Best Banana Bread Recipe

Shutterbean has done it again.

I made this today (in a mini loaf form) and it was delightful.

Maple Olive Oil Banana Bread


makes 8 x 4 inch loaf
recipe adapted from Shutterbean who adapted it slighting from Tara O’Brady for UPPERCASE Magazine

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup puree)
• 1/2 cup yogurt

Preheat oven to 350F. Butter an 8 x 4 inch loaf pan. Line pan with a sling of parchment paper, with the long sides overhanging. Lightly butter the parchment, then set the pan aside.

Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and spices in a medium bowl. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil and brown sugar, breaking up any lumps. Add the maple syrup and vanilla, whisking until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time and beat until fully incorporated. With a wooden spoon, stir in the bananas, then yogurt. Add the flour mixture to the liquids, stirring until just combined. Do not over mix. Pour batter into prepared pan, evening out the top if necessary.

Bake until a cake tester inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean, about 60-70 minutes. Remove from the oven, and leave the bread to cool in its pan for 10 minutes. Using the parchment sling, lift the bread out of the pan, unwrap and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

How to Bake Fresh Buns

November 17th is National Bread Baking Day and what better way to celebrate than by whipping up a batch of these yummy buns. Maybe you can even share with your scruffy-faced husband a la No-Shave November.

Ingredients:
1 cup warm milk
2 T water
2 T sugar or honey (stevia won't work - it does not provide food for yeast)
2 T margarine, butter or oil
1 pkg yeast
3 c flour
1 tsp salt

Directions:
1. Mix together first 5 ingrefients and let sit.
2. After 5 minutes, mix flour and salt together and mix in with other, wet ingredients forming a ball of dough.
3. Divide into how many buns you'd like to make (I recommend 6 or if you're doing mini-buns for sliders than 8 - 10). Put these smaller balls onto a cookie sheet.
4. Let rise for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 375.
5. Bake for 15 minutes or until slightly golden.

I like to add extra ingredients like sesame seeds on top for a burger bun or caraway seeds for a sandwich bun. You could also top with olive oil and rosemary, or try mixing shredded cheese into the dough.

Enjoy your National Bread Baking Day!