Mini Banana Loaf Cakes
Makes 10
I always seem to have over ripe bananas in the fruit bowl and I hate to waste anything so we seem to eat a lot of banana bread. Luckily my daughter really likes these mini cakes and if you make them in these individual cases they are easy to take in a packed lunch. I have tried a lot of different recipes over the years, I actually found this recipe on the back of the loaf cases from Sainsburys, but this one stands out and is well worth a try!
10 mini loaf cases (8x4x4cm)
250g plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
pinch of salt
115g softened butter
115g dark brown soft sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
500g mashed over ripe bananas
For the icing
140g butter, softened
280g icing sugar
1-2 tablespoons milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
chopped pecans or walnuts to decorate
Preheat the oven to 180 degree C/ fan 160/ Gas mark 4.
In a large bowl combine flour, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon and salt. In a separate bowl or mixer, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture until combined.
Pour mixture into loaf cases until about half full.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until a knife inserted comes out clean.
Leave to cool on a wire rack.
To make the butter icing,beat the butter in a bowl until soft. Add half the icing sugar and beat until smooth. Add the remaining icing sugar, vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of the milk and beat the mixture until creamy and smooth. Beat in the extra milk if the mixture is too stiff.
When the loaves are cold spread the icing on the top with a knife and sprinkle with chopped nuts.
