Marry Berry Banana Bread Loaf

Mary Berry banana bread loaf is a deliciously moist loaf cake, best served in thick slices which really doesn’t need to be buttered. It is one of Mary Berry’s most popular recipes. It freezes extremely well. And any bananas left in the fruit bowl are ideal for making this cake – the riper they are, the better. .

Preparation time
less than 30 mins

Cooking time
30 mins to 1 hour

Serves
Serves 6-8

Dietary
Vegetarian

By Mary Berry
From  The Great Sport Relief Bake Off

Ingredients

  • 1 ripe banana (peeled weight 100g/4oz)
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • 50g/2oz soft butter or baking spread
  • 75g/3oz plain flour
  • 75g/3oz caster sugar
  • ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 free-range egg
  • 50g/2oz dark chocolate chips

To decorate (optional)

  • 50g/2oz dark chocolate

Method

  1. Preheat the oven 160C/140C Fan/Gas 3. Grease and line a 450g/1lb loaf tin with baking paper.

  2. Use a fork to mash the peeled banana in a mixing bowl. Add the remaining cake ingredients (except the chocolate chips) and beat with an electric hand whisk until combined and smooth.

  3. Stir in the chocolate chips and spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin. Level the top.

  4. Bake for 40–45 minutes or until well risen, shrinking away from the sides of the tin and golden-brown.

  5. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes, then remove from the tin and leave to cool on a wire rack.

  6. For the optional decoration, break the chocolate into small pieces and add to a heatproof bowl.

  7. Melt the chocolate in the bowl over a pan of simmering water (ensuring that the bowl does not touch the water). Stir regularly, until almost completely melted, then remove from the heat. The heat of the bowl will melt any remaining lumps.

  8. Spoon the melted chocolate into a piping bag and pipe zig-zags across the top of the loaf. Set aside for the chocolate to set. Slice and serve.

The quantities for this cake can easily be doubled – bake in a 900g/2lb loaf tin for 55 minutes. Add 50g chopped pecans or walnuts if you like.

 

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