Upcycle your apples and bananas into this super moist and uber delicious loaf.
When I have some sad looking fruit, there’s only one thing to do, bake with it! Apples and bananas are not a combination I’ve baked with before but I can now confirm that they go together great.
I googled recipes for Bananas and Apples and came upon a Banana, Apple and Cinnamon Loaf – let’s face it, everything is better with cinnamon. The recipe I found was from the Thermomix Recipe Community which is such a fabulous resource. Haven’t got a Thermomix? Don’t worry, I have converted the recipe for you!
The original recipe blends the fruit in the Thermomix but you can easily do this in a food processor and if you have neither, finely chopping and mashing will do. Don’t worry, if your fruit mixture is a bit lumpy, a little texture is a good thing, no?
I adapted the recipe by halving the butter and sugar and it still tastes oh, so good. I figure as it’s got so little added sugar and added fat that it doesn’t just taste good, it’s good for you too!
It’s great with a cuppa, freezes well and is so moist and light. This loaf is delicious as is but I’m a big fan of it warmed up with a generous slathering of butter on top! You won’t find a more delicious way to use up your left over fruit!
Have you got a favourite way to upcycle tired fruit? Do you prefer to make your bakes with machines or by hand?
Cuts into 10-12 slices
Ingredients
220g plain flour
2 level teaspoons baking powder
1 level teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 level teaspoons cinnamon
pinch of salt
200g ripe bananas (about 2) cut into pieces
150g Granny Smiths apple (1-2) peeled and quartered
65g caster sugar
65g unsalted butter, softened
2 eggs
100g buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
How to – Traditional
- Preheat oven to 180C. Grese and line a a deep loaf tin (25x10x11 cm)
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, bicarb, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
- Mash, chop or blend the banana and apple pieces ideally in a food processor but by hand will work too. Don’t worry if there are a few lumps, texture is good! Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with a hand or stand mixer until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
- Add the fruit, buttermilk and vanilla extract to the bowl an stir until just combined.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the mixture using a spatula or the hand mixer on low speed. Don’t overmix, just fold until the mixture is combined.
- Pour into the prepared tin and bake for about 45-50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the loaf comes out clean.
- Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack to cool.
How to – Thermomix
- Preheat oven to 180C. Grease and line a a deep loaf tin (25x10x11 cm)
- Place bananas and apple quarters into TM bowl and combine for 6 seconds on speed 6. Scrape down sides of bowl.
- Add the butter and sugar and mix for 20 seconds on speed 4.
- Add the eggs and mix for 10 seconds on speed 4. Scrape down sides of bowl with spatula.
- Add the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon, buttermilk, vanilla and salt and mix for 20 seconds on speed 4.
- Pour into the prepared tin and bake for about 45-50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the loaf comes out clean.
- Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack to cool.
