Jamie Olivers Ultimate Banana Bread Recipe: Simple, Delicious & Healthy!

Ingredients for Jamie Oliver's Ultimate Banana Bread

• Dry Ingredients:

  • 250g self-raising flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 125g unsalted butter, softened 🥄
  • 150g caster sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • A pinch of salt

• Wet Ingredients:

  • 3 ripe bananas, mashed
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 🍦
  • 125ml buttermilk or natural yogurt

• Optional Extras:

  • 100g chocolate chips or walnuts

Step-by-Step Guide to Jamie Oliver's Banana Bread

Choosing Your Ingredients

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Start by selecting the ripest bananas you can find. The riper they are, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be. Look for bananas with lots of brown spots on the skin; this indicates they're perfectly ripe for baking.

Preparation

1. Preheat Your Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F, gas mark 4). 🍳
2. Prepare the Pan: Line a loaf tin (20x10cm) with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.

Mixing Dry Ingredients

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1. Flour Mix: In a bowl, sift together the self-raising flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. This ensures a uniform rise and flavor distribution.

Note:

<p class="pro-note">🍎 Note: Sifting helps to aerate the flour, which can make your banana bread lighter and fluffier.</p>

Creaming the Butter and Sugar

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1. Beat: In a separate bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is pale, fluffy, and well combined.

Combining Wet Ingredients

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1. Mash Bananas: Mash the bananas thoroughly until there are no large lumps remaining.
2. Add Eggs and Extract: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then mix in the vanilla extract.
3. Buttermilk: Pour in the buttermilk or yogurt and mix gently.

Bringing It All Together

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1. Combine: Gently fold in the dry mixture into the wet ingredients, ensuring not to overmix. An overworked batter can lead to a dense loaf.

   <p class="pro-note">⚠️ Note: Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, which can result in a tough texture.</p>

2. Optional: Stir in your choice of chocolate chips or walnuts for added texture and flavor.

Baking

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1. Pour into Tin: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf tin, smoothing the top.
2. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes to an hour. Check with a toothpick; if it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, it's done.

Cooling

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1. Cooling: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Serving and Storage

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• Serving: Serve warm or at room temperature. You can spread a bit of butter or your favorite jam on top for extra delight.
• Storage: Store in an airtight container to keep it fresh. It can last for several days at room temperature or up to a week in the refrigerator.

Enjoying Your Banana Bread

Banana bread is not just for tea time. It's versatile enough for breakfast with coffee, as a snack, or even as a dessert. Here are some ways to enjoy Jamie's Ultimate Banana Bread:

• Toasted: Lightly toast a slice and spread with butter for a crispy treat.
• With Ice Cream: Serve warm slices with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delicious dessert. 🍨
• Pairings: Try it with a cup of tea or coffee to complement its sweet, comforting flavors.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the ability to customize it according to your taste or dietary preferences. With each bite, you get the moist, flavorful essence of bananas, perfectly balanced with the subtle warmth of cinnamon and the richness of butter.

This recipe from Jamie Oliver stands out because it captures the essence of comfort food—simple, delicious, and heartwarming, perfect for sharing with family or enjoying on a quiet afternoon.

By following these steps, you've not only created a delightful loaf of banana bread but also experienced the joy of baking something truly special. Whether you're a novice in the kitchen or a seasoned baker, Jamie Oliver's Ultimate Banana Bread Recipe will surely become a staple in your baking repertoire.

FAQs:

<div class="faq-section"> <div class="faq-container"> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Can I substitute the buttermilk with something else?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Yes, you can use natural yogurt or make your own buttermilk by adding a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar to milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>What if I don't have self-raising flour?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>You can make your own by adding 2 teaspoons of baking powder and a pinch of salt per cup of all-purpose flour.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>How can I store the banana bread?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Keep it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week. For longer storage, freeze slices in a zip-lock bag for up to 3 months.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div>