An easy and super tasty banana bread which will make you want those bananas in the bowl to turn brown just so you can make it!
I hadn’t tried banana bread until we came on holiday to Australia over eleven years ago. Banana cake I had eaten: a slice eaten with a cup of hot tea; but not toasted and buttered, with coffee (and often on the beach).
It soon became synonymous with us landing in Australia.
Jetlagged and having not slept for over 30 hours, we would drag ourselves to a beach and order banana bread and large coffees. That would get us to lunch time.
This banana bread recipe is one I have used for years. I have always gone through phases of loving bananas, and then suddenly going off them so they sit forlornly in the bowl; and Mini Jones is following this trend. But when you have a tasty, easy banana bread recipe on hand, then having leftover ripe bananas is not a problem!
Using buckwheat flour in this recipe gives the banana bread a slightly nutty note, which we love. I have also started to use this nutrient packed alternative to white flour as much as possible throughout my baking, it is more expensive than bleached white flour but I do believe in packing as many nutrients into each bite as possible; even better when I can do this and still enjoy cake!
What is Buckwheat flour?
Buckwheat, despite its name, is not a type of wheat, nor is it a grain. It is actually a fruit seed related to rhubarb. It contains no gluten and has no known allergens (and is probably why it featured heavily in my diet growing up, when the medical profession tried to see if food allergies were the cause of my symptoms of ME).
Do I Have to Use Buckwheat flour?
If you don’t have buckwheat flour, use the same amount of wholemeal flour.
How do I make mini banana bread loaves?
This recipe will make 3 small tins (12.5cm x 8cm) – as in the picture. Just reduce the baking time to 40-45 minutes.
If you are looking for more baking ideas, why not have a look at my Chocolate Orange Drizzle Cake, Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies, or, for something without chocolate, Lemon Shortbread
Have you made this recipe? Tag me on Instagram #atmrsjoneskitchen or Facebook, or leave a comment below. I’d love to see your creation!
Easy Banana Bread
Ingredients
125g butter/margarine - melted and cooled
95g wholemeal flour
25g buckwheat flour
100g plain flour
50g / ½ c ground almonds
½ tsp cinnamon
Pinch mixed spice
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
90g / ½ c brown sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tbsp golden syrup
2 tablespoons milk
2 large/3 small bananas, peeled and mashed
Topping:
1-2 tbsp coconut flakes, optional
1 tbsp buckinis*, optional
Method
Melt the butter/margarine and leave to cool.
Preheat the oven to 150°C (130°C fan)/ 300˚F and line a 19cm x 9cm loaf tin with baking paper.
Place flours, almonds, cinnamon, mixed spice, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and brown sugar into a mixing bowl and mix until evenly blended.
Add eggs, vanilla, golden syrup and melted margarine. Mix well then fold in milk and bananas.
Pour into the prepared tin, sprinkle over coconut flakes and buckinis.
Bake for 1 hour, or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out cleanly.
Cool in the tin for 20 mins. Then move to wire rack to cool completely.
Slice into 10 slices, serve either plain or with butter.
Notes
* buckinis is the name given to activated buckwheat. It is soaked, drained and dehydrated.This helps release more minerals and vitamins from the buckwheat groats.
I LOVE banana bread! I love the story behind how you came to love it also 🙂 can’t wait to try this delicious recipe!
Thankyou Alexandra, perhaps you will need a slice when you return from your awesome adventures! 🙂
Yuuum, I love a good banana bread and the idea of using buckwheat flour is great! I had also never had banana bread before I moved to Australia hehe
Thanks Sylvie! The buckwheat flour really adds a lovely flavour to the banana bread.
Banana bread is one of my favourite things – I always have it in my freezer for breakfast emergencies. Love the use of buckwheat flour for an gluten free alternative, will have to give that a try!
It is such a great snack to have in the freezer! Would love to hear how you go with the buckwheat flour Sally!