Sometimes I get frustrated by the constant mess in my house and get on my kids’ case about helping out, putting things where they belong, etc. Then I notice my one-year-old puts his milk cup back in the fridge and brings his empty snack bowl to the dishwasher, and I wonder where all the mess is really coming from.
I’ve realized the major mess makers are actually the older ones. They’re getting to the age where they notice (and point out) every little thing Carl or I leaves lying around, and somehow think that justifies their doing the same thing. I was trained early on to be pretty obsessive about putting things where they belong, but Carl has yet to figure out the purpose of a shoe rack or the hangers in the bedroom closet, so we’re fighting a bit of an uphill battle.
When things get messy in the bedrooms, playroom, living room, and basement, sometimes I don’t feel like nagging anyone (or doing it myself), so instead I go to the kitchen and bake. My work space is one area the kids know better than to clutter up with toys, so the floor between the island and the counter is almost guaranteed to be completely free of toys.
This baking escape is lately a little limited by issues of storage space and stomach capacity. My freezer is packed with the gorgeous bounty of summer – zucchini and rhubarb baking of all kinds, peach crumbles and frozen peaches, and, of course, plenty of hamburgers and popsicles. A full freezer rarely happens here, so I have only an apartment-size deep freezer because it’s really all we ever need. Right now, though, I could definitely make use of a full size freezer, especially when I do silly things like buy all the overripe bananas on sale at the grocery store and have no choice BUT to bake.
Banana bread is the answer when I don’t want to take freezer space, since it disappears quickly when left on the counter. I make 2-banana bread often, with a super simple old church cookbook recipe, since a couple of the kids think nothing is greater, and I often have 2 ripe bananas. But with bags of rapidly rottening bananas, I knew it was time for my mom’s famous FIVE banana loaf.
So much mushing and mashing, so many icky soft bananas, but it’s worth it if you really like a true banana-y banana bread. This loaf is not for those on the fence about bananas – the flavour is intensely banana-rich, and the texture is dense and moist and banana-packed. It is perhaps even better the day after you bake it, if you can wait that long to slice it, and excellent with a layer of butter.
My mom makes it with a delicious streusel topping, but I was out of brown sugar so I skipped that step. I’ve included it in the recipe anyway, since obviously toppings are always highly recommended :) If you like walnuts, they also make an excellent addition to either the bread or the topping.
Deliciously intense banana loaf aside, do any of you have ideas on how to get your kids to stay on top of clutter and take ownership of tidying their own spaces? Please enlighten me so I can cut back on the banana-mashing therapy.
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
- 5 medium-large ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- TOPPING (optional):
- 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup flour
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease or lightly spray a 9x5" loaf pan and set aside.
- Mash bananas well with a fork on a large plate, until very smooth. Transfer to a large bowl and whisk in eggs, sugar and oil. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and stir well, until no streaks of flour remain.
- Scrape batter into prepared pan.
- For topping, melt butter in a small bowl and stir in flour and sugar. Sprinkle over batter before baking.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes, until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge and invert to remove from pan. Put right side up on a cooling rack and let cool fully before slicing, ideally overnight.
My son’s girlfriend shared the bread with us and I had to ask for the recipe. She used brown sugar and added mini chocolate chips. I can’t wait to make it myself.
On motivating the kids to take care of the messes: I don’t have the time or the energy to pick up after everyone and I can’t stand mess and clutter. We have a schedule so everyone knows when the bedrooms and bathrooms need to be cleaned, downstairs vacuumed, etc. If things don’t get done, there are consequences (usually losing screen time or dessert). It’s not a perfect system but it’s manageable.
Can I substitute oil with stick of butter?
Yes!
I find the lack of vanilla interesting, will have to try this today
I use vanilla extract in this 1/2 tsp…its great in french toast egg mix too
So Good!!!
In cup form, how many cups is 5 mashed large bananas? I usually have extra large or small bananas.
I’m not sure, I actually never measure bananas :) If I have really large ones I might do one less, but generally the batter will be a little fuller or less in the pan and it always works fine!
Try the water replacement trick, fill a measuring cup wait i cup of water, drop the banana into it see how much it rises…what ever it is subtract a cup fm it…
Oh that’s a great idea!
We used coconut oil instead of veg oil . Also my daughter added 4 drops of vanilla because that’s always her favorite “magic” ingredient. We just sprinkled the top with a pinch of sugar and it was our best ever kid tested banana bread moist crisp too delish – so so good. Thanks for sharing
Yum! I’ve been using coconut oil more and more lately, and loving it!
Would I be able to substitute the vegetable oil for buttermilk?
You’d be better subbing it for melted butter or coconut oil – but the bananas add enough moisture that buttermilk might work okay in this.
I made this recipe this morning but I made muffins instead of bread. I added chocolate chips and pecans and omg! Delicious!
Made it and it was good but I have a cold and couldn’t taste it :( My sister said it was VERY GOOD. Gonna have to make this again soon.
Greetings- will this work without added sugar….diabetic….don’t care for things terribly sweet, but am looking for something that helps curb craving for sweetness. Thanks for any ideas…
Yes, it will work without the sugar, or with a sugar substitute.
Excellent recipe!! I Made this but added finely ground coffee to the batter and a little maple bacon bourbon for additional flavor. I omitted the cinnamon.
Oooh, I love those additions! Thanks for sharing!
Came out awesomely delicious! I added chocolate chips
Always a good idea :)
I love this recipe!!!!! I’ve many banana bread for years with just 3 bananas but this is this best! Since using this recipe I’ve given many away and everyone keeps asking for the recipe. It even tastes great without the topping. I have a friend who doesn’t add it since she is diabetic. Thanks.
Love this recipe. I only had 4 bananas and accidentally added 1 and 1/4 a teaspoon of salt and still tasted great. Would use again
I used chunked up butter instead of oil and didn’t use sugar and it was certainly the best banana bread I’ve ever made. Never using another. Who only has 2 overripe bananas at time anyway… ha!
Just made this recipe and will never use another again!!!
I made a small loaf on the side and added brown sugar to the top and shredded coconut!! Yum!
So glad you liked it! Love the addition of coconut!
I made this recipe in a 6X12 cast iron pan, (all I had at the cottage)
It was perfect with a bit of topping in every mouthful! Cook time was 30 mins.
I had 5 bananas and was looking for a recipe, sure glad this one popped up
I only had 4 bananas and it still tasted amazing
Made it, love it!! New fave!!
Yay, thanks for taking the time to let me know!
Made it, love it!! My new fave banana bread recipe! Everything to the fluffy, cake-like texture to the gooey, crunchy topping!!!
DELICIOUS! I specifically googled “banana bread with five bananas” and this recipe came up. I was shocked that it makes only one loaf and even questioned my true love for banana bread when I read that it may not be for those on the fence about banana bread. I used three bananas I had sitting out and two hanging out in my freezer and it came out amazing. I may buy extra bananas so I can make this again.
Oh, and I made the streusel topping. Yummm!!!
So glad you liked it! The streusel topping is so worth the extra step :)
I love this loaf, with or without streusel. Good thing because I am, admittedly, sometimes too lazy to make the topping. :)