Life on Lansill - Go Bananas!

When life gives you ripe bananas, make banana bread.  Or banana cake.  Or banana muffins.

We quite frequently end up with over ripe bananas, too brown and mushy to just eat.  Here's some of my favorite banana recipes.  Hope you enjoy.

Banana Bread

1 3/4 c all-purpose flour

2/3 c sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 c mashed ripe banana (2-3 medium bananas)

1/3 c margarine or butter

2 Tbs milk

2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  In a large mixer bowl combine 1 cup of the flour, the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Add mashed banana, margarine or butter, and milk.  Beat with an electric mixer on low speed till blended, then on high spped for 2 minutes.  Add eggs and remaining flour, beat till blended.

Pour into a greased 8x4x2 inch loaf pan.  Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 55-60 minutes or till a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack.  Remove from the pan, cool thoroughly on a wire rack.  

Banana Cake

1 c sugar

1/2 c unsalted butter or margarine

2 eggs

4 ripe bananas, mashed

2 c all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat over to 375 degrees F.  Grease and flour one 9 x 13 inch cake pan.  Cream together the butter or margarine and the sugar.  Add eggs, bananas, flour, soda, salt, and vanilla.  Mix thoroughly and pour batter into the prepared pan.  Bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes.  Cool and frost cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz cream cheese (softened)

1/2 c butter or margarine

1 Tbs milk

1 tsp vanilla

2 c powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese, butter or margarine, milk and vanilla until creamy.  Mix in powdered sugar until smooth.

Banana Cake 2, aka Banana Birthday Cake

1 pkg yellow cake mix

1/2 c brown sugar

2 medium mashed bananas

1 c water

1/2 c vegetable oil

3 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease and flour cake or cupcake pan(s).  Mix all ingredients with mixer on low for 1 minute, then on medium for 2 minutes.  Pour batter into pan(s).  Bake at 350 degrees F, using timing instructions on cake mix box for pan(s) you're using.  Frost with Chocolate Frosting.

Chocolate Frosting

3 c powdered sugar

2/3 c cocoa

1/3 c milk

1/2 c margarine

1 tsp vanilla

Mix sugar and cocoa.  Melt margarine, then add margarine, milk and vanilla to sugar/cocoa blend.  Beat for a few minutes.  For thicker frosting, add more powdered sugar.

Banana Oat Muffins

1 1/2 c all-purpose flour

1 c rolled oats

1/2 c white sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

3/4 c milk

1/3 c vegetable oil

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 c mashed banana

1/2 c - 1 c semi sweet mini chocolate chips (optional)

Combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, soda, and salt.  In a large bowl, beat the egg lightly.  Stir in the milk, oil, and vanilla.  Add the mashed banana, and combine thoroughly.  Stir the flour mixture into the banana mixture until just combined.  Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper bake cups, and divide the batter among them.  Bake at 400 degrees F for 18 to 20 minutes.