Description
This Citrus Cardamom Banana Bread is a delightful twist on classic banana bread, featuring the warm, aromatic flavors of cardamom and cinnamon paired with fresh orange zest and juice. Moist and fragrant, this loaf is perfect for breakfast, snacks, or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- â…“ cup butter (melted)
- 3 very ripe bananas
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 large egg (beaten)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Other
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan with butter or nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- Mash bananas: In a large bowl, mash the very ripe bananas thoroughly with a fork until smooth but still slightly chunky.
- Add citrus flavors: Stir in the melted butter, orange zest, and freshly squeezed orange juice until well combined.
- Combine spices and wet ingredients: Mix in ground cardamom, ground cinnamon, baking soda, kosher salt, and granulated sugar. Then add the beaten egg and vanilla extract, stirring until the mixture is uniform.
- Add flour: Gradually fold in the all-purpose flour just until incorporated. Be careful not to overmix to keep the bread tender.
- Bake the bread: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes to 1 hour until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and serve: Remove the loaf from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Then transfer the bread to a wire rack, slice into 8 to 8 equal pieces, and serve.
Notes
- Use very ripe bananas for the best natural sweetness and moisture.
- Do not overmix the batter after adding flour to avoid dense bread.
- Test doneness by inserting a toothpick; if it comes out clean, the bread is ready.
- Letting the bread cool before slicing helps it hold its shape.
- Orange zest and cardamom give a unique aromatic profile; adjust spices to taste if desired.
