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Monday, July 11, 2011

Zucchini Banana Bread


Where were you guys before I started this blog? How come no one warned me of the occupational hazards of blogging?


No, I am not referring to the fact that I worry more about the lighting for my food photos than I do about my hungry children. Nor am I talking about the embarrassing (to my children, at least) way I gush over beautiful produce at the farmer's market. And I'm not even talking about the round-the-clock obsession with checking my fellow bloggers' sites and planning our next shoot.


I'm talking about the very unfortunate fact that I have spoiled my children. There was a day when Banana Bread was a treat. ("Wow. Mommy made cake!") These days, they turn up their noses at an ordinary loaf of banana bread. ("Oh. Did we have rotten bananas you needed to use up?") Sure, they pretend they have my blogs' best interests in mind. ("Mommy, don't you want to make something interesting for your blog?")  as they ask for Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp,  Chocolate Muffins or my Signature Chocolate Chip Cookies.

So when I came across this recipe on Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice,  there was just a little hint of spite as I clipped it and eyed those browning bananas. As I mashed the bananas and measured out the chips, I have to admit that the expression "I'll show them" did go through my mind.


Well, I showed them alright. This recipe made for such a lovely cake that I wrapped it up in individual slices and forbade everyone from eating it. I caved when they looked at me with their sad puppy-dog eyes and asked for just a tiny bit. And all it took was one "YUMMY" from my two-year-old to make all my resolutions vanish. This cake is good. Good enough to share with my spoiled but very-much-loved family.

Zucchini Banana Bread, adapted from Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice

3 very ripe bananas
2 eggs
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 heaping cup zucchini (1 small to medium), shredded
3/4 cup chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 350*. Lightly grease a standard sized loaf pan.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the banana for a minute or so till well mashed. Add the eggs, honey, sugar, and vanilla and mix for another minute or so, until smooth.

Add the baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Mix to combine and then add the flour. 

Stir in the zucchini and chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for a little under an hour until a toothpick comes out clean from center. Cool for about 1/2 hour before turning the loaf out onto a wire rack to cool some more.

36 comments:

  1. Aww, sounds like you really have a beautiful family KAH. And, the banana bread looks amazing and moist.

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  2. Everything from Reeni's blog is always so awesome. Looks like you really did justice to this bread and made those kids happy!

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  3. Looks like a lovely, moist bread and with cinnamon AND chocolate - it's certainly a winner with me.

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  4. What a cute post!! And I so agree with all you wrote about this blogging business!! My son rolls his eyes patiently waiting for the photo to be taken so he can finally eat!! And, this bread, btw, is awesome! I think he'll be happy waiting to grab a slice of this!

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  5. Love this!!! I'll bet it is SO perfectly soft and moist :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

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  6. I'm munching on one of these muffins right now. Absolutely delicious! (and my 2yo son agrees) Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Haha! Growing up, I used to hate bananas in bread. Not anymore :)

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  8. I remember my mom's banana bread was a special occasion thing too!

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  9. Haha, I love your occupational hazards :D And this bread looks delicious! Banana and zucchini bread packing into one? I am totally trying this :D

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  10. Yum! I am so sick of plain old banana bread when they go bad - I'm trying this with the next inevitable bunch of brown ones! I think this would also be a great addition to our online Seasonal Potluck. Zucchini is one of July's featured ingredients! http://wp.me/p1vvGp-aH

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  12. Ha, I completely understand! My husband is also totally spoiled. I can only imagine what will happen once I have children.

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  13. i totally know what you mean! once you admit to being a food blogger, no one lets you get away with plain old banana bread anymore. Not fair.

    I've been meaning to make this! It sounds super delicious!

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  14. Aw, sounds like you have such sweet kids! Always thinking of the blog, huh? ;)

    This banana bread reminds me of my childhood... I used to claim that I hated bananas, but then my mom came along with this mysterious bread that had chocolate chips, and it somehow got by me that it was called "banana bread"... I thought it was just an odd coincidence, because that bread was incredible. Way to take it to the next level with a bit of zucchini hidden inside!

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  15. this is one of my husband;s favorite breads. So glad you made this and posted so I would remember to do this for him again. I will be using your recipe

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  16. No surprise this was a hit - it sounds great!

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  17. This banana bread looks so good! and same here, I also gush over beautiful food..

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  18. I love banana bread. And zucchini bread. Great idea to put them both into one!

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  19. Aw! Sounds like your kids are spoiled in the best way. And can I tell you: I am so excited to make my first loaf of zicchini bread this season!

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  20. Yes, your family is very lucky that bread looks amazing.

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  21. I've tried zucchini bread and banana bread, but never together - sounds deliciously sweet and moist. As soon as banana prices come down from the crazy high here in Sydney, I'll be trying this! Thanks!

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  22. I actually have some zucchini growing in my garden right now! I can't wait to try out this recipe (I love making homemade breads!)

    By the way, thanks for stopping by my blog, glad you liked my "rustic pencil holder!"

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  23. This sounds delicious. I've been making muffins with carrots, zucchini, and/or banana, but I guess a reliable recipe might be useful! Tell your family thanks for their patience. I enjoy some good food photos. Not that you can tell from my blog!

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  24. Your post made me smile, and I love the recipe you have shared. I never thought about mixing bananas and zucchini, but I can just imagine what a lovely moist and flavourful cake they must make. Thank you for sharing another yummy recipe with Let's Do Brunch.

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  25. Oh that looks delicious! Great flavor combination.

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  26. It does look pretty good! Another bookmark.

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  27. Lindsay Elliott07 April, 2012 15:06

    Love this recipe. Just what I was looking for when I spied my shriveling bananas on the counter and extra zucchini in the fridge! I substituted whole wheat flower for the 3/4C portion and added 1/4C flax seeds. I think next time I will add some walnuts, I love walnuts and chocolate chips in breads. Thank you for the inspiration, will check out more of your recipes!

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    1. Love the addition of flax seeds! Thanks for stopping by.

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  28. I'm not sure what happened...but I had to cook this for an hour and a half and it's still barely cooked through. Hopefully once it cools it'll firm up. Tastes wonderful though!

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    1. Hm, that's odd. I make this all the time and it comes out wonderful. Hope it turns out ok.

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  29. haha! I can totally identify with the "occupational hazards of blogging"! Recipe looks great, can't wait to try it w/ all my summer zucchini. :)

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  30. Hello! Fun comments. I have overly ripe bananas and zucchini from the garden, but what if I don't have any chocolate chips around? Suggestions? Oh, and does this recipe work with muffins? Thanks so much for sharing!

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    1. Yes this does work with muffins cuz I made them the other day and they are wonderful!!! I cooked them for 20 - 25 minutes!!!

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  31. Just made this morning and split the batter between 6 muffins and a small bread loaf. YUM! Thanks for the recipe!

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