Monday 4 October 2010

Banana Chocolate and Pecan Loaf

Hi everyone I’m back from a lovely restful weekend at the lodge. The weather wasn’t the best and it rained on and off but we made the most of it. When the weather was dry we picked more cooking and eating apples, chopped up wood to bring back for our open fires and enjoyed our walks around the woodland and open field we have at the lodge. It was a very productive weekend and I came home with 2 gorgeous new tablecloths and matching napkins that my mother in law made with the fabric I recently bought from eBay. My Lemon Curd and Blueberry Loaf Cake was thoroughly enjoyed and didn’t last beyond Sunday evening, it’s definitely a must bake! In addition I also made this scrumptious Banana Chocolate and Pecan Loaf, I couldn’t go away for the weekend and leave the sad looking bananas in my fruit bowl. I adapted this loaf to my taste and added chocolate instead of raisins and Total Greek Yoghurt instead of buttermilk. The end result was a moist, chocolatey, nutty and very yummy banana loaf.



Banana Chocolate and Pecan Loaf

Ingredients
100g softened unsalted butter
140g light muscovado sugar
2 large eggs
3 large ripe bananas, mashed (about 450g/1lb total weight)
50g pecans, roughly chopped
50g milk chocolate, chopped (or raisins)
150ml buttermilk or Total Greek Yoghurt
280g plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Preheat the oven to fan 160C/ conventional 180C/gas 4. Butter a 20 x 13cm loaf tin and line the base with greaseproof paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together the butter and sugar with an electric whisk until creamy. Beat in the eggs one at a time (don't worry that the mixture looks curdled). Stir in the mashed bananas, pecans, chocolate and buttermilk/Greek yoghurt.

Sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda on top of the banana mixture, then fold in until evenly mixed, taking care not to overmix. Spoon into the prepared tin and level the top.

Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes until a skewer pushed in the centre comes out almost, but not quite, dry. Remove from the oven and leave for about 10 minutes, then turn it out of the tin on to a cooling rack to cool.

18 comments:

Amy said...

This looks delightful! I am going to be trying out the Butterscotch Banana Pudding this week (which is how I found your blog to begin with) and I may as well save some bananas for this too!

I am wondering where you get the loaf sized papers for you pans? I am in the US and have not seen them, but think they would be so handy.

Maria♥ said...

Hi AB

Thanks and let me know what you think of the Butterscotch Banana Pudding.

I buy my loaf liners from Lakeland. They have a website too but not sure if they deliver to the US. Here is the website.
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/

Maria
x

Nic's Notebook said...

OMG u make the most lovely things! I have tried banana and walnut cake - it was delicious. I like the idea of adding choc to this one lol.. mmmm :)

busygran said...

Maria, I love anything baked with bananas! This one I've got to try! Thanks.

Unknown said...

Violet just went mad, pointing at the computer screen going "cakey, cakey, it's cakey mum". As if I don't have an endless supply in the kitchen already, and she needs more. I think she likes the look of your Banana, Chocolate and Pecan Loaf!

Please stop mentioning your weekends at 'The Lodge' - I just turn green with envy everytime.

Jill xx

Barbara said...

Oh good! Another loaf cake. I love them and you have such super recipes for them, Maria. This one looks excellent...of course adding chocolate instead of raisins can't help but result in a tastier version!

Victoria said...

OMG! Your loaf is terrific and looks soooo delicious! I love your recipes Maria! :)

Gloria Baker said...

María this look really yummy i love bananas loafs, look really nice, gloria

Maggie said...

This looks like a lovely cake Maria, with great flavours too.

cocoa and coconut said...

I always welcome a new banana bread recipe. It's just the best loaf cake!

Jan said...

Maria - love this banana pecan loaf and with the chocolate too!
Glad to hear you're making my pasta bake tonight - please let me know if it turns out okay x

Lucie said...

So glad you had a good weekend. This loaf looks wonderful - I could eat the lot! xxxx

Chele said...

Hubby is gonna love this one ;0)
Thanks for sharing.

Heather said...

This delightful cake has a lot of my favorites. It's definitely on my "to make soon" list.

Nic said...

Another delicious looking cake Maria! Glad you had a restful weekend, something we all need now and again.

Sarah said...

I made this for my hubby yesterday and he loved it!
Can I just ask, when you mention your weight for bananas, is this without the skins on?? I know it may be a silly question, but I'm never too sure! I also have the same problem with carrots and whether it is before or afer they're grated.
Sarah xx :0)

Maria♥ said...

Hi Sarah

Lovely to hear you baked this for your hubby and he loved it!

I'm going on Nigella's instructions but the weight is based on the bananas with skin on. The same would apply to carrots etc.

Maria
x

Liz said...

This looks yummy, yummy, yummy!
Liz x
www.trulygoodwoman.blogspot.com