Family Recipe: Banana Bread

The balance of spice and fruit in banana bread make it the perfect recipe to transition from summer to fall. The best part? Kids of all ages can help make it!

Ingredients:

  • 3 large very ripe bananas (1 ½ cups mashed)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 ¾ cups flour
  • ¼ cup applesauce or oil
  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup (you can also use honey)
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Additional add-ins:

  • ½ cup chopped walnuts (adds healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidants)
  • ¼ cup flax meal (adds omega-3 fats, vitamins, and minerals)
  • ¾ cup chocolate chips (adds a little bit of love!)

Steps:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350F
  2. Combine your wet ingredients in a bowl: bananas, eggs, applesauce or oil, syrup or honey, and vanilla. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and powder, cinnamon, and salt. 
  3. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring between additions until just mixed and smooth. 
  4. Either lightly oil your muffin tin or use paper liners. Divide batter evenly between muffin cups; you may get more or less than us based on the size of your bananas. For full-sized muffins we made 10, for mini muffins we got about 24.
  5. Bake for about 30 minutes for full-sized muffins, or 15 minutes for mini muffins. To make sure they’re done, insert a toothpick into the center and make sure it comes out clean. 
  6. Remove muffins from the tin and allow them to cool a few minutes before serving. 

Ways kids can help make banana bread

1-3 years old: let your kids smash the bananas. It’s a bit messy, but they’ll love this squishy sensory activity (maybe add in an extra banana, just in case!)

4-5 years old: stirring the wet ingredients together, or pouring the dry ingredients in while you stir. They can also help grease the pan or put in paper liners

6-7 years old: measuring ingredients and putting them in the proper bowl

8-9 years old: using a mixer to make the batter or dividing batter into the muffin tins 

10 years and older: all tasks associated with baking. Just be sure to supervise until you’re sure they’re safe. Besides, baking is more fun as a family!