Sunday, November 30, 2008

Mom's Banana Apple Bread


I know banana bread is well loved by many but for me it's pretty blah. Banana bread was what my mom frequently baked when I was growing up and while I did love it, now I could easily take it or leave it. But I was intrigued by this recipe for banana bread that involved sauteed spiced apples. And thus began my journey into The Sweet Melissa Baking Book (which is excellent by the way). This loaf was really delicious and very soft. The apples added a yummy flavour - enough to convince me that while it is "just" a banana bread, I will be making it again.

I'm getting into finals now so unfortunately not as much time for baking as I'd like but I'm definitely spending a lot of time thinking about what goodies I'll be making for Christmas! I can't wait to see what everyone else will be making - especially the cookies.

If this sounds good, you might also like:
Caramelized Apple Danish Braid
Chocolate Walnut Banana Bread
Russian Grandmother's Apple Pie-Cake
Candied Maple Walnut Pancake Loaf

Mom's Banana Apple Bread
Adapted from The Sweet Melissa Baking Book

Makes either 1 9"x5"x3" inch loaf or 1 8"x4" loaf and 6 muffins.

For the apples:
2 tbsp unsalted butter
3 tbsp firmly packed brown sugar
2 apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla

For the banana bread:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups very riped mashed bananas (2 to 3)

Before you start
Position a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly butter your baking pans (either one 9x5x3 pan, or one 8x4 pan and 6 cup muffin tin).

To make the apples
Preheat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter and brown sugar and heat until bubbling. Add the apples and cinnamon and saute until golden and tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the vanilla. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

To make the banana bread
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and salt.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

3. Combine the orange juice and vanilla.

4. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in three batches, alternating with the orange juice mixture, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl after each flour addition. Stir in the mashed bananas until combined. Then stir in the reserved apples.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan (and muffin tin if using). Bake for 55 to 60 minutes (for loaves) or 25-30 minutes (for muffins), or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove to a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes before unmolding onto the rack to cool further.

20 comments:

Johanna GGG said...

my mum made banana bread all the time too so I am quite blase about it - but every now and then I fancy that sort of comfort! Curious to taste it with apples!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Loooooove it!!

Fitness Foodie said...

Can't go wrong with banana bread, perfect for anytime of day.

Anonymous said...

In all my years of baking, that is one combination I've never thought to try! Sounds delicious.

Good luck studying and with all your finals! Looking forward to your holiday treats to follow.

Snooky doodle said...

this bread looks yummy. I ve never paired it with apples , Nice combination :)

Anonymous said...

I made this a few months ago and loved it! It was such a great variation on plain banana bread. Hope finals go well for you!

Maria said...

Oh wow, this bread sounds super good!!

Bunny said...

I like this combination, it really sounds good!

Cakespy said...

I adore that book too, everything I have tried has been so good. Looks like this one should be my next experiment!

Lyrically speaking said...

this looks soooooooooooo good, haven't had sweets in a while and craving it...

grace said...

i just got that cookbook, and this recipe was one that i bookmarked on my first scan-through! i'm glad to see it's a good choice. :)
and hey--good luck on those finals... :)

MissGreenTea said...

Yum...the apples look delicious in the bread and the recipe itself looks very good. I usually make banana bread with butterscotch for x-mas gifts every year, but I'm going to give this a try for something new. This will be my weekend project :)

jd said...

Banana + apple bread? What a scrumptious combination!

Deborah said...

Somehow, I missed this recipe in the book. I'll have to go look it up, because it looks delicious! good luck on finals!

Cakebrain said...

hey hey hey! That's looking like a particularly good version of banana bread! I am still on my banana bread recipe quest...in search of the ultimate recipe. I'm looking for good banana flavour and a nice texture...I'm going to have to try this one soon!

Anonymous said...

I never knew apples and bananas go well together! Thanks for sharing the recipe :) And best of luck for the finals!

Joanna said...

the sauteed apples sound really good in this recipe. i've never thought of doing that before. it looks really good and packed with fruit.

by the way, i have made most of the muffins that you've posted!!! i just love all the flavors you make. my next one will most likely be the whole wheat blueberry.

Steph said...

Banana, apples and orange juice.. sounds and looks great!

Anonymous said...

You can never have too much banana bread, and since there are so many variations, it doesn't have to get boring. :)

Dana said...

Aha! Apples! That is a great idea and perfect addition to banana bread. My husband loves it and I don't really - but mostly because I haven't found what I want in there. Plain is too plain and chocolate chips is too much like cake. This looks perfect! I've bookmarked it!