Banana Bread (Daniel Tiger's Love Cake)

1 loaf
1 hr 10 min

I'm always buying bananas for my toddlers. Some weeks they eat the whole bunch and then the next week they're anti-banana for no rhyme or reason. They are never anti-banana bread though!


My 3 year old especially likes banana bread baked in a heart shaped tin. We call it love cake. The name comes from an episode of her favorite show, 'Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood', an animated series inspired by 'Mister Roger's Neighborhood'. In the episode, Daniel bakes banana bread for his Mom with the help of his Dad and Baker Aker. The cake is shaped like a heart and they sing a song while baking. The song goes like this:


We're baking a love cake


First we add some hearts to make it sweet

Some kisses too for a special treat

We're baking a love cake


When we add some sparkles just for fun

Then we'll mix it all together til we're done done done

We're baking a love cake

We're baking a love cake

Yeah


You, of course, don't have to sing the song or even have a heart shaped tin to try out this recipe. I've included baking times for a standard loaf pan or muffin tin. However, I do hope you can share a slice or at least the recipe with someone you love.

Banana Bread (Daniel Tiger's Love Cake)
Recipe details
  • 1  loaf
  • Prep time: 10 Minutes Cook time: 1 Hours Total time: 1 hr 10 min
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Ingredients

  • 2 large ripe bananas
  • 1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Nonstick cooking spray or 1 tsp vegetable oil for greasing pan
Instructions

Heat oven to 350F. Spray your loaf pan or muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray or rub 1 tsp of vegetable oil around to grease.
Use a fork to mash the peeled bananas and room temperature butter together in a large bowl. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla extract until incorporated.
In a second large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, cinnamon, sugar, and baking soda.
Pour the contents of the bowl with the dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients. Stir together until combined.
Pour batter into loaf pan or muffin tin.
If cooking in a loaf pan, bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Check on the bread around the 45 minute mark, if the edges are browning too quickly tent with aluminum foil and continue baking until center is done.
If making muffins, bake for approximately 30 minutes or until done in the center.
Tips
  • Try adding in a cup of your favorite chopped nuts or chocolate chips with an extra decadent treat!
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