Sunday, July 5, 2015

Spiced Banana Oatmeal Bread with Dried Cranberries


If you're an American, I hope you had a wonderful fourth of July filled with fireworks and barbecue.


What is the story behind banana bread?  Bananas showed up in the United States in 1870s.  



Banana bread recipes appeared in American cookbooks in the 1930s.  Around this time baking soda and baking powder were invented, which made quick breads like banana bread possible.


National banana bread day is February 24th.  I have never celebrated the holiday, but it's as good a reason as any to bake and eat banana bread.


This banana bread recipe came from allrecipes.com.  It isn't my usual recipe banana bread recipe; This one has oatmeal.  I used less sugar, dried cranberries instead of raisins, and spices.  The spices are cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger.


The ingredients are 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup white sugar, 2 eggs, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup quick oats, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 cup milk, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon cardamom, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas and 3/4 cup dried cranberries.


I creamed the butter and sugar together.  The butter was too soft.


I added the eggs and vanilla.  I creamed everything together until it was fluffy.


In another bowl, I added the flour, oatmeal, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger.




I whisked all the dry ingredients together.


In another bowl, I combined the mashed bananas and milk.


I alternated between adding and mixing in the the flour mixture and mashed banana mixture into the creamed eggs and butter.



I stirred in the dried cranberries.


I poured the batter into a greased loaf pan.


I baked the bread for 60 minutes at 350 degrees.  I let it cool a few minutes before cooling it completely on a wire rack.


The oats softened, but the loaf was pleasantly heartier than a regular loaf.  I'm glad I used less sugar because the bread was sweet enough.


The cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger were warm, inviting, and aromatic.


The earthy flavors of the bread paired well with the sweet and chewy cranberries.


The texture was soft and tender.


The overall experience was satisfying and scrumptious. 


4 comments:

Eva said...

I love banana bread and finally have enough bananas saved up to bake some bread! Love the addition of dried cranberries!

Joanne said...

Banana bread is the best! It just always feels like a good life choice. Love that this is stuffed with oats and dried cranberries!

Cakespy said...

Love this!! Love the historical look and the creative use of dried cranberries - that seems like a great contrast!

laura said...

Thanks ladies! Yea for banana bread!