Banana Bread or Muffins

This is the best banana bread recipe I’ve ever found. I got it from a friend many moons ago, when we were college students. I have never seen another recipe like it, as it uses hot water. You might be dubious that hot water makes a difference. All I can say is “try it.” 

This recipe used to be just for a loaf of bread. But my son Liam makes it into muffins.

Best Banana Bread Recipe (Ever! – I kid you not)

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter or margarine (8 tablespoons or 1 stick)
• 1 cup white sugar
• 3 medium bananas (about 1 cup mashed) – the softer the better
• 2 large eggs at room temperature (take eggs out of regrigerator 20-30 minutes before using them, or place in a bowl of warm water for 10-15 minutes to warm them up slowly)
• 1 cup white all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/3 cup very hot water. Heat in microwave – do not use hot water from tap.
• Optional – ½ cup to ¾ cup of chocolate chips, nuts, granola or a combination
• Oil, butter, margarine or cooking spray for using on loaf pan or muffin cups unless using muffin liners.

Equipment

• 3 bowls (2 medium and 1 larger) if using microwave to melt butter or 2 bowls and a small pot for melting butter
• sifter or colander – for sifting white flour with baking soda and salt
• large fork or spoon for mixing (I prefer a fork)
• spatula
• loaf pan or muffin tin (If you are making muffins, consider using liners instead of pouring batter directly into muffin cups. Liners make clean-up easier because you don’t have to butter or oil the muffin tins if you use liners and they make it easier to store muffins.)

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter or oil a loaf pan or muffin tins with just enough to prevent batter from sticking to pan (or place liners in muffin tins.) I prefer canola oil cooking spray for this step – use sparingly, but make sure to get in corners of loaf pan as that is where finished bread often sticks if pan isn’t well prepared.
2. Melt the butter stovetop in a small pot on stove or in the microwave.  Add the sugar to the melted butter.
3. In a separate larger bowl, mash bananas. Break the eggs into bowl with mashed bananas and mix them up just until whites and yolks are combined. (There is no need to beat for a long time.)
4. Add the sugar/butter mixture to the bananas and eggs.
5. Sift the white flour with the baking soda and salt. Stir the whole wheat flour into the white flour/baking soda/salt mixture. 
6. Add dry (flour/baking soda/salt)  mixture to wet (banana/egg/sugar/butter) mixture in 2-3 batches, alternating with small amounts of the hot water. If you are using optional ingredients, add them now.
7. Bake loaf pan for about 1 hour and 15 minutes or muffins for about 40 – 45 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting knife into loaf or muffin. If it comes out clean, then banana bread is done.
8. Let the bread or muffins cool in pan until you can easily handle them. The bread tends to stick if you try to take bread out of loaf pan before it has cooled enough.

Cost of Banana Bread/Muffins

If you are trying to save money on food, one of the easiest ways is to cut out expensive cups of coffee/tea and bakery items. Check out the price of muffins or thick slices of good bakery breads. This banana bread will keep you happy and save you money – I promise.