Iced Banana Bread…*
Bananas are ripe, sugar jar is down to a few sad spoonfuls, and the butter tray offers just a couple sticks you forgot to add to your cookie dough last week (oops). Now what? You could pout and whine that there's nothing to eat and beg your cute boyfriend to take you out, orrrrr you could be a savvy-Betty-Crocker-wannabe and whip up some of this delectable Iced Banana Bread.
I chose the latter of the two and for good reason. It's amazing what you can do with leftover ingredients and a little creativity. "Recycled baking," as my sister refers to it--meaning you don't have to feel guilty about neglecting the bananas you bought in an attempt to start eating healthy ...because now you can enjoy them baked into a delicious loaf of banana bread, loaded with sugar and smothered in butter. Ironic, isn't it?
Bananas are ripe, sugar jar is down to a few sad spoonfuls, and the butter tray offers just a couple sticks you forgot to add to your cookie dough last week (oops). Now what? You could pout and whine that there's nothing to eat and beg your cute boyfriend to take you out, orrrrr you could be a savvy-Betty-Crocker-wannabe and whip up some of this delectable Iced Banana Bread.
I chose the latter of the two and for good reason. It's amazing what you can do with leftover ingredients and a little creativity. "Recycled baking," as my sister refers to it--meaning you don't have to feel guilty about neglecting the bananas you bought in an attempt to start eating healthy ...because now you can enjoy them baked into a delicious loaf of banana bread, loaded with sugar and smothered in butter. Ironic, isn't it?
When I asked some of you on my fan page what it was about Banana Bread that makes us “weak in the knees,” the most popular response was the way it tastes when it's smeared with sweet cream--especially when you're lucky enough to get the heels (or what I call the 'buns') of the loaf! Now take all that goodness and add a layer of sweet icing on top. Yes, that's right, I went there, and you should too....starting now!
The Ingredients…*
For the Banana Bread
Recipe from: Food Network
1 cup granulated sugar
1 stick unsalted butter , room temperature
2 large eggs
3 ripe bananas
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
For the Icing
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 tablespoon milk
¼ teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar (more or less, depending on preference of consistency)
For the Banana Bread
Recipe from: Food Network
1 cup granulated sugar
1 stick unsalted butter , room temperature
2 large eggs
3 ripe bananas
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
For the Icing
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 tablespoon milk
¼ teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar (more or less, depending on preference of consistency)
The Instructions…*
(1) Preheat oven to 325° F. Butter a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.
(2) Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
(1) Preheat oven to 325° F. Butter a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.
(2) Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
(3) In a small bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Mix in the milk and cinnamon. In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
(4) Add the banana mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until combined. Add dry ingredients, mixing just until flour disappears.
(4) Add the banana mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until combined. Add dry ingredients, mixing just until flour disappears.
(5) Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
(*) Meanwhile, mix butter, milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar in a small bowl until desired icing consistency is reached.
(6) Set aside to cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Remove bread from pan, invert onto rack and cool completely before slicing.
(7) Drizzle bread with icing and enjoy.
(7) Drizzle bread with icing and enjoy.
Warm. Soft. Crumbly. Moist. Delicate.
Just how Banana Bread should be.
