Some of my best recipes were thrown together on a whim. Does that ever happen to you?
This recipe is exactly that and it turned out amazing. We are not living in a time where wasting food is acceptable, in fact in my house it is an absolute no, no.
My kids never want bananas, until there aren't any, so last week I bought extra. Big mistake, you guessed it...nobody ate them and they went super ripe, way too fast! Long story short, I mashed them and was about to freeze them for future smoothies , the baby or baking.
Carlos having the biggest sweet tooth on the planet suggested a cake. He knows I am not a fan of baking, although good at it, I just prefer cooking. That said and since we are all in self isolation, I decided to make his day. I can never say no to food requests and he knows it ;)
This is a one bowl recipe and takes about an hour to bake.
It came out amazing and better than the sum of its parts....but the best cakes always do.
I used a stand mixer , but you can also use a handheld mixer or even just a wooden spoon, (good 'ol elbow grease), and bowl.
Granola Topped Banana Chocolate Chip and Pecan Loaf
Total baking time 1 hour
Makes 1 loaf, about 8, 2 finger width slices
Mine is springform, but it is optional, a regular loaf pan will work, just make sure you grease it and line it with parchment paper and butter the paper too, that will facilitate lifting out
My loaf pan measures
Length 30cm (11 Inches)
Width 12.5cm (5 Inches)
Depth 6.5cm (2.5 Inches)
4 Ripe bananas, mashed, but lumpy
1/2 ( about 125 g.) cup yogurt, any flavour, I used fat free plain Greek
250 g. Plain flour
100 g. Granola of your choice to top cake before baking
150 g.* Chocolate chips, I used semi-sweet but milk or dark work too. Choice is yours
100 g.* Pistachios, shelled and whole
75 g. Light brown sugar
75 g. Granulated sugar
80 ml. melted unsalted butter, if you only have salted butter use it but omit 1/2 tsp. fine salt below
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1 tsp. Baking soda
1/2 tsp. fine salt
2 Eggs beaten
Notes * Save a few of the chocolate chips and pistachios from above, about a handful total, to top batter before baking
Preheat oven to 175°C/350°F
1. In a mixing bowl whisk together eggs, sugar, butter, yogurt and vanilla. Whisk vigorously until well combined.
2. Fold in chocolate chips and bananas.
3. Add flour, baking soda and salt, mix well until no specks of flour are visible and mixture is well combined.
4. Pour into greased and lined loaf pan. Sprinkle with granola, reserved chocolate chips and pistachios.
5. Place in centre of preheated oven and bake for 1 hour.
Top will be golden brown, if browning too much, tent with foil.
Loaf is done when toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. If not bake longer in 10 minute increments.
6. When done, remove from oven and let cool 15 minutes before lifting/ removing from loaf pan.
When cool, slice with a serrated knife and serve .
I cut mine into two finger width slices....yummy
