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Tuesday, August 5, 2008

TWD: Black and White Banana Loaf


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This week's Tuesdays with Dorie selection - coming from Ashlee of A Year In The Kitchen - is the Black and White Banana Loaf on page 232 of the incredible and awe inspiring baking tome, Baking From My Home To Yours, by Dorie Greenspan.

OK, so, what can I say about this recipe? First of all, it had quite the P&Q session going this week, which, though funny on some levels, I thought was pretty indicitive of how helpful and fun a baking group like this can be. What was the raging debate? How much banana is 1 1/2 bananas. Well, I can't say how much it ended up being for others, but for me it was only about 1/2 cup. Also there was a lot of discussion about runny batter - but mine was really thick. The cake was moist, tender and flavorful - but surprisingly no one flavor took center stage - just a really good blending of all of them.

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At first bite I really didn't think all that much of the cake to be honest. Then, as I kept eating my slice the flavors started coming through a bit more and I really liked it. I thought it was a really nice way to use extra ripe bananas that was much more size friendly than a big bundt cake would have been. I have some mini loaf pans so I made three mini loaf cakes with my batter and baked them for 30 minutes @ 325 degrees, then tented them with foil and turned the oven down to 300 degrees for another 30 minutes. They were done perfectly and I really didn't have any problems with the baking time. I turned my oven down just because, even though I tented them, since they were baking in dark non-stick pans and were smaller I didn't want to overbake them or dry them out. Personally, I will definitely be making this one again when I have just a little leftover banana to use.

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Make sure to check out what the rest of the gang over at Tuesdays with Dorie thought of this week's recipe! I say it every week, but every week I mean it more - I l/o/v/e this book! Go get it now if you can!

43 comments:

Peabody said...

I must have guessed correctly as my batter was not runny. I liked the cake better the second day.

Manggy said...

Re: the debate: That's pretty much why I'm always careful to include weight measures (unless the quantity isn't important). Far as I know, Dorie would have preferred to use standardized, smart measurements but the Houghton-Mifflin wasn't keen on it.
But you did achieve a spectacular-looking loaf cake here; I'm glad the taste improved with each bite :) I reckon it'll improve the next day even!

Anonymous said...

These look very cute and delicious...thanks for the information on how you baked the smaller loaves, etc., as I wanted to do small loaves but figured I should just stick to the big one first off...very nice of you to share the other bits with us! Thanks!

Sihan said...

got it! 1/2 cup of bananas wld be fine for the batter. Gawd. mine was so runny. what a let down. Yours on the other hand looks fabulous! Good Job!

LyB said...

I ended up not using any milk in mine and it turned out great. I love your mini loaves, perfect marbling. I have to get me some mini loaf pans. :)

Anonymous said...

Fantastic little loaves. It's good to hear that they came out good over there, a nice thick batter is always nice to run into.

Mary Ann said...

Your little loaves look beautiful, especially the way you stacked them and tied them with ribbon. Lovely presentation~!

Anonymous said...

It looks divine! I love your little mini-loaves!! I was the exact same way about not caring too much for it at first bite, but the more I ate, the more I realized how delicious is was!! :-)

-Amy
Sing For Your Supper

April said...

Those are great looking loafs, you did a great job with the marbling!

Di said...

Wow, your cake looks fabulous! I like the idea of making mini loaves.

chocolatechic said...

Yours looks wonderful.

I am glad that you enjoyed it.

Eleganza Strings/ The DeLadurantey Family said...

I love the ribbon!

CB said...

The great banana debate huh? Your loaves look lovely. The marbling is perfect. Great job!
Clara @ iheartfood4thought

The Kitchen Vixen said...

you loaf is perfect! that marbeling is fab. i must have added either too much banana or too much chocolate because the banana taste was extremely prominent in mine which is why the chocolate being so prominent as well grossed me out.

Anonymous said...

How did you get your marbling to be so perrrrrrrrrrfect!? I am jealous! Nice work!

Jules Someone said...

These look great! Nice marbling. I think I would have preferred more of a strong banana flavor. Ah well.

marae said...

I was loving the P&Q too this week, how much is too much banana?? It can be so tricky, I always err on less is more now with banana due to past mishaps. Yours looks fantabulous! And that cherry coonut bar big photo is teasing me mercilessly right about now. YUM.

Rigby said...

The marbling looks beautiful!

Nancy/n.o.e said...

Oh, the perfection of your marbling! I agree with you totally about the flavors - very well balanced and complex. I like the texture of yours, I think the bit extra banana in mine might have made the crumb a bit sturdier?

Nancy
The Dogs Eat the Crumbs

Anne said...

It looks perfect! I love the marbling and mini-loaves (I thought they were tasty and easier to eat and share!) Great job Holly!

Jessie said...

Yours look delicious. Great marbling!

Heather B said...

Lovely marbling! It looks delicious!

Anonymous said...

I agree on Heather... The marbling is so pretty! And the little cakes are cute too!
I'm glad you liked it!

Tammy said...

wow, perfect marbling! My mix wasnt too runny either. i used one banana for a half recipe

Pamela said...

Your food always looks so pretty, Holly. I enjoyed the bread/cake more after it sat a day. Nice job!

Engineer Baker said...

Your mini loaf cakes are wonderful - the marbling is almost swoopy! I'm glad it grew on you.

Anonymous said...

Your mini loaves look great! I also thought it was interesting how well the flavors blended together so well.

hoagiefest 2020 said...

Wow! Yours came out gorgeously! Great job!

Linda said...

Your mini loaves turned out beautifully!!!

I think I may have overdone it with the bananas, as I put in way more than the 1/2 c you used...dare I try this recipe a third time...?

Passionate Baker said...

wow...yum!!
your loaf looks beautiful!
love the marbling!
great job
<3

Prudy said...

Everything you make looks so textbook perfect. You are so amazing!

Chibog in Chief said...

i love how it perfectly baked!! this is indeed one recipe to try !! i love all your photos :-)i could taste from here LOL

Unknown said...

I love your loaves! They look yummy with all that gorgeous marbling!

Jayne said...

Your photos are beautiful, and I love the mini loaves! Wonderful job!

Lauren said...

You are the best. I/2 cup of banana and turn down oven. Thanks. WOW, looks great.

Anonymous said...

So cute! Your marbling is absolutely gorgeous. Don't make me hate you. ;)

Susan @ SGCC said...

Your little loaves turned out great. They look really pretty and the marbling is perfect! I also thought this one tasted better after sitting for several hours.

Shari said...

Your loaf looks great! It's great to hear the debate about how much banana, and good to know 1/2 cup works!
Shari@Whisk: a food blog

Jenny said...

Mini's always taste better, don't they? Nice marbling, btw.

Anonymous said...

I put about a 1/4 tsp extra of rum, and it really enhanced all the flavors. I love the loaf with the ribbon around it. And, nice swirls!

Jaime said...

beautiful swirl! i enjoyed this one too

Kajal@aapplemint said...

These marbled cakes are just so perfect for me to take to the beach tomorrow. So moist n so lovely.

Cakebrain said...

MMMM. your mini loaf cakes are so cute and look delicious! I have that book too and have been eyeing the recipe. I'll have to make it next!

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