It is a truth universally acknowledged that families with young children will never have the right number of bananas. There will be none, when they are the favourite food or the only food guaranteed to be eaten and suddenly they are all gone; or large quantities will be bought in anticipation of the favour with which they were seen yesterday, only for them to grow spotty and brown in the fruit bowl before being moved to the fridge with promises of baking.

We are currently in the latter stage. When this happens, my favourite banana bread recipe comes out. (From Cookie and Kate, find it here: https://cookieandkate.com/healthy-banana-bread-recipe/ )

It is my favourite because it uses only 2 bananas. So many recipes require 3, and we rarely get to the stage of that many spotty or brown bananas.

It is my favourite because it is fairly healthy. Bananas, oil, maple syrup, eggs, milk, cinnamon, baking soda, vanilla, wholemeal flour. Optional extras like chocolate chips. I have no qualms about serving this for breakfast.

It is my favourite because we usually have all the ingredients on hand. If not, there are many options for substitutions. It is always frustrating when the urge for baking is upon us and we are out of something vital like sugar.

It is my favourite because it uses only 2 bowls, a fork and a wooden spoon (as well as a loaf tin). No need to get out the electric mixer, find an available socket, find the beaters, find extra bench space… 

This has also been an ‘evolution of baking with C’ recipe. She has been making it with me since we started baking together (she would have been a bit past her first birthday) and has progressed from starting the banana squishing process, to helping tip the measured ingredients in, to trying to stir the mix, ‘testing’ the add-ins, and now finding the correct cup measurements for me. I can’t wait for E to start helping too!

Our usual version:

Squish 2 bananas. While a helper is doing this, turn on oven to 170C and line a loaf tin with baking paper.

Whisk together 1/3 cup oil with 1/2 cup maple syrup. Add 2 eggs, beat well. Add the bananas and 1/4 cup milk, whisk.

Add a teaspoon each of baking soda and vanilla, and a half teaspoon each of cinnamon and salt, and mix well. Add 1 and 3/4 cups flour (wholemeal, preferably) and stir in with a wooden spoon. Add 1/2 cup add-ins (chocolate chips – or, you know, raisins or walnuts or something else healthy) and stir gently.

Pour mix into prepared tin, bake for an hour.

Makes 10 thick slices. Sometimes we do them as muffins instead – 10 muffins, baked for 25ish minutes. Yum.