make ahead

The Best Banana Bread

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I’ve (Amelia) loved banana bread my whole life. I remember being eleven and eating almost an entire loaf, my mom being shocked, and me feeling like I could still go for more. Given a proper incentive, I’m sure I could still pull it off today. Our banana bread is the best of its kind. Whenever I stray and try a new recipe it’s not the same.

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Why is it the best? A combination of butter and coconut oil gives this sweetbread the perfect flavor profile, so it’s moist, sweet, and perfectly balanced. Feel free to skip the chocolate, but also please don’t. And, if you’re feeling like a real treat, we highly recommend banana bread sundaes.

We learned to turn banana bread into a dessert sundae at Sacco’s Bowl Haven in Somerville, MA.

We learned to turn banana bread into a dessert sundae at Sacco’s Bowl Haven in Somerville, MA.

Banana Bread

Makes 2 loaves

 

  • 2 eggs

  • 5 bananas

  • 1/2 cup butter

  • 1/2 cup coconut oil or shortening

  • 2 cups sugar

  • 4 cups flour

  • 2 teaspoons soda

  • 2 teaspoons salt

  • 1 cup chocolate chips or diced dried apricots, or a combination of both (all optional)

 

Slice the butter cube in half and put half in each of the two bread pans. Place in the oven for the butter to melt while you heat the oven to 325°. This will not only grease the pan, but also brown the butter a bit, for a little extra wonderful flavor.  

Whisk together the flour, soda, and salt. Peel and smash the bananas with a potato masher.

Beat together the butter, coconut oil or shortening, and sugar for a minute or two until fluffy and thoroughly mixed. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each. Stir in the banana, then stir in the dry ingredients, but only until some white streaks still remain. Add the chocolate chips or apricots, if desired, and finish stirring so that the batter has a uniform texture.

 Divide the batter between two pans smoothing the tops a bit, and bake for 65 to 70 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes, then remove from pans to finish cooling on a cooling rack.

We love to eat this simply sliced, or sliced and toasted, or with ice cream and hot fudge sauce, like a brownie sundae with a twist.

Banana bread and hot chocolate for a heavenly 4 pm snack.

Banana bread and hot chocolate for a heavenly 4 pm snack.

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