Join Me in My Addiction!

Thank you for visiting my blog...and for allowing me to share with you my addiction. I love to collect recipes. I love to read cookbooks. I have been collecting recipes for as long as I can remember, and on any given day there are one or two (or more!) cookbooks residing on my nightstand!

This blog is chronicling my adventure as I fulfill my resolution of trying (at least) one new recipe each week. I hope that you enjoy!

I invite you to join me in my journey, simply by clicking the "Join this Site" link below. And please feel free to comment on any of the recipes, and pin away. Thanks, I look forward to sharing with you!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch Bread

Banana bread is a hot commodity in our house.  We all love it, we all fight over that first slice (the chef gets the first slice)...and one of the submissions to this week`s Scrumptious Sunday left me inspired to try something new with our banana bread.  Thanks Like Mother, Like Daughter for inspiring me to try something new!  I probably would have tried their banana blueberry bread if blueberries were in season (I will try the recipe later this year!), but instead I went to my trusty piles of recipes to see what I could find.  I found one that is full of all sorts of goodness - bananas (of course!), coconut, chocolate, and then I added in some extra goodness, peanut butter chips and walnuts.  Here is my recipe:

Topping:
1/2 cup flaked unsweetened coconut
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour

Combine all the topping ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

Bread:
1/3 cup oil (vegetable, coconut, etc)
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
3 ripe, mashed bananas
1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup walnuts
3/4 cup mixed white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and chocolate chips (use whatever ratio you wish -  I used mostly white chocolate and peanut butter chips)

Preheat oven to 325F.

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together oil, sugar, vanilla and eggs.  Add in bananas and stir until well mixed.  Add flour mixture.  Add 1/2 cup of the white chocolate/peanut butter/chocolate chips.  Pour intogreased bread pan (8" x 4"). Top with remaining 1/4 cup of chips and cover with coconut topping.

Bake in centre of oven for about 70 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool in the pan, on a rack.  Enjoy!

VERDICT:
Everyone enjoyed this bread, it was a nice change to our usual, everyday banana bread.  Though my husband said there could be less chocolate (my chip ratio was about 1/2 peanut butter chips, 1/4 white/chocolate chips)...but then again, he claims to not like chocolate ;-)  My oldest son said that he didn't like the walnuts.  But they both keep eating the bread, so I'm taking that sign as one that they do like it!  I found the coconut topping too messy for my preference, and will probably reduce the coconut to 1/4 cup for the topping and would consider mixing some coconut into the bread to see how that tastes!  Next time!

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35 comments:

  1. yum! i love how you have your "verdict" section. that's a really great idea. sometimes when i see a recipe with something i don't love in it, i will just skip trying it. but with your verdict section it really gives the reader "permission" to leave something out, add a little more. very smart!! this bread looks fantastic btw!

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    1. Thank you! I'm also using the "verdicts" to help me remember what I liked or what I might try differently next time. Though occasionally my verdicts aren't great...but that doesn't mean that someone else won't love the recipe! Thanks for stopping by :-) Hope to see you again!

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  2. Sounds yummy! We're fans of banana bread too, and I quite often whip up a loaf (and sometimes more because it freezes so well and we're always surrounded by bananas:). I'm sure my kids would love the addition of chocolate:)
    Thanks for sharing,
    Kristina

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    1. Chocolate does make everything better, doesn't it?! Thanks for stopping by Kristina!

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  3. Sounds yummy! I'm saving this recipe and will try it out sometime. I usually just buy banana bread instead of making them myself, but you had me at the 'peanut butter' part of the post title. :)

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    1. Awesome! And banana bread is pretty easy to make, with or without the peanut butter. I think I will be adding more PB to a future loaf, just to give it a try! Thanks for visiting my blog!

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  4. The coconut was a surprising ingredient for me. Sounds delicious! I'm not much of a baker, but I have made banana bread most recently - this would be a fun change up!
    Leigh @oneandoneequalstwinfun

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  5. I just so happen to have bananas that are too ripe to eat. so that means this will be in my very near future:)
    I love that it has coconut topping & I think that adding it into the bread is a good idea too.

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    1. Sounds great! I hope you like it Dawn. I also love that you can customize the "chips" - a littl emore chocolate, a little more peanut butter, depending on your preference or mood :-)

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  6. Thanks for hosting! The bread sounds great to me! The hubby would love the peanut butter!

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    1. You're welcome, and thanks for coming to the party :-) Have a great night!

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  7. I also like the "verdict" part of your recipes. Good idea! And this banana bread sounds interesting. I'm not usually one for "things" in my bread, but somehow this combo sounds like something I could get behind.

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    1. Thank you! And thanks for coming by. It is an interesting combination, I agree. Had to give it a try :-) Have a super night!

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  8. This looks so good. I so wish I could eat bananas. I used to love them, but after my second pregnancy, they make me feel yucky. I should make this for my husband. He loves bananas and banana bread. Thanks for sharing at Handmade Tuesdays.

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    1. I wish you could eat bananas too! We go through a lot of them in our house...bread, muffins, etc etc. Thanks for stopping by Carrie!

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  9. Banana bread is a staple here at our house too!! I make it so often that I am always trying new things in it!! Love the coconut topping...it is great with coconut in it too:-) Oh and toffee bits!!!

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by Jocelyn! Toffee bits would be great :-) My hubby would love that!

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  10. YUM! I love banana bread. With peanut butter and coconut? *Swoon*

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    1. I'm thinking about adding some peanut butter right into the bread, increase that PB flavour...mmmm...might need to bake again soon! Thanks for stopping by Dorothy!

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  11. LOVE the topping- makes the traditional banana bread something special.

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    1. Thanks! I like it too, something a little different :-) Glad you stopped by!

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  12. What an awesome bread, I just love the ingredients and the color is so rich, yum! Hope you have a great week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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    1. Thanks Miz Helen! I hope you have a fantastic week too. Just love reading your posts!

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  13. What a great recipe I like when people step outside the box that's what cooking is all about.

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  14. I love sweet breads! Thanks for sharing at Church Supper. Have a blessed week and Happy Easter ~EMM

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  15. Hey there! I saw your recipe on another blog and didn't know it was you! I am hoping you will stop by and share it with us at Kids in the Kitchen- http://younglivingoillady.com/home/kids-in-the-kitchen-link-up-week-8/
    This looks so amazing! White chocolate and peanut butter-we were meant to be friends! That is what I call a perfect match. Blessings and thanks so much!

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    1. Hi Carrie! I will gladly share my recipe at your party...be right over!

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  16. Thank you so much for sharing your yummy recipe on Kids in the Kitchen! We'd love for you to join us each week - we open a new linky each Tues and it stays open all week long ;) so nice to "meet" ya!

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    1. Thanks Kelly! I will be back, hope to see you here too. Scrumptious Sunday is live from Saturday evening to Thursday!

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  17. Ooh, nice one. Thanks for linking in to Food on Friday

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