Date, banana & cranberry bread

Winter has arrived in the Shire with lots of snow.  It is always so pretty & quiet when it snows & a perfect time for something comforting.

My favourite comforting bake has to be Date & banana bread.

This recipe makes two loaves or 1 loaf & about 6-8 muffins. I always use commercial loaf tin liners & muffin cases to speed things up.

250g salted butter
260g brown sugar
4 eggs beaten
6 soft bananas - mashed
200g of chopped, pitted dates
480g plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon (or other spices you like e.g. mixed spice, nutmeg)
a handful of dried cranberries mixed in at the end if you like them ...

Preheat oven to 170C - not too hot or it will not cook properly all the way through

Cream butter & sugar, add eggs, beating between & adding a little of the flour if it curdles.

Mix in the bananas & dates, fold in the flour,  baking powder & vanilla extract then mix in the cranberries.

Spoon into the lined loaf tins & bake in a preheated oven for about 55 minutes, less for the muffins. Test with a sharp knife to see if it is baked through.

Cool slightly in the tins then turn onto a cooling rack. Really lovely eaten warm with some butter.

It keeps well for a few days & I also slice any remaining loaf & freeze it so a slice or two can be enjoyed at any time ....



What is your favourite family bake? Please share & leave your link so I can return the visit.

Thanks for stopping by,
Dee ~♥~