Banana bread is one of those wonderful foods that can be justified as breakfast food, even while it is incredibly tasty and sweet. Of course, you can also eat it as a snack or even as dessert for lunch or dinner. It’s also easy to transport, making it an ideal contribution to a pot luck, or a nice housewarming gift.
In an earlier version of this blog, this post used to contain the recipe for my favorite banana bread. The recipe is now here, along with the story of how I learned to make it. I’ve had this recipe for decades (how many I’d rather not say) and the loaf pan for almost as long. We bought the pan with a gift certificate that we got as a wedding present, along with the wooden bowl in which I chopped the nuts for the banana bread. Sometimes you find cooking equipment that is well made and suits you. When you do, it’s worth keeping – and treating well. It will serve you well and give you joy for more years than you may imagine.
I always make a loaf of banana bread because that’s how I learned to make this recipe, and I’m slow to change once I find a good thing. But my son Liam is much more creative; he makes the recipe into muffins.
Cost of Banana Bread/Muffins In 2011, when the banana bread recipe was originally published, I calculated the cost as $4.25 – $5 for a whole loaf of bread or batch of muffins if you bought the ingredients at a major grocery near my home in Washington DC. You can’t beat that at a bakery or restaurant! Food costs are pretty high around here, so you may find these ingredients cost you less if you live in a less expensive area or have access to stores with cheaper prices on the same items.
