When the bananas are spotted and the apples gone soft, kids avoid the fruit bowl like the plague – but a bread lover knows that fruit past its prime is ripe for the baking. This recipe is perfect for using up old fruit as well as for proving (to kids, picky eaters, or any other disbelievers) that a little age can be just the right ingredient for a delightful dessert. Who knows – after trying this dark and dreamy sweetbread, you may well be tempted to let your fruits go brown!
Baking with Kids? Child-Proof It
This easy recipe is great for kids – young children will love mashing up the bananas, measuring ingredients and stirring the creamy, spiced mixture with a wooden spoon!
If, however, you are using any fruit that will not mash as easily (apples, as this recipe recommends, or other variations suggested at the bottom), you should complete any necessary slicing and paring first – before inviting kids to help. Once the knife is safely put away, you and your young ones are good to go!
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 ripe bananas, smashed
- 1/2 to 1 soft apple, diced (Fuji recommended for sweetness)
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
- 3/4 to 1 cup brown sugar (add to taste)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- Pinch of ground cloves
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1½ cup flour
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F (170°C).
In a large mixing bowl use a wooden spoon to combine the mashed bananas, diced apple, and melted butter. Stir until creamy.
Add the brown sugar, egg, vanilla, and then the spices. Mix well.
Sprinkle the salt and baking soda on top and stir in.
Mix in the flour. The mixture should be smooth and creamy (apart from diced fruit).
Butter a 4×8 inch loaf pan; pour mixture into it.
Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a fork comes out clean.
Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes before eating.
Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Variations: Adapt This Delectable Dessert Bread
What’s sitting around the house? Raid the fridge, check the fruit bowl and turn out all lunchboxes – because, although this recipe uses an apple to complement bananas, the combination of fruits used is flexible and invites innovation. You might try including peach, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, or a multi-fruit combination. The important thing is to use enough fruit that will smash into a creamy substance (as bananas do) and a proportionately smaller amount of any fruit that will not.
Happy baking!
