Today I am sharing another delicious, traditional South African recipe: Banana Bread!
Most South Africans love banana bread. I for one love all things sweet. I have shared my favourite Lemon Meringue Tart , Milk Tart and Pancake recipe previously. Today it is the banana bread recipe! It is an easy recipe, easy enough for kids to help make it!
Banana bread is a good recipe to make when you have overripe bananas. You could make a healthier version by substituting the sugar with sweetener, the flour with wholewheat or coconut/rice flour).
Now onto the recipe. Just remember the size of bananas varies. You might think you have a medium-sized banana, but it can be huge compared to what I am using here. I have seen in the US and Australia that you get really big ones, so play with the number of bananas you add- if it is too wet, add fewer bananas next time.
Ingredients
125 ml (1/2 cup) butter/margarine
125-250 ml (1/2 – 1 cup) sugar(your preference)
2 eggs
500 ml (2 cups) flour(cake or all-purpose or half wholewheat flour for a healthier version)
10 ml (2 teaspoons) baking powder
2.5 ml (1/4 teaspoon) salt
4-6 ripe bananas, mashed 400g (1 3/4 cup)
5 ml (1 teaspoon) vanilla essence(optional)
2.5ml(1/2 teaspoon) Cinnamon(optional)
Crushed pecan nuts(optional)
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180’C (350′ F).
- Use a small bread pan, sprayed with non-stick spray.
- Beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add essence if you wish.
- Add eggs one by one.
- Add dry ingredients.
- Add bananas(and nuts) and mix well but do not overmix.
- Add to the pan.
- Bake for an hour or until baked through.
- Serve with butter.
Grab this Banana Bread Clay Pan.
I hope you enjoy this traditional banana bread! Leave your thoughts in the comments or feel free to share this post! PS- check out this Malva Pudding recipe too!
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South African Banana Bread
A traditional South African recipe, perfect to bake with the kids- banana bread!
Ingredients
- 125 ml (1/2 cup) butter/margarine
- 125-250 ml (1/2 – 1 cup) sugar(your preference)
- 2 eggs
- 500 ml (2 cups) flour(cake or all-purpose or half wholewheat flour for a healthier version)
- 10 ml (2 teaspoons) baking powder
- 2.5 ml (1/4 teaspoon) salt
- 4-6 ripe bananas, mashed 400g (1 3/4 cup)
- 2.5ml (1/2 teaspoon) cinnamon
- 5 ml (1 teaspoon) vanilla essence(optional)
- Crushed pecan nuts(optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180’C (350′ F).
- Use a small bread pan, sprayed with non-stick spray.
- Beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add essence.
- Add eggs one by one and beat well.
- Add dry ingredients.
- Add bananas(and nuts/essence/cinnamon) and mix well.
- Add to pan.
- Bake for an hour or until baked through.
- Serve with butter.
Laurencia says
I’ve been using this very same recipe for many many years. I googled banana loaf recipes just to see what is out there. This recipe here is just the best. I’m sticking to this one because it says 4 to 6 bananas, its moist and it never flops. Other recipes says only 2 or 3 bananas. That’s way to little.
Well done!
Cassidy says
True this recipe today. Thanks for sharing. I love banana loaf, it’s my favourite. Will definitely make this my go-to recipe.
Sivile says
My very first time baking anything either than bread, and it came out beautiful and tasty too! Thanks so much Nadia!!
Nadia van Zyl says
Your bananans might have been a bit bigger. Perhaps bake longer? It should be wet-ish, but not too wet.
Nontsikelelo says
Hi I tried the banana loaf ,it came out very wet inside ,therefore it was not great
I had all the ingredients accurately mixed and temperature,I have no idea where I went wrong .I will try again 😊.Thank uou
Nadia van Zyl says
No need for baking SODA. If you use self raising flour, no need for baking POWDER. If you use all purpose flour you need baking POWDER. Confusing I know;)
Nicole Simonotti says
Hi sorry but if you are using baking powder surely I need to add baking soda too? And using all purpose flour -is that not self-raising flour which therefore means I don’t need baking powder nor baking soda?
Thanks. My first time making banana bread 🙂
Donna says
Yea for South Africa !
Nadia van Zyl says
It’s made with South African ingredients, from a South African family recipe, in South Africa, does that count?
Melinda says
How is this recipe “South African” differ from plain old American banana bread?
Nadia van Zyl says
That is great! Enjoy!
Jennifer B. says
Hi Nadia, I loved this banana bread recipe. It seems that it’s not too difficult to cook, so will give it a try next week. Thanks for sharing!