Making banana bread - but what do I top it with?

[AlCrowley]

We had a load of bananas past their best so I've made banana bread. Its in the oven now and smells delicious...

But what do I top it with? Don't fancy it plain but I've forgotten what I put on it last time.

There's not a lot in but I can redirect DH past the shop on the way home if necessary. Not nuts though please, the DC's are too small.

Thanks :)

I'd do the same kind of thing you do with carrot cake - cream cheese (eg philadelphia) and icing sugar and a drop of vanilla.

i never put anything on mine. tis nice just as it is

Butter icing!

sprinkle some dark brown sugar

prefer it plain, it's gooey and unctuous enough if you've made it right

I nearly did cream cheese frosting but had no cream cheese and DS was desperate to try the cake.

Went with just some plain icing in the end - made thin like lemon drizzle cake.

It is luscious

I sprinkle demerera sugar on the top before it goes in the oven - then it is crunchy on the top when it comes out. No need for anything else.

Would you mind posting the recipe? I tried to do a loaf theother day - not great

Here it is Checking...

Banana Bread

Ingredients

285g/10oz plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp salt
110g/4oz butter, plus extra for greasing
225g/8oz caster sugar
2 free-range eggs
4 ripe bananas, mashed
85ml/3fl oz buttermilk (or normal milk mixed with 1½ tsp lemon juice or vinegar)
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preparation method

1.Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
2.Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a large mixing bowl.
3.In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. (I did this in my mixer for speed)
4.Add the eggs, mashed bananas, buttermilk and vanilla extract to the butter and sugar mixture and mix well. Fold in the flour mixture.
5.Grease a 20cm x 12.5cm/8in x 5in loaf tin and pour the cake mixture into the tin.
6.Transfer to the oven and bake for about an hour, or until well-risen and golden-brown.
7.Remove from the oven and cool in the tin for a few minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

I got the recipe from the BBC Food website and have made it twice now. It comes out beautifully soft in the middle with a great crust. Pretty's suggestion for sprinkling sugar on the top would probably be lovely.

I usually just have it plain as it's nice and moist anyway... but it is also tasty with a smear of butter, cream cheese, or nutella!

Custard.

I made the same receipe last night - but it seems not quite cooked in the middle and burnt well done on the outside.

Is this normal? I can't abide bananas but dh and ds will eat them. Dh says it is ok but tbh he's no Delia and he's only had a bit off the end. The middle is very soft

Maybe drop the temperature Judge? Sounds like your oven is a bit hot. Either that or cover the cake with a double layer of greaseproof paper with a small hole cut in the middle to protect it from burning and allow you to bake it for a little longer.

Did you make it in a loaf tin?

Thanks for your suggestions I did it in a loaf tin but silicon - I wonder if it makes a difference?

I popped a bit of greaseproof on the top after an hour and baked for a further 30 mins because it was still raw inside but didn't stop it getting a bit dark on top.

Of course it's possible my loaf tin was the wrong size but it looked about right. Will have a measure later.

I suspect my oven's thermostat is not very reliable as when I bake it often takes a lot longer to cook than the receipe says.

I think I'll stick to baking things I like to eat in future then I can test it properly instead of relying on dh who is too scared polite to tell me the truth!

Mine was dark on top. Not burnt but definitely darker than golden. I did use a metal loaf tin though. Wonder if they make a difference? More latent heat maybe?

Have you tried Red Velevt cake? Now that is yummy!!

or there were loads of Veg-glut recipes in this months Good Food magazine if you fancy carrot/courgette/pumpkin cake?

Oooh yum. I haven't made red velvet but I think I have a receipe in my Hummingbird cook book.

I do like a nice carrot cake. That's practically healthy isn't it

Practically one of your 5 a day