Peanut Butter Banana Bread

I am a total sucker for "creature comforts." I love big snuggly blankets, oversized flannel pajama pants, a nice warm, or cold beverage, and a good book to lose myself in. I look forward to the evenings after the kids have gone to bed to enjoy all of those. But sometimes during the day I'll take a moment or two to indulge in some "me time."

There is nothing better than a quiet cup of afternoon tea. The kids are preoccupied and I can sneak away and sip a cup, while enjoying a small snack. This peanut butter banana bread was a real treat, and I was very sad when it was eaten up.

 I'm already a big fan of banana bread, but what set this apart was the glaze. Oh my goodness, I've never had peanut butter glaze until this bread, but I would eat that stuff on just about anything.  The banana bread is not too sweet, with earthy undertones of peanut butter.  This is a bread that I would happily make again and again.

Peanut Butter Banana Bread 

Cooking Light August 2010

Ingredients

• Bread:
• 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana
• 1/3 cup plain fat-free yogurt
• 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 6 3/4 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 tablespoons chopped dry-roasted peanuts
• Cooking spray
• Glaze:
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon 1% low-fat milk
• 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter

 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. To prepare bread, combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed. Add granulated and brown sugars; beat until blended.

3. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (through allspice) in a small bowl. Add flour mixture to banana mixture; beat just until blended. Stir in nuts. Pour batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven; cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack. Remove bread from pan; cool.

4. To prepare glaze, combine powdered sugar, milk, and 1 tablespoon peanut butter in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle glaze over bread.