Dominique Ansel’s Banana Bread

On a never-ending search for the ultimate banana bread, I found this version. It is fantastic.

Often I spread a layer of almond butter or Nutella or some such deliciousness on top of my toasted banana bread but this one requires no gilding. It is perfect just the way it is. And a snap to make, as long as you have thought far enough ahead to let your bananas ripen (or have some stockpiled in the freezer).

Here goes.

My new kitchen gizmo: a butter measure.

A very handy tool.

Butter measure in action.

The butter measure in action.

Get the butter melted first, so it has time to cool.

Melt the butter.

White sugar.

Flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

Make sure you have lots of nutmeg.

Nutmeg.

All the dry ingredients.

Now, get the bananas.

Fully ripened bananas.

Grab three eggs too.

The eggs.

Eggs and bananas combined.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.

Add the eggs and banana mixture to the dry ingredients (a whatfoodimade action shot!).

Just one more step.

Almost batter.

Pour the slightly cooled melted butter into the batter.

Add the melted butter (another whatfoodimade action shot!).

Stir in the butter.

Combine the batter and the melted butter.

Into the prepared pan and ready to bake.

Ready for the oven.

Baked banana bread.

After 1 hour, 10 minutes.

Dominique Ansel’s Banana Bread.

Here’s the recipe:
http://www.tastingtable.com/entry_detail/national/18043/recipes_home/How_to_Make_Dominique_Ansels_Banana_Bread.htm

Dominique Ansel’s Banana Bread
Recipe adapted from Dominique Ansel, Dominique Ansel Bakery, New York, NY
Yield: 1 loaf

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 eggs
4 overripe bananas, mashed
14 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing pan

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease a 10″ x 5″ x 3-1/2″ loaf pan and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, baking soda, nutmeg, salt and baking powder. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and combine with the mashed bananas. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix together until just combined. Stir in the melted butter until fully incorporated.

2. Pour the batter into prepared pan and bake until golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Allow to cool for 20 minutes before slicing.