AuthorSteve Nubie
Banana bread is a classic breakfast bread that can also be served as a dessert or at tea-time with coffee or tea. What makes this recipe unique is that it’s gluten free. Gluten free breads can be a challenge because they don’t rise like most breads, but a cake bread like this banana bread is different. That’s because baking powder takes the place of yeast and the bread rises in the bread machine as it bakes. But that presents a question: does your bread machine have a dedicated gluten free setting and should you use it for a cake bread?
The simple answer is: NO. Gluten free settings have a rising cycle which is unnecessary for a cake bread. In fact, a gluten free setting will make the bread heavy and dense. You need to either use a cake bread setting or finish the loaf in the oven. Ultimately, it’s the ingredients that make this gluten free, not the bread machine setting. If you don’t have a cake bread setting use either a pasta dough or pizza dough setting which does not have a rising cycle, or use the basic bread setting but pour out the batter before the rising cycle starts and finish in the oven.
I would recommend a buttered baking bread pan and an oven setting of 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake for 20 to 35 minutes until a knife or wooden skewer emerges from the center dry. If wet, bake another 5 minutes until they emerge dry.
Another key to success for this bread is the use of very ripe bananas. The darker the skin on the bananas the better. They are very soft and easily incorporate into the batter. Bananas that are too fresh are too firm and will not blend with the batter.
You can go two ways with this. One is to use the bread machine from start to finish assuming you have a cake-bread setting or you can finish in the oven. If using the cake-bread setting on your bread machine choose the cake-bread setting for a 1.5-pound loaf, medium crust.
If you want to finish in the oven, butter a baking pan and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). A 9x5 loaf pan is best either metal or glass. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes and do the knife or wooden skewer test to determine that the center of the bread is baked. When done for either approach, let rest for 10 minutes and then remove and serve.
Ingredients
Directions
You can go two ways with this. One is to use the bread machine from start to finish assuming you have a cake-bread setting or you can finish in the oven. If using the cake-bread setting on your bread machine choose the cake-bread setting for a 1.5-pound loaf, medium crust.
If you want to finish in the oven, butter a baking pan and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). A 9x5 loaf pan is best either metal or glass. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes and do the knife or wooden skewer test to determine that the center of the bread is baked. When done for either approach, let rest for 10 minutes and then remove and serve.
That should work fine.
Steve
Hmm my bread machine defaults to 1.0 lb loaf on cake. I’ll finish it in the oven. I bet that’s why some get under cooked. Thanks for posting.
I’ve tried this recipe 6 times. Cake setting, gluten free setting, sweet bread setting. it doesn’t matter which setting I use, it doesn’t cook all the way through. Should I be using baking powder too?
The recipe calls for baking powder
Hello Steve.
I made Banana Bread using your recipe as a base.
I didn’t have any maple syrup so used golden syrup. I also used an Australian tablespoon which is equal to four teaspoons, so probably a bit more than and American tablespoon.
I also didn’t have any baking powder so used Cream of Tartar and Bicarb Soda. I’m not sure if self raising flour would have worked as well.
To make it dairy free I used Nuttelex instead of butter.
My Bread Maker doesn’t give me a choice of size for yeast free bread so it was for a 1kg loaf.
The bread turned out to be delicious, and very light. It is a little too sweet for my taste. Perhaps maple syrup would not be as sweet, and a little less might be better.
Thanks for the recipe
Thanks, Melda
You made my day.
Steve
My bread maker doesn’t have a Cake Bread setting but it does have a Yeast Free setting. I am hoping that it will be suitable.