Welcome!

My first posting! I wanted to start out with a recipe that is always a huge hit. This Banana Bread is moist, flavorful, and easy to bake. I personally do not like chunks of banana in my bread, so I beat the bananas together with the wet ingredients. I think that the muscavado sugar and the peach applesauce give the bread a little extra something! Eat the bread warm, with a nice big pat of butter on top :)

BANANA BREAD
Ingredients
2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
½ C. butter, room temp or a bit warmer
½ C. brown sugar
¼ C. muscavado brown sugar
2 beaten eggs
2-3 mashed ripe bananas
½ C. peach applesauce

Directions
1. Butter a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper, then butter the parchment paper, too. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, soda, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars together until fluffy. Then beat in the eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each addition. Add the bananas and the applesauce. Mix to combine.

4. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture. Using a rubber spatula, mix until combined, but do not over-mix. Then pour the batter into the prepared pan. Dot the top of the batter with a little extra butter and sprinkle with some cinnamon.

5. Bake in the 350 degree oven for about 55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Let cool for 15 minutes in the pan before transferring to a wire cooling rack.


Modifications I have tried:
· You can use ¾ C. brown sugar if you don’t have muscavado sugar.
· Add fiber by substituting up to a half of the flour with oat flour or whole wheat flour.
· The more bananas, the better! (okay, within reason)
· Applesauce: any flavor that you have on hand will work fine. Or you could puree a very ripe peach or nectarine and add the puree instead!
· Try sprinkling some oats on top before you bake the bread. Or mix oats with brown sugar and cinnamon for a yummy topping.
· This bread freezes really well. You can bake a bunch of loaves around the holidays to give as gifts.