National Banana Bread Day: Banana Bread Mini-Mini Loaves

You know-when you have leftover bananas that have turned really ripe and you don’t want to throw them away? (I call that banana guilt). Today is the day you can ease your banana guilt AND celebrate. Today is National Banana Bread Day. Did you know? In honor of the day- I thought it would be fun to come up with something a little different. I always make my bread with walnuts, but this time I left them out and added in mini chocolate chips and baked the batter in financier molds to make it a personal banana bread experience. Your own little “mini mini” loaf of banana bread. Each mini is like 4-5 bites. This is perfect if you have picky ones in your house who some like nuts and some don’t. You can divide the batter and add in whatever you like. If you want to bake the batter the traditional way, this amount will also fill a standard size loaf pan and you can change out the chips for regular size chips or even walnuts; just bake the bread longer; like around 50-60 mins. or so for a regular size loaf. Enjoy.

Banana Bread Mini-Mini Loaves

(yield: 23-24 individual minis)

1  2/3 Cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 stick unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

1 Cup + 2 Tbsp. sugar

2 Lg. eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 Tbsp. Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla)

1  1/2 cup mashed banana (takes about 3-4 bananas)

1/3 Cup mini chocolate chips

Banana chips (optional for garnish)

1. Preheat the oven to 350°  F. Brush the wells of a silicone financier pan with melted butter. Whisk the first 3 ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. Mix the melted butter and sugar together for about 30 seconds. Add in the eggs one at a time and beat until smooth. Stir in the vanilla and yogurt and beat until combined. Add in the mashed banana and stir to combine. Add in the flour mixture until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

2. Fill your chosen mold or pan. For financier molds-fill with about 2 Tbsp. batter (or enough to fill about 2/3 full) and bake at 350° F for about 25 mins or until a tooth pick comes out clean. Once immediately out of the oven, cut a small slit in the breads and stick gently with banana chips (optional) for garnish.