Christmas Banana Fruit And Nut Loaf

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Written by McDonald, T.  |  Date 25th of November 2024

Christmas is the time for baking!  If you would like to have a little treat that is like a Christmas cake, but much quicker and easier, this cake is for you.  It is full of flavour and different texture to delight the senses with every bit. It is full of fruit such as figs and cherries has nut too and looks great dusted with a little icing sugar.

Notes

  • You can use stevia to reduce the calories.
  • Make sure you use really ripe bananas. 
  • Most recipes will tell you to mash with a folk; however, I use a masher, it's much quicker.
  • I used pale cream sherry to soak the flame raisins.  Check the sherry is vegan.  
  • I find it is better if the batter is left in the fridge for an hour or so to allow the flavours to combine. This also give the baking powder and bicarbonate of soda time to work. 
  • Use a thermometer to test when ready.  This is because you are likely to pierce a piece of fruit, which might stick to the tester making you think it is not ready.

Fresh from the oven.

 

Ingredients

  • 3–4 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 400 g – 500 g peeled)
  • 1 tbsp of dark brown sugar.
  • 150g of self-raising flour
  • 150g of strong wholemeal flour
  • 100g flame sultanas soaked in sherry
  • 6 chopped figs
  • 10 dried cherries 
  • 40 g of crushed walnuts
  • 1 tsp ground mixed spice
  • 1 tsp ground sweet cinnamon
  • 1.5 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 tbsp of vegetable oil 
  • 1 tbsp of distilled vinegar
  • 120 ml of water

Apparatus

  • 23 cm x 12.7 cm (9" x 5") loaf tin
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Wooden spoon
  • Measuring spoons 
  • Spatchar 

Method 

  1. Peel the bananas, break them up into small pieces and put in a bowl.  Mash the bananas. 
  2. Weigh out both the flours in a large mixing bowl. Add the baking powder, sugar and spices.  Mix with a balloon whisk.  Add the oil and mix again with the wooden spoon.
  3. Add the water and combine into a shaggy dough with a wooden spoon.
  4. Add the soaked sultanas, chopped figs, cherries and chopped walnuts and mix. 
  5. Add the mashed banana and mix. 
  6. Leave to rest in the fridge for at least 1 hour. 
  7. Preheat the oven to 190 °C and grease the tin.
  8. Place on the lower middle shelf of the oven and bake for about 50 – 55 mins. 
  9. When ready, test with a thermometer.  If the thermometer is about 85 °C, it is done.  Leave to cool for about 10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.  Leave to cool completely, about 40 minutes.

Break banana into small pieces.

Mash the banana.
Mix in the raisins and mashed banana.

Pour into a medium-sized loaf tin and allow to rest.

 

Results 

This turned out much better than I could have hoped for.  It is truly amazing!  Taste and texture are perfect. This banana loaf will not disappoint.







 

I hope that you liked this blog and if you do try this recipe, please let me know how you got on and what it turned out like. You can leave a comment in the comments below.

 


Location: United Kingdom

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