Lockdown is pretty weird, nobody knows what day it is, loo roll is our most valuable asset and a trip to the supermarket is the new going out-out (with a security flanked queue to prove it). When it comes to Instagram, there’s only one question, are we even in isolation if we haven’t watched Tiger King whilst simultaneously baking banana bread?
We’ve never left a trend un-tested, so we challenged some of the #IslandersAtHome to try out the internet’s most hyped banana bread recipes. The results are in, if you want to have the best bake on the gram (and on your plates) we’ve got you…
HQ hun, Tara tried out BBC Good Food’s - Brilliant Banana loaf. This recipe is more of a drizzle cake, but since the brief was banana bread, she swerved the icing and served it with pecan nuts and maple syrup instead - genius move. Easy to bake and super tasty, Tara would 100% choose this recipe again, but experiment with more toppings and twists of her own.
T’s top tip: Trust your instincts, my bake needed longer than the recommended cooking time, around seven minutes extra for me!
What you need
140g butter
140g caster sugar
2 large eggs
140g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 very ripe bananas
50g icing sugar
handful dried banana chips
What you do
Heat oven to 180ºC
Butter loaf tin and line with greaseproof paper
Cream 140g softened butter and 140g caster sugar until light and fluffy
Slowly add 2 beaten large eggs with a little of the 140g flour
Fold in the remaining flour, 1 tsp baking powder and 2 mashed bananas
Bake for 30 mins or until a skewer comes out clean
Cool in the tin for 10 mins, then remove to a wire rack
Mix 50g icing sugar with 2-3 tsp water to make a runny icing
Drizzle the icing across the top of the cake and decorate with banana chips
Our Editorial Manager Jen is all about keeping it local and is missing that sweet coffee shop culture. So, it came as no surprise to us that her recipe came straight from one of her old haunts, Federal cafe in Manchester. Loved for its distinctive richness, this brunch menu favourite is made with dark brown sugar - sinful in the best possible way. According to Jen, it’s the highlight of her isolation and best served toasted (with even more butter) and a fresh black coffee.
J’s top tip: Loads of local independent cafes are making doorstep drops, support them if you can!
What you need
2 eggs
270g dark brown sugar
280g self raising flour
4 ripe bananas
1 tsp of cinnamon
1 tsp of bicarb of soda
140g butter
What you do
Grease Your loaf tin and line the bottom with greaseproof paper
Whisk the eggs, then whisk in the sugar
Mash up the bananas
Add the bananas, flour, cinnamon and bicarb and mix well
Melt the butter in the microwave (or on the hob) until it's liquid, then stir into the mixture
Bake for 55 mins at 170ºC
When it came to choosing her recipe, social superstar Rads was charmed by the naked chef - Jamie Oliver, obviously! Managing diabetes means watching those sugar levels so this more bread-like option (without sugar) was an automatic winner. For a first bake, Rads said this was super easy to make and tasted divine. We’re really feeling the rustic charm in the presentation, with flour dusting and spring blooms on the side.
R’s top tip: I didn’t have self raising flour so I popped some baking powder in with my plain and it worked a treat.
What you need
olive oil
250 g self-raising flour
3 ripe bananas
2 tsp fresh apple juice
125 g unsalted butter
2 large eggs
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons runny honey
What you do
Preheat the oven to 180ºC
Lightly grease the loaf tin with olive oil
Dust the sides of the tin lightly with flour
Mash the bananas in a mixing bowl
Add the apple juice and stir to combine
In a separate bowl, beat the butter with a wooden spoon until creamy
Crack in the eggs one at a time and beat well
Fold in the flour, cinnamon, honey and banana mixture, taking care not to over mix
Spoon into the loaf tin and bake for 40 mins