Peanut Butter-Banana Bread

Bread Challenge Week 49

In a particular grocery store chain in Colorado lives a free magazine called Optimum Wellness. I usually pick up a copy when a new issue is available because each issue has coupons for brands that I use and love, but also because each issue is filled with healthy recipes made with real, fresh and whole foods. I usually tear out the recipes that appeal to me and put them into my recipe binder.

Flipping through this binder the other day I came across a recipe from Optimum Wellness that I had torn out almost 3 years ago and had not yet made. Peanut Butter-Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips. This recipe caught my attention at the time because it has three flavors I love. I was shocked that I had not thought of something like it.

I set about to make a loaf of Peanut Butter-Banana Bread using this recipe. You’ll notice I didn’t mention chocolate chips. Surprisingly I didn’t use them. Gasp! I know I was a little shocked too. I always try to find a way to add chocolate, but after eating my way through more cookies, pies, and treats than I care to admit this holiday season I’m a little sugared out.

The bread smelled great in the oven. It took about 5 minutes longer to cook than the recipe called for and even with that extra time I wish I had baked it for maybe 3-5 minutes longer. Because I didn’t put chocolate chips in the bread I am sure it is not as visually appealing. There are peanuts throughout the bread because of the crunchy peanut butter in the recipe but they are not quite enough to stand out. The flavor of the bread is good. The peanut butter flavor comes through more intensely than the banana flavor.

After about an hour of my night we had a fresh loaf of bread cooling on a wire rack on the kitchen counter. Not bad for a random week night baking session. Maddy loves this bread. Maddy loves peanut butter, as most 3 year olds do. Luke likes this bread. Although I think he liked the idea of it a little more than the incarnation. I am on the fence. I see some real potential here, but this recipe is just lacking. I love that it is made with whole wheat flour, but I would love to see some flax meal, a stronger banana flavor, and less sugar. I think I will make peanut butter banana bread again, just not this recipe. I’m pretty sure I’ll be winging it and making a recipe that speaks more to my tastes.

By the way I have searched high and low for the Peanut Butter-Banana Bread recipe online and cannot find it, but it is from the March/April 2008 edition of Optimum Wellness.

Flavor: 2
Hands on time: 5
Total time: 5
Recipe: 4
versatility: 3
make it again: 2
Catherine: 0
Luke: 1
Maddy: 1

Total Score: 23
(what is this Bread Challenge and how are recipes scored?)

Previous Bread Challenge reviews:
60 Minute Rolls – Week 47
Sun-dried Tomato Bread – Week 46
Naan – Week 45
Chocolate Chip Cream Scones – Week 44
Indian Spiced Doughnuts – Week 43
Whole Wheat Brioche – Week 42
Pizza Dough – Week 41
Cinnamon-Apple Twist Bread – Week 40
Pumpkin Bread- Week 39
Winter Herb Bread – Week 38
Classic Pretzel – Week 37
Sweet Potato Bread – Week 36
Challah – Week 35
Whole Wheat English Muffins – Week 34
Pumpernickel – Week 33
Green Onion-Sesame Flatbread – Week 32
Beer Bread – Week 31
Country Seed Bread – Week 30
Cinnamon-Raisin Bagels – Week 29
Crunchy Crackers – Week 28
Ciabatta Bread – Week 27
Cornmeal Pancake -Week 26
Lemon Poppy Seed – Week 25
Sourdough – Week 24
Tortillas – Week 23
Honey Wheat Hamburger Buns – Week 22
Garlic Studded Baguette – Week 21
Quinoa Bread – Week 20
Asiago Herb and Garlic Bread – Week 19
Cranberry Pecan Rye Bread – Week 18
Rotis – Whole Wheat Unleavened Bread- Week 17
Farmhouse White Loaf – Week 16
Honey Whole Wheat Slow Cooker Bread – Week 15
The Easiest Loaf of Bread You’ll Ever Bake – Week 14
Hot Cross Buns – Week 13
100% Whole Wheat Bread – Week 12
Thin Wheat Crackers – Week 11
Irish Soda Bread – Week 10
Double Blueberry Muffins – Week 9
Oatmeal Batter Bread – Week 8
Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls – Week 7
Cheesy Pretzels – Week 6
Light Rye Bread – Week 5
Country-Style Whole-Wheat Pita – Week 4
Carrot Raisin Quick Bread – Week 3
Potato Bread – Week 2
Focaccia – Week 1