Signature Banana Loaf

Banana Bread is my staple. It's my 'go to' bake. My work colleagues have eaten way too much of the stuff as I always have black bananas in the house! 

The recipe is super, super simple and belongs to the queen herself, Mary Berry. 

Ingredients

100g Softened Butter
175g Caster Sugar
2 Large Eggs (my eggs are usually just medium size!)
2 Ripe Bananas (mashed)
225g Self Raising Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
2 tbsp. Milk

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180C / Fan 160C / Gas 4.
2. Lightly grease a 2lb loaf tin, then line the base and sides with baking parchment. (I use a rubber loaf mould, lined with a loaf case.)
3. Measure all ingredients into a mixing bowl (I sift in the flour, sugar and baking powder) and beat (I use the lowest setting on the hand whisk) for about 2 minutes, until well blended
4. Spoon the mixture into the tin and level the surface
5. Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 1 hour (I add 5-10 extra minutes for my loaf), until well risen and golden brown.  A fine skewer inserted in the centre should come out clean if the loaf is ready.
6. Leave to cool in the tin for a few minutes, then turn out, peel off the parchment and finish cooling on a wire rack.

The loaf is delicious warm out of the oven or simply on it's own once cooled. You can add a frosting for the top if you like, but we especially love our banana loaf grilled and topped with yoghurt, honey and fruit or nuts!

Now that Winter is well and truly on the way, our comfort food favourite will definitely be a chocolate chip loaf. We tried this today for the first time and were really pleased with the result - especially warm from the oven! We just popped in some chocolate chips after the first minute of beating.

Hope you enjoy this wee loaf recipe as much as we do here at My Little Duke HQ!

All my love,

Steph xox