James Martin Banana Bread

This James Martin Banana Bread is a wonderfully moist and tender loaf with a rich banana flavour and a lightly golden crust. It is simple to prepare, making it ideal for both beginners and confident home bakers. The texture is soft with just the right amount of sweetness, perfect for slicing thickly and enjoying with a cup of tea. From start to finish, it takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes, including baking and cooling time.

Ingredients

For the banana bread

225g ripe bananas (about 2–3 large), mashed
175g self-raising flour
150g caster sugar
100g unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp milk
Pinch of salt

Optional additions

75g chopped walnuts
75g dark chocolate chips

How to Make James Martin Banana Bread

Prepare the oven: Preheat the oven to 180°C or 160°C fan. Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin with baking parchment.
Mix the butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and caster sugar together until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition to prevent curdling.
Combine the dry ingredients: Sift in the self-raising flour, baking powder, and salt. Fold gently to combine.
Add banana and flavouring: Stir in the mashed bananas, vanilla extract, and milk until you have a smooth batter.
Add extras: Fold in walnuts or chocolate chips if using.
Fill the tin: Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and level the top.
Bake the bread: Bake for 50–60 minutes until golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Cool: Leave the banana bread to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips

Why is my banana bread dense?

This can happen if the batter is overmixed. Fold ingredients gently to keep the loaf light and airy.

How ripe should bananas be?

Very ripe bananas with brown spots are ideal as they provide the best sweetness and flavour.

How do I know when it is fully baked?

Insert a skewer into the centre. If it comes out clean or with a few dry crumbs, it is ready.

Can I make it more moist?

Adding a tablespoon of yogurt or using very ripe bananas helps create an extra moist texture.

Serving Suggestions

Serve warm with butter
Enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee
Spread with honey or jam for extra sweetness
Lightly toast slices for a crisp edge

Storage

Room temperature

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Keep it in a cool, dry place.

Refrigerator

Refrigerate for up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature before serving for best texture.

Freezing

Freeze slices or the whole loaf for up to 3 months. Wrap well and thaw at room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 290 kcal
Carbohydrates: 38g
Protein: 5g
Fat: 13g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Sodium: 180mg

These values are approximate and may vary depending on ingredients used.

FAQs

Can I use plain flour instead of self-raising flour?

Yes, add 2 teaspoons of baking powder to plain flour to achieve a similar rise.

Can I make this banana bread without eggs?

You can replace eggs with mashed banana or yogurt, though the texture may be slightly different.

Why did my banana bread sink in the middle?

This can happen if it is underbaked or the oven door was opened too early during baking.

Can I add spices to this recipe?

Yes, a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg works beautifully with banana flavour.