Are you looking for some Easter breakfast or brunch ideas? How about giving a classic Banana Bread a little Easter twist with a hidden chocolatey centre.
I am sure a lot of us have had our fill of banana bread over the last year. But it is definitely a classic for a reason. Easy to make, and unless you hate bananas, everyone loves a good moist banana bread.
To give it an Easter twist, I made half a batch of chocolate banana bread, baked it as a flat sheet and cut out small bunny shapes to hide in the centre of my banana bread. What a sweet little hidden surprise.
Okay, I’ll admit it’s a little more effort since you have to make the chocolate batch before the loaf, but don’t we all want something special for the Easter table? And the family will love the the hidden surprise in the middle when you begin to slice it.
Easter Banana Bread
Are you looking for some Easter breakfast or brunch ideas? How about giving a classic Banana Bread a little Easter twist with a hidden chocolatey centre.
Share via Email
Share on Facebook
Ingredients
Chocolate Bunny Batter
- ¼ Cup Unsalted Butter Softened to room temperature
- ¼ Cup Castor or granulated sugar
- 1 Large Egg
- 2 Very ripe bananas Mashed
- 2 Tbsp Milk
- ½ tsp Vanilla Extract
- ¾ Cup All-Purpose/Cake Flour
- ¼ Cup Good quality cocoa powder
- ½ tsp Baking Powder
- 1 Pinch of salt
Banana Bread Batter
- ½ Cup Unsalted Butter Softened to room temperature
- ¾ Cup Castor or granulated sugar
- 2 Large Eggs
- 4 Very ripe bananas Mashed
- ¼ Cup Milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 Cups All-Purpose/Cake Flour
- 1½ tsp Baking Powder
- ¼ tsp Salt
Instructions
Chocolate Bunny Batter
- Preheat the oven to 160°C
- Line the bottom and grease the sides of a baking sheet or oven dish and set aside
- Cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until smooth and combined (I use a hand mixer but feel free to use a stand mixer)
- Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well in between each addition, then stir in the mashed bananas, milk and vanilla until well combined
- Place a sieve over the bowl with the wet ingredients and sift in the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt
- Stir in the dry ingredients until it is fully incorporated. Do not over-mix
- Pour the batter into the prepared oven dish or baking sheet and spread to create an even layer
- Bake for around 25 – 35 minutes, depending on your oven and the thickness of your layer. It should be just barely baked as they bake further inside the loaf. They should still be slightly fudgy, like chocolate brownies, but set enough to be able to cut out your shapes when cooled
- When baked, remove from the oven and let sit in the oven dish or baking sheet for around 5 minutes or so, then remove and let cool completely on a wire cooling rack. Around 15 – 20 minutes
- When cooled, cut your bunny, egg or flower shapes out with a cookie cutter (If needed, dip your cookie cutter in flour to prevent sticking). Set them aside while you prepare the loaf batter
Banana Bread Batter
- Preheat the oven to 160°C
- Line the bottom and grease the sides of a standard loaf tin and set aside
- Cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until smooth and combined (I use a hand mixer but feel free to use a stand mixer)
- Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well in between each addition, then stir in the mashed bananas, milk and vanilla until well combined
- Place a sieve over the bowl with the wet ingredients and sift in the flour, baking powder, and salt
- Stir in the dry ingredients until it is fully incorporated. Do not over-mix
- Pour a small amount of the batter, around ¼ – ½ cup into the prepared loaf tin and spread to create an even layer. Just enough to cover the bottom
- Next, gently begin packing your bunnies (or other shapes) in a neat row down the centre. I placed two skewers at the edges since I don't want to see the bunnies on the outside of the loaf and want them to be hidden. This also helps them not to fall over. Ensure you pack them tightly against each other but be gentle as they are soft
- Finally, pour the remainder of the batter into the tin, starting by pouring around the sides as not to disturb the bunnies. Then on top to cover them. Remember to remove the skewers and make sure that the batter filled between the first and last bunny and the side of the loaf tin, to conceal them
- Bake the loaf for 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the sides (not the centre where the bunnies are) comes out clean
- Remove from the oven and let cool for around 10 – 15 minutes in the loaf tin. Then remove and continue to cool on the wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature
Notes
The baking time will depend on your oven. My oven takes longer than usual on its bake setting so my bread bakes for the full 1 hour and 10 minutes. Please start checking your bread at around 50/55 min in order not to over bake it. This is a lovely moist banana bread but will be dry if it’s over-baked.
Tried this recipe?Post your pics and tag us at @my_homemade_kitchen_za or #myhomemadekitchen!
Leave a Reply