Spiced black banana bread recipe
 This easy banana bread is full of sweetness and spice. I grew up baking it with my grandmother to use up ripe bananas. These recipes were inspired by CBeebies' JoJo & Gran Gran programme. 180g/6¼oz butter, softened180g/6¼oz light brown muscovado sugar2 free-range eggs1 tsp vanilla extract180g/6¼oz plain flour1 tsp ground nutmeg1 tsp cinnamon3 tsp baking powder60g/2¼oz ground almonds4 overripe bananas (approx. 500g/1lb 2oz), peeled 180g/6¼oz butter, softened 180g/6¼oz light brown muscovado sugar 2 free-range eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 180g/6¼oz plain flour 1 tsp ground nutmeg 1 tsp cinnamon 3 tsp baking powder 60g/2¼oz ground almonds 4 overripe bananas (approx. 500g/1lb 2oz), peeled Method Preheat the oven to 170C/150C Fan/Gas 3½. Line the base and sides of a 13x20cm/5x8in loaf tin with baking paper.Mix together the butter and sugar in a bowl using an electric whisk or wooden spoon until light, airy and combined. Crack the eggs into a small bowl and lightly whisk in the vanilla. Gradually pour into the butter and sugar, mixing as you go. Don’t worry if the mixture curdles, it will come back together. Mix the flour, spices and baking powder together in a separate bowl. When combined, sift into the butter mixture, followed by the ground almonds, folding into the mixture with a metal spoon.Mash three of the bananas in another bowl, then fold into the cake mixture. Pour into the prepared tin.Slice the remaining banana down the middle vertically. Place across the top of the batter, cut-side up. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 60–75 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. If it starts to brown too quickly, cover loosely with foil. Leave to cool slightly, then remove from the tin onto a wire rack to cool completely. Preheat the oven to 170C/150C Fan/Gas 3½. Line the base and sides of a 13x20cm/5x8in loaf tin with baking paper. Preheat the oven to 170C/150C Fan/Gas 3½. Line the base and sides of a 13x20cm/5x8in loaf tin with baking paper. Mix together the butter and sugar in a bowl using an electric whisk or wooden spoon until light, airy and combined. Mix together the butter and sugar in a bowl using an electric whisk or wooden spoon until light, airy and combined. Crack the eggs into a small bowl and lightly whisk in the vanilla. Gradually pour into the butter and sugar, mixing as you go. Don’t worry if the mixture curdles, it will come back together. Crack the eggs into a small bowl and lightly whisk in the vanilla. Gradually pour into the butter and sugar, mixing as you go. Don’t worry if the mixture curdles, it will come back together. Mix the flour, spices and baking powder together in a separate bowl. When combined, sift into the butter mixture, followed by the ground almonds, folding into the mixture with a metal spoon. Mix the flour, spices and baking powder together in a separate bowl. When combined, sift into the butter mixture, followed by the ground almonds, folding into the mixture with a metal spoon. Mash three of the bananas in another bowl, then fold into the cake mixture. Pour into the prepared tin. Mash three of the bananas in another bowl, then fold into the cake mixture. Pour into the prepared tin. Slice the remaining banana down the middle vertically. Place across the top of the batter, cut-side up. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 60–75 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. If it starts to brown too quickly, cover loosely with foil. Slice the remaining banana down the middle vertically. Place across the top of the batter, cut-side up. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 60–75 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. If it starts to brown too quickly, cover loosely with foil. Leave to cool slightly, then remove from the tin onto a wire rack to cool completely. Leave to cool slightly, then remove from the tin onto a wire rack to cool completely. Recipe tips If you don’t have ground almonds, or need to avoid nuts, substitute the ground almonds for the same quantity of plain flour.