Peanut Butter Banana Bread

I have a ton of bananas in my freezer.  Whenever I see the discounted bag at the grocery store I seem to always grab a bag.  Usually the bananas are still good for almost a full week but some are ready for baking or being put in the freezer for future use.  So, my freezer is stocked, just waiting for me to bake bread, cake, smoothies, whatever!  

With that said, I was in the mood to bake some banana bread but I have this recipe that every single time I whip it up, no matter how long I cook it, the center is never cooked through.  YUCK!  It makes me crazy. So I was on a mission to find a better recipe.  Plus, I wanted something a little different than just "Banana Bread."  

I found a winner here!  It is called Peanut Butter Banana Bread.  And, as I always do with my recipes, I tweaked it a bit.  Here's the finished product:

Doesn't it look delicious?!

The recipe was super easy.

1 3/4 c. Flour

2/3 c. sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. softened butter (I used applesauce, no sugar)

2 ripe bananas, mashed (I used 3)

2 eggs

1 c. peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients.  In another bowl large bowl, combine wet ingredients.

Add flour mixture, stirring until just combined.  Pour into muffin pans or loaf pan (makes 6 jumbo muffins or 1 large loaf).  For Jumbo Muffins, bake 30 minutes, for loaf, bake 1 1/2  hours or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  

Cool in pan on wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove bread and cool completely on wire rack.  

** Now, the recipe calls for adding a Glaze to the top of the bread before serving.  Instead of doing that, after I poured the batter into the loaf pan, I covered the batter with mini chocolate chips then baked.  If you want to add the glaze, here is the recipe:

1 1/2 c. powdered sugar combined with 3 tbsp. milk - prepare glaze and drizzle over loaf before serving.

The only thing I didn't take into account when putting the mini chips on the bread was the removal from the pan.  I had a bit of melted chocolate on my fingers but that's the price I'll pay for yumminess.  ;)  

This bread was fantastic - just enough hint of peanut butter with the banana.  Loved it!  And it cooked perfectly!  It took an hour and 15 minutes in my oven.  I love my banana bread with melted butter so I always spread butter on it then put it in the microwave for about 30 seconds.  ☺  How do you enjoy yours?  Buttered or plain?

Counting it all joy,

Angela