Banana Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1½ cups mashed ripe banana
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp sea salt flakes
- ½ cup coarsely chopped roasted walnuts
- 2 small bananas halved lengthways
- 2 tbsp brown sugar for sprinkling
- Ricotta and honey to serve
Instructions
Prepare the Loaf Pan:
- Grease a 4-inch x 8-inch loaf pan.
- Line the base and sides with parchment paper, ensuring that the paper sits flush with the rim of the pan.
Mix the Wet Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and vanilla until the mixture becomes pale and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until just combined.
- Add the mashed bananas and maple syrup.
Combine the Dry Ingredients:
- Sift in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt.
- Add the chopped roasted walnuts and stir with a large spoon until the mixture is combined.
Fill the Loaf Pan:
- Spoon the banana bread mixture into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the surface.
Preheat the Air Fryer:
- Preheat a 5- or 6-quart air fryer to 325°F for 3 minutes.
Air Fry the Banana Bread:
- Carefully pull out the air-fryer pan and basket.
- Place the loaf pan in the basket.
- Slide the pan and basket back into the appliance.
- Keep the temperature set at 325°F and set the timer for 10 minutes to cook the banana bread.
Add Banana Halves:
- Place the banana halves, cut-side up, on top of the banana bread.
- Cover the loaf pan with foil, then pierce the foil.
- Set the timer for 40 minutes and allow the banana bread to cook.
- Uncover the bread, set the timer for an additional 5 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.
Cool and Serve:
- Remove the loaf pan from the basket and allow the banana bread to sit in the pan for 10 minutes.
- Then, turn it top-side up onto a wire rack to cool.
- While the bread is still hot, scatter it with brown sugar.
Serve:
- Serve slices of banana bread topped with ricotta and drizzled with honey.
Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:
You will need 3 large bananas to make 1½ cups of mashed banana.