Aunt Marian'S Christmas Banana Bread With Pecans
A moist and flavorful banana bread with crunchy pecans, topped with vanilla icing and colorful sugar, perfect for festive gatherings and sweet indulgence.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Mash the bananas with a fork.
- Blend in sugar, salt, and beaten egg.
- Melt the butter and stir it into the banana mixture.
- Dissolve the soda in water and add it to the mixture.
- Sift the pastry flour and add it to the mixture.
- Mix all the ingredients together.
- Add 1/4 cup broken pecans to the batter.
- Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan.
- Bake in a 350°F oven for 45 minutes.
- Frost the cooled loaf with thin vanilla icing.
- Sprinkle with red and green crystallized sugar.
- Decorate with additional pecans.
Tips & Substitutions
For the best flavor, use very ripe bananas with lots of brown spots. If you don't have pastry flour, you can substitute with all-purpose flour, but the texture may be slightly denser. For a twist, consider adding a teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg to the batter. If you want a sweeter bread, feel free to increase the sugar by a couple of tablespoons.
Serving Suggestions
Slice the banana bread thick and serve it warm with a pat of butter or cream cheese for extra richness. It pairs beautifully with a hot cup of coffee or tea. For a festive touch, consider serving it alongside Grace'S Tangy Vegetable Salad for a balanced brunch spread. Top with additional pecans for added crunch.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply slice and warm in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or toast it lightly for a crispy texture.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Aunt Marian'S Christmas Banana Bread With Pecans contains roughly 785 calories, with 4g protein, 41g carbohydrates, and 68g fat.
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add chocolate chips to this recipe?
Absolutely! Adding chocolate chips is a delightful way to enhance the flavor. Fold in about 1/2 cup of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips along with the pecans for a sweet twist that complements the banana flavor beautifully.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).