A Yeasted Chocolate Banana Loaf

What do I do when I see mushy bananas on the counter. Bake a banana bread. And to make it more exciting throw in some chocolate shavings. No exciting enough? Then get making this and am sure the aroma of chocolate and banana and a yeasty bread baking will sure get you all craving to cut into the loaf and serve yourself some.

The recipe is from "Bread" by Sara Lewis. Get this book if you haven't already. There's lots of good recipes in there and drool worthy pictures too! Every recipe comes with the method to follow if you have a bread machine. And yes, the best part of baking a bread for me is the kneading to get all the stress out and also to watch the dough rise. It is an awesome feeling to see the dough rise. Gives you a sense of feeling that all's well with the dough.

This recipe makes a large loaf.
300g/1+1/4 C bananas
2t Lemon Juice
500g/4+1/2 C All Purpose Flour (The recipe says strong white flour)
2 T White Milk Powder
1/2 t Salt
2 T caster Sugar
2 T Butter
1+1/2 t Fast action dried yeast
200 ml /1 C Water ( I didn't have to use water cos without water the dough came together)
175 g milk chocolate
icing sugar/cocoa powder to decorate

Peel the bananas and mash them. Work in the lemon juice. Into a bowl, add flour, milk powder, salt and sugar. Add butter and rub it in to get a breadcrumb like mixture. Stir in the yeast and mashed bananas. Mix in enough water to make a soft dough. There was no need for me to add water. It turned a soft dough otherwise. Knead for about 5 mins until the dough is smooth and elastic. Cover and let it rise. 

Onto a lightly floured surface, tip the dough and knead well. Dice the chocolate and work it into the dough. Grease a loaf tin and put the dough into it. Leave for the second rise.

Remove and bake in a preheated oven (200 degree C/400 degree F) for 35 - 40 mins until the bread sounds hollow when tapped. Do check if there is overbrowning. If so, then cover with foil and continue baking.

Once the bread is baked, transfer to a wire rack and dust with icing sugar and cocoa powder and leave to cool.

As for me, no more just ordinary banana bread, but chocolate banana bread it is until I find another alternative.

This bread is yeastspotted.