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Vintage Banana Nut Bread

July 11, 2016 by April Harris 47 Comments

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Vintage Banana Nut Bread
I love making loaf cakes and quick breads and this Vintage Banana Nut Bread is fast becoming one of my favourites. The original recipe comes via my late Mom, from my well-worn but treasured copy of her Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. I used to thumb through it when I was a kid, dreaming of being the perfect housewife, preparing wonderful food and setting tables like they did in the pictures.

Vintage Banana Nut Bread

Today I know that real life isn’t actually like the glossy photographs you see in cookbooks and magazines and that good enough is far better than perfect but this book is still a trusted resource. In fact, all these years later I’m still cooking my way through it.

Recently I discovered a recipe in my treasured volume for Banana Nut Bread. I was drawn to this particular recipe as it contains bran. I’m always on the outlook for healthier quick bread recipes and with bran and only a half-cup of sugar this one seemed to fit the bill.

Vintage Banana Nut Bread

Bran can be tricky to find here in England. Bran Muffins are not as popular as they are in North America – although I am doing my best to remedy that! Anyway, recently I discovered freshly milled bran at Mapledurham Mill, the last working mill on the River Thames.

Vintage Banana Nut Bread
The mill is part of the Maplehurham House estate, which dates from the time of King Henry VIII. They are have been milling grain there for over 400 years. I love the idea that my bran has come from such an historic mill.

Old-Fashioned Banana Nut Bread

My Vintage Banana Nut Bread has a really lovely flavour. The bananas give it a wonderful sweetness and the texture means it is suited to breakfast, teatime or snacks. I love it cut in thick slices spread with soft butter or with anything at all really! It’s positively addictive.

Vintage Banana Nut Bread
 
Print
Serves: 10 thick slices
Ingredients
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 well-beaten egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup bran
  • 3 tablespoons buttermilk
  • 3 mashed bananas (about 1½ cups)
  • 1½ cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ cup chopped nuts
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Grease and flour or line a 9½ x 5¼ x 2¾ inch loaf pan.
  3. Cream butter and sugar.
  4. Add the egg.
  5. Now stir in the bran and vanilla and mix thoroughly. Set aside.
  6. Combine buttermilk and bananas in a medium bowl.
  7. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together.
  8. Add the sifted dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk and bananas.
  9. Mix thoroughly.
  10. Stir in the nuts.
  11. Transfer the mixture to the lined pan.
  12. The bread normally takes between 45 and 50 minutes to cook but check after 35 minutes as oven temperatures really can vary. The bread is done when a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
  13. Allow to cool completely before slicing.
  14. The bread will keep for two or three days in a sealed container or wrapped in aluminum foil.
Notes
Adapted from The Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook
3.4.3177

If you enjoyed this recipe you may also enjoy Carrot Walnut Bran Muffins.

Shared with Say G’Day Saturday, See Ya in the Gumbo, Treasure Box Tuesday

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Filed Under: Breads, Breakfast, Featured Front Page Slider, Food, Quick Breads, Recipes Tagged With: banana bread, banana nut loaf, healthier banana bread, how to make banana bread, vintage banana nut bread

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Comments

  1. Amanda @ Dwelling in Happiness says

    August 22, 2014 at 11:50 pm

    Yum, that bread looks delicious! I love banana bread, and I love that this one doesn’t have a ton of sugar. That picture of the mill is gorgeous! Visiting from Say G’day. 🙂

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      August 25, 2014 at 3:35 pm

      Thank you so much, Amanda! And thank you for visiting. It’s lovely to ‘meet’ you 🙂

      Reply
  2. Pure Grace Farms says

    August 25, 2014 at 9:02 pm

    Beautiful Pictures April and your banana bread sounds lovely. Thanks for sharing.
    Blessings,
    Shari

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      August 26, 2014 at 5:00 pm

      Thank you so much, Shari. I’m really glad you liked the pictures too 🙂

      Reply
  3. Croydon steam carpet cleaning says

    August 27, 2014 at 8:20 am

    What kind of nuts are you using? Banana bread sounds great!

    Reply
  4. mjskit says

    August 28, 2014 at 2:21 am

    First of all – congratulations on your new space!! So elegant as always! You’ve once again inspired me to start going back through some of my vintage cookbooks. I have some from as far back as the 1930’s. It’s interesting to see all the different versions of banana nut bread. I love your addition of the bran and am very surprised to read that bran is hard to come by over there. Well, you cooked up a delicious looking quick bread!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      August 28, 2014 at 2:08 pm

      Thank you so much, MJ! I’m so glad you like it! That’s wonderful you have cookbooks from as far back as the 1930’s. It must be so interesting reading – and cooking from – them!

      Reply
  5. Michelle says

    August 31, 2014 at 3:12 pm

    I love those pictures of the mill, April. It’s very special that after 400 years, it is still in operation. Too many things are abandoned too soon.

    Keep up the fight for making bran more popular! I like to “sneak” wheat germ into baked items and pancakes. will have to start doing that with bran too. Thank you for sharing your lovely bread!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 1, 2014 at 10:25 am

      Thank you, Michelle. I agree, too many things are abandoned too soon! I had forgotten about wheat germ – thank you for reminding me. I must start using it again 🙂

      Reply
  6. shobha says

    September 5, 2014 at 8:47 pm

    I really like the banana bread.. I add cinnamon too.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 8, 2014 at 11:08 am

      Thank you , Shobha 🙂 I love cinnamon and add it to so many baking recipes.

      Reply
  7. Janette@culinaryginger says

    January 31, 2015 at 8:53 am

    I love old fashioned recipes and this looks like a great one. Banana bread is so good and I bet the bran just makes it so much better. Great recipe.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      February 2, 2015 at 11:50 am

      Thank you, Janette! The bran adds a lovely flavour as well as being healthy too 🙂

      Reply
  8. Nicole Neverman says

    February 1, 2015 at 4:18 am

    This bread sounds lovely, April. Love the combination of banana and nuts. I will try this next time I have bananas 🙂

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      February 2, 2015 at 11:52 am

      Thank you, Nicole! I hope you enjoy it when you try it 🙂

      Reply
  9. Cindy @ Hun... What's for Dinner? says

    February 1, 2015 at 3:46 pm

    This looks wonderful! I love the addition of the bran.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      February 2, 2015 at 11:57 am

      Thank you, Cindy 🙂

      Reply
  10. nancy@skinnykitchen.com says

    July 16, 2015 at 4:21 pm

    So nostalgic and good!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      July 16, 2015 at 6:55 pm

      Thank you, Nancy 🙂

      Reply
  11. christine says

    July 17, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    You can’t go wrong w/ banana bread slathered in butter! I’ve never tried using bran or buttermilk in mine. Sounds like I must give it a go!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      July 17, 2015 at 1:50 pm

      Thank you, Christine 🙂 It’s different than more modern recipes, but it really is delicious 🙂

      Reply
  12. Kimberly Grabinski says

    July 17, 2015 at 8:40 pm

    Interesting recipe. I love looking at old cookbooks and using the recipes.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      July 20, 2015 at 7:49 am

      Thank you, Kimberly. Me too 🙂

      Reply
  13. Joanne T Ferguson says

    July 18, 2015 at 10:28 am

    I can imagine enjoy a slice or two of you banana but bread with my tea right now April! Pinned and shared!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      July 20, 2015 at 7:50 am

      Thank you, Joanne, and thank you for sharing too!

      Reply
  14. Linda (Meal Planning Maven) says

    July 21, 2015 at 2:37 pm

    Your banana bread looks divine April…and I love your healthier tweaks, especially the of bran which will add a healthy dose of fiber!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      July 21, 2015 at 2:54 pm

      Thank you, Linda! I love sneaking healthier ingredients into treats 🙂

      Reply
  15. Brooke of Passport Couture says

    May 1, 2016 at 10:36 pm

    I also love that the bran you used in the recipe comes from a place with great historic significance! It was fun to read about your inspiration behind this recipe.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      May 2, 2016 at 3:26 pm

      Thank you, Brooke 🙂

      Reply
  16. Jess says

    July 11, 2016 at 3:34 pm

    The hubs loooves banana bread! I am pinning this recipe to try the next time I make it. Thanks for sharing it!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      July 11, 2016 at 5:19 pm

      I hope your husband loves this banana bread as much as mine does, Jess 😉 I’m so glad you like the sound of the recipe. Please do let me know what you think when you make it and feel free to share a photo on my Facebook page if you like!

      Reply
  17. Winnie says

    July 11, 2016 at 7:50 pm

    Fantastic looking bread! Here we call it – cake (as it’s sweet), and also bran-muffins are not popular at all. But banana bread is slowly becoming more and more popular.
    A few slices of this bread with some butter on, and it’s the perfect snack for me 🙂

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      July 12, 2016 at 10:39 am

      Thank you, Winnie 🙂

      Reply
  18. Hadia says

    July 13, 2016 at 1:31 am

    Thae banana bread sounds so good, April. I love the old worn treasured copy of the magazine and the memories behind these papers. So precious!Pinning and tweeting!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      July 13, 2016 at 2:22 pm

      Thank you so much, Hadia, and thank you for sharing too!

      Reply
  19. Linda (Meal Planning Maven) says

    July 14, 2016 at 7:13 pm

    What a beautiful loaf of bread April! The perfect comfort food treat!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      July 15, 2016 at 1:52 pm

      Thank you, Linda 🙂

      Reply
  20. swathi says

    July 18, 2016 at 3:51 am

    This banana bread is absolute treasure, Love it April

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      July 18, 2016 at 12:13 pm

      Thank you, Swathi 🙂

      Reply
  21. Platter Talk says

    September 7, 2016 at 5:31 am

    I love the fact that you use bran in this recipe and the light amount of fat. So many times
    when I’m enjoying a banana nut bread or muffin, I know that the contents has too much fat and little to no bran at all. Thank you for this wonderful, healthy recipe! I sure do appreciate it.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 7, 2016 at 3:54 pm

      I’m so glad you like it, Dan. It’s definitely one of my favourites, for that reason in particular!

      Reply
  22. Jess says

    May 30, 2017 at 3:44 pm

    This sounds delicious! 🙂

    I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

    Reply
  23. Julie says

    May 31, 2017 at 5:32 pm

    Hi April, your recipe for banana bread looks so good.
    Thanks for sharing this at C&C with J&J.
    Enjoy the week.
    Julie

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      May 31, 2017 at 11:14 pm

      Thank you so much, Julie 🙂 Have a lovely week ahead!

      Reply
  24. Beverly says

    June 1, 2017 at 8:17 pm

    I have the same cook book and still use it. My Mom puts butter on her banana bread as well. Thanks for sharing your wonderful posts at Over The Moon Party.
    See you next week.
    Hugs,
    Bev

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      June 3, 2017 at 9:42 pm

      That is so cool, Bev. I do love my Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. Thank you for hosting!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Treasure Box Tuesday 35 - Memories By The Mile says:
    September 2, 2014 at 12:01 am

    […] Vintage Banana Nut Bread by April J. Harris […]

    Reply

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