Description
This Citrus Cardamom Banana Bread combines the natural sweetness of ripe bananas with fragrant cardamom and bright citrus notes from orange zest and juice. Moist and flavorful, this loaf offers a delightful twist on traditional banana bread, making it perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- â…“ cup butter (melted)
- 3 very ripe bananas
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 large egg (beaten)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients & Spices
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan thoroughly with butter or a nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- Mash Bananas: In a large bowl, mash the very ripe bananas using a fork until smooth and mostly lump-free, which will provide moisture and sweetness.
- Add Citrus and Butter: Stir the melted butter, orange zest, and freshly squeezed orange juice into the mashed bananas, blending the flavors evenly.
- Mix Spices and Sugar: Add the ground cardamom, ground cinnamon, baking soda, kosher salt, and granulated sugar to the banana mixture. Stir to incorporate all spices and sugar well.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Pour in the beaten egg and vanilla extract, stirring gently until combined for binding and aromatics.
- Incorporate Flour: Add the all-purpose flour last, stirring just until the mixture is combined. Be careful not to overmix to keep the bread tender.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a wooden skewer or toothpick into the center; it should come out clean when done.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the loaf pan from the oven and let the bread cool in the pan for about 30 minutes. After cooling, remove the bread from the pan, slice into 8 or 8 slices, and serve.
Notes
- Ensure bananas are very ripe for maximum sweetness and moisture.
- Do not overmix the batter once the flour is added to avoid a dense bread.
- You can substitute granulated sugar with brown sugar for a richer flavor.
- If cardamom is unavailable, ground nutmeg can be used as an alternative spice.
- Store the banana bread tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
