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best banana bread
The reason I say “be transformed” is because this banana bread will transform you, or at least, it transformed me. It is literally the best I have ever tasted. Moist. Dense. Light. Banana-y. Perfect. It actually isn’t even my recipe. I had thought mine was the best up until I tasted this.
Let me tell you the story.
It was a little over a month ago, and I was dutifully following the hCG diet. I had not previously digressed from it, and was painfully whittling my way down to a hundred and ten pounds (it was a lofty goal, I admit. But by golly, I was going to do it). Then, along came Conference Sunday, and my ex-husband had the kids for the afternoon. I really had no choice but to wait out the time at my friend’s house in Salt Lake until my kids were ready to go home. I was prepared for my afternoon, with bags of apples, and I stood by with perfect self control as my friends ate their lunches. I couldn’t help thinking it was a little unfair, as I gazed around their kitchen filled with cheese and chips and chicken nuggets, then to Julie with her too-loose size four jeans, then back at myself with my sunken in eyes and my sad 500 calorie per day diet. But even so, I was in perfect control.
I was in perfect control as they mixed up a banana bread, too. Banana bread! I scoffed. I make a fantastic banana bread, and surely this one has nothin’ on mine. As I sat on their couch, watching the conference, I could smell the bread in the oven. Oh why must it torture me! I thought.
“Just have a little taste,” my thin friends said with imploring smiles as the scented steam from the freshly cut loaves nearly over powered me. “You don’t need a diet,” they said. “You look great.”
Really? You mean it?
And that’s when I succumbed. With that little bite. In that blissful buttery moment, my blood sugar did a standing ovation and my fat cells cackled with delight. I then ate a whole piece of that bread, and loved every luscious second of it.
I tried hanging on to that diet for a few more days, but then alas, other great food got the best of me. Any headway I had made with that diet is now a distant memory. I guess Julie’s banana bread transformed me into a person who realized diets of insanity aren’t for me.
I am a food blogger. What can I say?
Julie’s Banana Bread
(This recipe in in Julie’s words, cut and pasted from her email. When I made mine, I baked it in an 8×8 square pan, and put all the leftover batter into a greased mini muffin pan. I cooked the mini muffins at the same time as the bread, but took them out after about 12 minutes. Thank you, Julie!!!)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter (i usually use salted, because that’s what I usually have in stock)
Cream together.
Add:
1 c. apple sauce (unsweetened)
2 cups mashed bananas (about 5 or 6 ripe bananas)
3 eggs, lightly beaten
Mix just until incorporated. You should see some banana chunks in the batter.
sift together and add:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
Do not over-mix!
Bake in 2 greased and floured loaf pans @ 350 for 35-45 minutes or until done. (gooey-ness is up to your discretion)
30 Responses to “best banana bread”
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‘Diet’ and ‘food blogger’ it’s a contradiction ! This bread is calling my name !
Such beautiful banana bread! I love the photos. The recipe sounds delicious, thanks for sharing!
Everyone always claims to have the best banana bread, yet somehow I really believe you. I can’t wait to try it, thank you!
I’m on a diet! Thanks for the warning! But will make it as soon as I get to my “pre-holiday” weight
First, let me say I really enjoy your blog. I’ve been reading it on and off for a while. Finally took the plunge and subscribed.
I just posted about a banana bread from Family Kitchen, and wrote about “the perfect recipe”. I think you might enjoy it…
http://mignardise.blogspot.com/2010/11/perfectly-delicious-black-bottom-banana.html
Keep up the great work!
I think I tasted this banana bread this weekend…still warm. It was delicieux, c’est vrai!:)>
I feel so special! And I was right, you know. You do look great, just the way you are.
That sounds easier than mine- I don’t usually add the applesauce but I’ll try this one next time- I think I’m almost up to six dead bananas in the frezzer.
Thanks!
I love your banana bread, and so does my family, so if you say this is better . .
we will have to try it. Don’t get too down on yourself about the diet. They never work for me either 
My son loves banana bread and I make it very often but have never put apple sauce before. This sounds good and your photos make it even better!
Mmmm… I love banana bread! Since I can never get my grandma’s recipe to work, I might be giving this a try soon!
This banana bread looks divine! One of life’s great eats… and definitely worth reconsidering the diet for!
I will never turn down a new banana bread recipe. I looove banana bread.
I have a banana bread recipe I call the PERFECT recipe but after reading your post I tempted to try and test that notation! Its always difficult to migrate from a recipe you have been doing for ages and people love it! Will give this a try next time and let ya knw.
P.S. I just stumbled upon you blog and wonder where I was all this time. Beautiful blog!
I am kinda a banana bread recipe junkie. I can not wait to try this one. The pictures are awesome and I love the love of your new site. Nice Work!
Thanks for the recipe! I cant wait to give it a try. Love your blog.
I tried your recipe today and it worked great. It’s definitely the best Banana bread recipe I’ve tried so far. And there’s no milk or sour cream in it! Interesting. I’m making another loaf tomorrow
Can this recipe be done in a 9 x 9 in square pan ?
Mel–Yes, it can. Absolutely. Just watch it for cooking time.
[...] Best Banana Bread Sophistimom [...]
I have been looking at this recipe all week and I currently have two loaves in the oven! I am so excited!! My boyfriend and I are cinnamon fanatics though, so I sprinkled some extra on top :O I’ll let you know how they turn out.
Thank you for sharing, the pictures are lovely.
I made this recipe last night in a cupcake pan. It turned out SO great! I’ve been looking for “the” banana bread recipe and I can confidently say that I’ve found it! Yippie! So Yummy!
I just got 2 loaves of this recipe out of the oven. It’s still cooling, but if it tastes as good as it smells, then this is definitely the best banana bread ever! I’ve never smelled banana bread that smelled this good before!
[...] had birthdays, I obviously had to bring two types of cupcakes. I decided to try this recipe here: http://www.sophistimom.com/best-banana-bread/. She claims it’s the best banana bread ever, so I figured I’d give it a try. I followed her [...]
I made this recipe and just took it out of the oven.It took almost an hour to cook.Haven’t tasted it yet but it sure smells good.Not sure if it will out do my cooking light recipe.
The Soda means baking soda right? I don’t wanna mess it up
Yup. Soda means baking soda, or bicarbonate of soda. Thanks for asking, Crystal!
Hi! I just found this through Stumbleupon.com last night, and made the bread today. It is THE banana bread. I love it. Thank you for sharing!
[...] is Julie. I’ve mentioned her before. She’s the one who gave me that great banana bread [...]
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