I'm looking at all my bakeware and thinking it's the new year and want to make some changes.... Not wanting to give anything up, I decided a little bit of something sweet will satisfy the craving and dampen the urge to binge if I deprive myself. Little "sweets" would do the job....but even mini-loaves could be too tempting; I need better portion control. Enter the madeline pan*! These delightful little molds will make the perfect little taste of sweetness I tend to crave after dinner.
I decided on a banana bread because I had 6 baby bananas that had started to ripen, black spots and all.
A quick survey of the pantry and found all that I needed: flour, light brown sugar, white sugar, salt, baking soda, butter, cinnamon, eggs and vanilla extract. I was feeling a little lazy and didn't want to use the mixer, so I did it by hand. You'll need two big bowls, two soup bowls, whisk and spatula.
Here is my recipe:
Preheat oven 350 degrees
Butter/grease madeline molds
Mix together in a bowl and set aside:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2-3 large ripe bananas (I used the six little ones I had), mashed in a shallow/soup bowl and set aside
In a large bowl:
2 eggs - beat/whisk
THEN ADD IN and vigorously whisk:
1/2 cup salted butter, melted and cooled
1/2 cup light brown sugar (packed!)
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Now, add in the mashed bananas
Whisk, whisk, whisk
Finally, add in the dry ingredients and using a spatula, blend, blend, blend!
Drop a rounded (not overly heaping) Tablespoon of batter into each mold.
Bake mid-oven, 25-30 minutes.
When done, remove from mold and cool on wire rack.
When cooled, place the golden colored madelines into a freezer bag and freeze.
When I am ready to have a little sweet after dinner, I remove one from freezer and let it defrost a few minutes - for me, a perfect little dessert!
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| Filling the madeline molds * I bought mine at Bed, Bath & Beyond |
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| Tiny madeline banana breads ready for the freezer I cut one in half and you can see the delicious dark "bread" |
