Jamaican Banana Bread Recipe (Peanuts)

Looking for a quick Jamaican themed dessert that can be served  at breakfast, lunch, dinner or in between? Try this easy and quick, mixer free peanut inspired banana bread recipe. Try serving it with your favourite coffee, ice cold milk and with a few slices of cheese. 

Ingredients

3 ripe bananas, peeled (about 1 1/2 cups mashed)

1/3 cup melted butter

1 teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of salt

Pinch of cinnamon 

Pinch of nutmeg

3/4 cup sugar 

1 large egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

1/2 cup peanuts 

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), and butter a 4 x 8 inch loaf pan.

2. In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until completely smooth. Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas.

3. Mix in the baking soda and salt. Stir in the sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract. Mix in the flour.

4. Blend peanuts until slightly crushed then mix into batter.

5. Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour at 350°F (175°C), or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.

6. Remove from oven and place on wire rack or heat resistant counter top to cool in the pan for a few minutes. 

7. When cool, use bread knife to slice and serve with your favourite coffee, a cold glass of milk, slices of cheese or as is!

Jamaican Chocolate Banana Cake

Serves 15 - 20 (dessert squares) 

Ingredients 

1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar

2 cups (490 grams) all-purpose flour

1/3 cup (75 grams) unsweetened Jamaican Roma cocoa powder 

1/3 cup hot chocolate mix 

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon instant coffee

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

2 large eggs

1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium sized bananas)

1 cup plain yoghurt

1/2 cup (240 ml) warm water

1/2 cup (120 ml) milk

1/2 cup (120 ml) vegetable oil (or other flavorless oil)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/3 cup chocolate chips

1/3 cup coconut flakes 

Method 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in the center of the oven. 

2. Butter, or spray with a non stick vegetable spray, a 9 x 13 inch (23 x 33 cm) pan. Set aside. 

3. In a large bowl whisk together all the dry ingredients such as the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, chocolate chips and salt etc. Set aside.

4. In another large bowl, whisk together all the wet ingredients such as the eggs, mashed bananas, water, milk, oil, yoghurt and vanilla extract etc. 

5. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir, or electric mix on medium speed, until combined. Mix in coconut flakes.

6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.