaf pan or into a pan with parchment paper and bake for around 42 minutes, or until the center has set and a toothpick comes out clean.
Bake it up, let it cool and slice to enjoy.
Comments