Banana Bread

INGREDIENTS

100g unsalted butter, at room temperature

175g light or dark brown sugar

200g unbleached all-purpose flour

200g bananas, mashed

85ml milk

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

57g chopped walnuts, optional

125g raisins

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C. Lightly grease a loaf pan.

2. In a large bowl, combine the butter, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt, beating until smooth.

3. Add the mashed bananas and eggs, again beating until smooth.

4. Add the flour, and then the walnuts, stirring just until smooth.

5. Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top. Let it rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.

6. Bake the bread for 45 minutes, then gently lay a piece of aluminium foil across the top, to prevent over-browning.

7. Bake for an additional 25 minutes. Remove the bread from the oven; a long toothpick or cake tester inserted into the centre should come out clean, with a few wet crumbs clinging to it. The tester shouldn't show any sign of uncooked batter. If it does, bake the bread for an additional 5 minutes, or until it tests done.

8. Allow the bread to cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Remove it from the pan, and cool it completely on a rack.