When my parents-in-law were in town last week, my MIL Bonnie brought up her famous banana bread and pumpkin bread. My step-son goes apeshit over this bread. Of course, since he wasn’t here, we had to text him to tell him how amazing and delicious the bread is!
Whenever I make banana bread, it never puffs up and hers is so tall. I asked her to send me both recipes when she got back home. Upon first glance, I quickly realized why her breads are stellar – the banana bread calls for three sticks of butter and the pumpkin bread has 1 cup of oil and 3 cups of sugar! 
So Bonnie, I did adapt your banana bread just a touch, by using real sugar instead of Splenda, and reducing the butter to two sticks. And while she used pecans, I used almonds because that’s what I had on hand. This is still the best banana bread I’ve ever made in my life!
Bonnie’s Banana Bread with Pecans
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 large overripe bananas (almost rotten)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 cups butter, melted and cooled (I used 1 cup) stics butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 generous tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cups pecans, chopped (I used 3/4 cup slivered almonds)
Preheat the oven to 350 and spray Pam in a large bread pan (or 2 smaller pans).
Melt the butter, and let cool. In a large bowl put the bananas in a bowl and mix until creamy. Add the sugar and beat a good 3 minutes until you get a light and fluffy banana cream. Add the melted butter, eggs and vanilla. Beat well. Mix in the dry ingredients until all incorporated being careful not to over blend.
Pour batter into pan. Rap on the counter to get any air bubbles out. Bake for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, until golden brown and a knife in the center comes out clean. Cool the bread for 10 minutes, remove and let cool on wire rack.
Okay, so first off, whenever I made banana bread I was a wooden spoon girl – by whipping up the banana mixture, I think this is what helps the bread come out so tall. My MIL also used bananas from her back yard – Tony bought similar bananas at our local grocery store. I used about 16 of these for this recipe:
I was nervous because the batter came almost to the top, but it worked out fine
I also don’t think I’ve baked mine long enough – this one reached a rich deep brown:
I will never make another banana bread recipe again – thanks Bonnie! And if you don’t want to take my word for it, this morning I woke up to this note by the coffee maker:
Since I was able to find canned pumpkin, I decided to make my pumpkin pancakes - I know its the season of blueberry pancakes, but I just had a jones for them! Each pancake is 116 calories, and with the extra schmear of peanut butter between each one – breakfast was probably right around 500 calories.
seriously, my mouth is watering just looking at that picture!
the perfect bite
So since I didn’t swim yesterday morning, Tony kinda looked at me like “really, you are going to use the excuse of sore muscles?!” So I had to have a kick ass bike ride – and kick my ass it did! I did the 10 mile Outlaw course – the first five miles were uphill! But I did it, it took me 49 minutes.
Lunch was spaghetti squash using leftover Italian sausage from the other night. I tossed in some spinach and feta cheese – no matter how I try, spaghetti squash will always kinda look like dog food on a plate, but trust me, this was delicious!
And dinner was fish stick tacos – still using up what I have in the fridge and freezer!
the fixins
my taco x 2 + 2 ounces of chips and salsa
And I did make it to the pool this morning! The first lap is chilly, but after that it is wonderful – nothing but blue skies!
Do you have a favorite dish of your MIL?
I am off to get ready for work – have a great Thursday!
I love that you had fish stick tacos. I never thought of that! Quick and easy.
Thank you for the banana bread recipe! I’ve been looking for a good one for a long time, and it you say it’s good I know it is! I trust your food judgement impeccably. As always, all your food looks great. You have a serious future as a TV food chef. I really think it’s possible, with your positivity and creativity!
I have favorite dishes that my mom makes
I like banana bread, but I hate, hate, hate yellow & brown bananas, so making it sort of grosses me out lol.
Love the banana bread recipe. I don’t have a favorite dish that my MIL makes, but it makes me want to find one! lol
So…are you going to post the pumpkin bread recipe as well???
I try not to eat anything my mother-in-law cooks…on some level, I still believe she is trying to poison me.
Fortunately, her recipe repertoire is limited to Twinkie Pie and cupcakes-from-a-box; everything else is pre-packaged and heated in the microwave.
Ha – love it Cassie!
I am so sorry – THE BUTTER SHOULD READ 1 1/2 STICKS – NOT CUPS
That is what you get for not proof reading.
I really think the beating the rotten bananas is what does it.
I do have a favorite recipe from my sweet 85 year old Mother in Law, it’s her butterscotch brownies, they are AMAZING!
Good eats Biz! Can you use Splenda instead of sugar in the banana bread?
Yes, Bonnie usually uses Splenda, but Tony can taste the artificial sweetener, so I used sugar instead.
My mother in law making some kick ass banana bars….speaking of those, I should really get that recipe.
Wowza…that banana bread sounds awesome!!!
mmm my Mom’s banana bread is my favorite and there is NO WAY it is good for you! lol
Sometimes it’s better not to know right? 
I was going to say something about my BF’s Mothers cooking but how does the saying go….If you can’t say something nice… lol YIKES!
I LOOOOOVE banana bread! My daughters would go crazy over that, too!
I have bananas that have been waiting for this recipe – I’m so glad you posted it!
Before my mother-in-law’s long awful descent into Alzheimer’s I always asked her to bring her Egg-Potato salad to picnics. She never had recipe, just sort of threw it together. I’ve watched her make it (NOT low fat!!) but never have been able to recreate it. I miss it.
I have a banana bread recipe that I got from Food Network that says to whip the banana so I agree, I think that is what MAKES the bread because that is my favorite bread in the whole wide world. I might have to try this though.
The pumpkin pancakes look awesome too!
My MIL makes the most awesome baked beans. She always tells me they are just basic ingredients, nothing special but I can’t get mine to taste JUST like hers. Same with her potato salad. She gave me the exact recipe the uses but it’s JUST NOT THE SAME. She must leave something out.
Our son away at college will be thanking you! ~LeslieMichele
The banana bread sounds great!
My MIL makes a lot of great Korean food. I especially love her radish stew…
I don’t know…I might have to challenge you for the best banana bread recipe…I’ve got a good one too! But, actually I think all banana bread is fabulous:)
My MIL doesn’t cook AT ALL….therefore no recipes from her!
fish stick tacos??! Clever!! I’ve never made banana bread… or any bread. Those little bananas look cute!
I’m coming over. You’re not that far from Minneapolis!!!!
Yummo.
I have a banana bread recipe on my blog somewhere. I used applesauce instead of butter, I think, and it’s good, but this looks stupendous.
I love the picture of the mixer beater. Great shot!!!
That banana bread does look mighty tasty. I’m going to have to try this recipe for myself because it looks like a winner.
That note from Hannah is adorable. Seems like you two have a great relationship.
I also love peanut butter on pumpkin pancakes. I am so jealous that you found canned pumpkin! I’ll have to search for it near us.
Way to go on your swimming and biking! I have sore muscles today, too. But I think I really need to do at least a little bit of running today.
Mmmm, everything you ate looked really good to me today! Yes, even the spaghetti squash.
bananas and pumpkins – i’m drooling.
my MIL makes terrific matzoh brie and salads. she has taught me everything i know about antipasti
I am a little unhappy with you right now. Mostly out of jealousy…over the pumpkin pancakes. I can’t find pumpkin anywhere and pumpkin muffins/pancakes are my favorite! Yours look amazing! My mother-in-laws banana bread and rice pudding are tops here!
Those pancakes look AMAZING! love the perfect bite picture, too!
Have you ever tried Martha Stewarts Banana Bread recipe? It ain’t half bad either.
No, I actually haven’t tried that one – I’ll look it up though!
LOVE banana bread! My favorite MIL recipe is her scalloped potatoes because, well, they’re delicious and also for sentimental reasons. The first time we had them at her house, I helped her make them and it was so fun to cook with her–I’d never had that experience before because I never cooked with my own Mom. We followed a really old hand-written recipe from her recipe box that I think her mother gave her so it was even more special because of that. BTW, your pumpkin pancakes are totally perfect looking!!! I will have to come back to print off the recipe b/c my computer is giving me probs and won’t let me open the link. Have a a great Friday!
PS I love Hannah’s colorful note to you! That is so sweet and she even took time to make it pretty.
Yum! I made the banana bread but put a layer of blueberries on the bottom on the pan. SO delicious!
Oh my gosh, those breads – those are old school recipes (and boy are they ever good!). Glad you were able to adapt them and still have them come out so good!
[...] made two loaves of my MIL’s banana bread to send to my step-son [...]