Banana Bread with Nutella

Not the best, but not the worst, banana bread recipe. Definitely interesting and also tasty.

This recipe comes from the New York Times Cooking (https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019019-nutella-banana-bread?action=click&module=Local%20Search%20Recipe%20Card&pgType=search&rank=1). It is pretty good, but not the best banana bread that I have ever made. It is very sweet, and the banana flavour is not too strong, but the browned butter is a nice touch. I have modified the method to simplify it and cut down on washing up.

Ingredients:

A little bit more than 1/2 cup / 113g unsalted butter, so maybe 130g

2 cups / 240g plain flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups / 310g very ripe mashed bananas

2/3 cup / 134g granulated or caster sugar

1/4 cup / 60g buttermilk or yogurt

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup / 100g Nutella or chocolate-hazelnut spread

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350˚F / 180˚C, and butter and flour a 9 x 5 x 3" loaf pan

You can also use baking spray.

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt, set aside.

Brown the butter - melt the butter over medium low heat until it bubbles and foams and turns a deep golden brown with a nutty smell and brown flecks. Let cool slightly.

In a large heatproof bowl, mash the bananas, then add the sugar, buttermilk/yogurt, eggs and vanilla extract and stir until well combined, then stir in the cooled butter.

Stir in the flour mixture until just combined, mixing as little as possible.

Pour half the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly to level it off.

Spoon half the Nutella over the batter in a random pattern, use a toothpick to swirl it around.

Cover with the remaining batter, and repeat the Nutella process with the other half.

Bake 55-60 minutes, until golden brown and firm.

A toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.

You will probably have to cover it loosely with foil about half way through.

Let cool in the pan c. 10 minutes then invert to a wire rack to cool completely.

It is delicious when eaten warm.