Why we all suddenly want banana bread (+ recipe!)

Go outside? Nope. You’d better bake banana bread. And no matter how isolated or confined you feel, at least you’re not alone in this! Because thousands of people all over the world are doing the same thing: Google Trends shows that this is THE comfort food people are searching for – even more than, for example, mac and cheese or other sweet baking projects such as chocolate cake or apple pie.

Why is that? One logical explanation is that we’ve all stocked up on far too much food, including fruit and vegetables, and it’s now becoming clear that you really don’t feel like eating three bananas a day. And there they are, slowly turning brown in the fruit bowl. Luckily, overripe bananas are perfect for that rich, soft, creamy batter. Another explanation is also why many people are cooking and baking more now than in ‘healthier’ times: making something with your hands and getting something warm, comforting, and sweet in return gives you a sense of control and security. And we could all use that in these uncertain times. This recipe really is for everyone, especially if you’re not an experienced baker. So roll up your sleeves and bake along!

How to make perfect and easy banana bread

• Place the oven rack slightly below the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 170° C.
• Place a sheet of parchment paper in the loaf tin and fold the edges well outward. It can hang over the long sides of the tin quite a bit; you’ll use it to lift the bread out of the tin later.
• Grease the inside with butter (or baking spray).
• Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat.
• Put the butter and sugar in a large bowl and mix well with a whisk or hand mixer.
• Break the eggs into the bowl and mix until smooth.
• Stir in the milk and vanilla.
• Peel the bananas and mash them into the mixture with the whisk, mixer, or a fork.
• Leave them slightly chunky or make them as smooth as you prefer in your bread.
• Add the flour, baking soda, and salt.
• Now take a spatula and gently stir until the dry ingredients have just been incorporated into the mixture and you can no longer see any dry flour.
• Now add the extras (e.g. nuts) just as carefully, if you’ve chosen to use them.
• Carefully pour the batter into the tin and scrape everything from the bowl into it.
• Smooth the top.
• Place in the oven and bake for approximately 50 minutes to just over an hour.
• After 50 minutes, test whether a skewer inserted into the center comes out ‘clean’. If not, let it bake a little longer and test every five minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes in the tin, placed on a wire rack.
• Then lift it out of the tin using the paper and let it cool for another 10 minutes on the rack. Then you can slice it; enjoy!

Vegan? Just as easy—look here!

Read also:

• Banana bread with walnuts and cranberry
• Did you know you can eat banana peels?
• 5 ways to use up overripe bananas