Peanut Butter Banana Bread

~It was a dark, chilly autumn night. I was bored. And cold. And I couldn't stand the sight of fruit flies buzzing around the ripening bananas. That's what really did it. Please to enjoy :-)

 

Special Equipment:

9x5x3 loaf pan

parchment paper

electric mixer

large mixing bowl

 

Ingredients:

1/3 cup peanut butter

¾ cup granulated sugar

1 stick unsalted sweet butter- softened

2 large eggs

4 large ripe bananas

1 tbsp whipping cream

1 tsp ground cinnamon

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Cut 2 lengths of parchment paper; one to go across and the other down. Make sure to cut it long enough, so the paper drapes over side of pan.
2. In a small bowl, mash bananas thoroughly. Mix in the cream and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Using a spoon or fork, gently but thoroughly mix together.
4. Using electric mixer, cream the sugar and butter in mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
5. Add half of the banana mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until combined. Set aside.
6. Add dry ingredients into batter, mixing just until flour disappears.
7. In a microwave safe bowl, heat peanut butter for 15 seconds until softened.
8. Pour half the batter into prepared pan. Pour half portion of the peanut butter evenly on top of batter. Use the back end of a spoon to smooth it over as evenly as possible.
9. Pour remaining batter to layer on top of peanut butter.
10. Pour over remaining portion of banana mixture on top of batter. Pour remaining peanut butter on top of banana.  Use a knife or spoon to lightly swirl peanut butter and banana mixture into batter. As it bakes, the banana chunks will slowly sink into the batter and it will yield a banana bread with small chunks of bananas.
11. Bake for 50min – 65min. At the 50min mark, insert a toothpick in the center. If it does not come out clean, let it bake and check back in 5min. When it comes out clean, it’s ready.
12. Set aside to cool for 15-20min.
13. Using parchment paper, lift bread out. Set aside to cool completely before serving.