Description
At its essence, this delicious loaf is a modern, global upgrade to traditional quick breads. While standard banana bread relies on basic pantry ingredients like flour, butter, sugar, and mashed fruit, this recipe introduces two remarkable flavor boosters: cultured liquid kefir and ground cardamom.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
Wet Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1½ cups)
- ½ cup (120 ml) plain kefir
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (50 g) light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) melted unsalted butter (or neutral oil)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Optional Add-Ins
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- ¼ cup raisins or chopped dates
- 2 tbsp sliced almonds (for topping)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cardamom, and cinnamon.
3. Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, combine the mashed bananas, kefir, granulated sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.
4. Make the Batter
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.
- Do not overmix.
- Fold in the nuts or dried fruit, if using.
5. Bake
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
- Sprinkle sliced almonds on top, if desired.
- Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Cool and Serve
- Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
Enjoy a slice warm with butter, cream cheese, or a drizzle of honey. It also pairs wonderfully with coffee, chai, or a glass of kefir for a delicious and satisfying treat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 245 kcal
Keywords: Cardamom banana bread with kefir, spiced kefir banana bread, probiotic banana bread loaf