It should come as no surprise that I relate to the world through food. Sure, I’m fairly well adjusted, I can carry on a warm conversation and function in life, but in the secret world that is my brain, I’m always trying to understand the world around me by relating it to something I’ve eaten.
Crazy? Maybe. Confusing? Let me explain.
Say I walk into my parents’ house and am greeted with a hug and kiss from my father. That’s just like eating a bowl of vanilla bean ice cream smothered with warm dulce de leche sauce. The hug from my dad and the ice cream create the same feeling in my brain. Get it?
The smell of fresh rain on concrete is just like eating a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup.
Having a heart to heart with my mom is just like sipping Earl Grey tea with extra sugar and milk.
Getting a paper cut is just like taking a shot of cheap tequila with salt and dry limes.
Falling absolutely, head over heals, silly in love with someone is just like smooth bourbon and cigarettes at midnight.
Sitting next to Grandmother at the dinner table and feeling her almost thoughtlessly stroke my hand as if it were her own… that’s just like this perfectly spiced Banana Cranberry Bread. Yes, there’s that much comfort in the bread. It’s the real deal.
Is this making any sense? My head has been in the clouds lately. Chalk it up to lots of bourbon and cigarettes at midnight.
Wherever my head is these days, I do know amazing banana bread when it crosses my path- thank goodness for that.
Banana Cranberry Bread
thank you to SmittenKitchen who thanks SimplyRecipes
3 to 4 ripe bananas, smashed
1/3 cup melted salted butter
3/4-1 cup light brown sugar, depending on the level of sweetness you prefer
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon bourbon
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Pinch of ground cloves
1 1/2 cup of flour
1 cup fresh cranberries
No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F. With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, vanilla and bourbon, then the spices. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour, mix. Add the cranberries, and stir until just incorporated. Pour mixture into a buttered 4×8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.
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Just tried this yesterday and have two more in the oven. Y.U.M.
This is one of the best banana breads I have ever had. Must be the bourbon! :) Thanks for this keeper.
If I dont have bourbon can I sub it with something else? Dark Rum, Cognac?
Just came across this tonight, looked at the ingredients & just happened to have them all in the kitchen & I was in there immediately making this! It’s snowing outside, traffic is crap & I am home, warm with this in the oven…it doesn’t get better than this! Thank you for posting this!
Ha! I made almost this very dish – and got the recipe from Smitten Kitchen as well! (The only difference being I added toasted walnuts as well). It was crazy delicious and I recommend it to pretty much anyone. Having the banana bread a few times, my one tip is to go with 4 bananas rather than three – it’s more moist that way.
I love this banana bread. It’s so yummy and comforting.
Thank you! Delish! I just made it today and used chocolate chips instead of cranberries and it was lovely. Thank you. This is a keeper of a recipe for sure!
Thanks Joy! I just put this in the oven. Oh, my! The mixture is so good. So good. I didn’t have any bourbon so took a wild leap and added Frangelico instead. I sprinkled a bit of raw sugar on top (like your cranberry coffee cake). Can’t wait to share with my colleagues tomorrow!
Best rainy day recipe I’ve made in along time. Mmmmmm so good. Thank you !
After a long day of fasting this is one great thing to look forward to after sunset.
The aroma woke my husband up from a deep sleep!
YUM!
Thank you for sharing! This is cooking in my oven now! yum!
I just made this bread and it’s wonderful…..couldn’t wait for it to cool. I didn’t have enough fresh cranberries so I added some dried cherry/cranberry mixture. It came out fine. I used almost a cup of brown sugar, 4 bananas, and since I didn’t have the bourban, I added a tablespoon of sugar free vanilla syrup. Wonderful!!
Made this yesterday and it was so very good! Didn’t have any bourbon but did have just enough Grand Marnier. Also added the zest of an orange. Those where the only subs I made in the recipe. Totaly on the money!!! So simple and so darn good!!! :)
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