Banana Date Bread, Revisited
Ever since Chris went gluten-free I have been evading bready recipes like the plague. And I’m not just being a sissy, either – the very first attempt I made at baking a GF treat for the hubs was a huge disaster. Well, it was mostly the fault of our oven, which I later learned runs 50 degrees too hot. Whoops! The result was a pan of “brownies” that looked like they were baked in the Burning Steppes rather than the comfort of my home.
Side Note: Never underestimate the necessity of an oven thermometer. Seriously. Every kitchen should have one.
But, still, it was a big enough failure to keep me cowering in the corner and splurging on GF breads at the grocery store.
The cream scones I made the other week were like a gateway drug for me. I was high on success! I made scones… They didn’t burn… They didn’t fall apart… They were delicious! And best of all, they didn’t kill my husband when he ate them. :P
Yesterday I took an even bigger leap and baked a loaf of Banana Date Bread, which I’ve been in love with since college. This was like a GF baking midterm for me: If it sucked, I’d drop out and go back to cowering; If it ruled, I’d keep studying for my final.
The result…?
Mind you, I definitely had my doubts as I was mixing the batter. All kinds of panic was running through my head. “Oh God, it’s so thick!” And then a little snort ’cause that reminds me of Millhouse. And then back to panicking: “Did I use too much xanthan gum? Is this going to be a brick? What if it doesn’t rise? What if it’s not just my oven and I really do suck? The regular dough doesn’t look like this.”
Normally I give in to these thoughts and, against all better judgment, make adjustments that I deem necessary. But this time I didn’t – I rode it out and waited to see what happened.
What happened was my new mid-morning snack for the rest of the week that Chris gets to enjoy, too.
To prepare:
Replace flour in the original recipe with an all-purpose GF flour blend. I use Bob’s Red Mill.
Add 1 1/2 tsps xanthan gum.
I also replaced the unrefined sugar with baker’s sugar so it would dissolve better in the wet ingredients.
And since I haven’t been vegan since college, I now enjoy a thick slice warmed up with real butter or a swipe of whipped cream cheese.
Cheers!
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18 comments
salivating at my desk. i love me some banana bread.
Yummm…What’s the deal with Gluten-free stuff though? Forgive my ignorance, but is it like…a health issue or a health fad? I’ve seen a HUGE influx of recipes that are all gluten-free so I’m like ???
that looks good! I recently went out down past palm springs to a date farm. I had a date shake for the first time..it was very yummy
Ugh, I am the same way and it can be so annoying! I always second guess myself and make last minute adjustments. I tried to make my first loaf of bread in the bread maker the other day and it came out funny, I’ve been too terrified to try again. I know it sounds easy, but we have to make adjustments to the recipe and it’s hard. Anyway, this looks fabulous.
Great shot – looks delicious ^_^
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/shaywhaleeb] Her husband is gluten intolerant.
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/brittneysphotography] Gotttt it…thanks! :) (btw…I just had a mini-freakout over how similar our usernames are haha)
http://glutenfreegirl.com/ I don’t know if you’ve ever read this blog, but I think it’d make you feel a little better about this gluten free business. They’ve recently put out a cookbook, too.
I <3<3<3 dates.
this looks like it’s fresh from the bakery shop
mmmmmmmm :))
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/shaywhaleeb] Hahahaha I noticed that too!
just put lots of butter on it! ;) (or maybe that´s not gluteinfree-friendly?). Anyways, looks good!
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Seen in my contacts’ photos. (?)
Looks delicious :)
Certainly appears to be delicious! Well done (:
Please comment on my latest shot! Much thanks! [♥]
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/shaywhaleeb] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/brittneysphotography] Haha, thanks for being my spokeswoman Britt :) Yeah, my husband can’t eat gluten or else he’ll get all weak for days on end and can’t walk up a flight of stairs without wanting to pass-out. It’s terrible! But you’re right – there has been a HUGE influx of gluten-free dieters in recent years, which seems to be a mix of people whose health hinges on it as well as people who are just fad dieting. Fad diets are silly, but most people get legitimately ill when they eat wheat/gluten.
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/isayx3] O.M.G. That sounds soooo good. A date shake sounds so filling, a meal of its own I bet.
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/yrrgeirs] Hah! You read my mind, that’s exactly what I did to it. ;)
girrrrrlll – that looks GOOD!!!
kivajo – Haha, thanks :) I still have a slice left if you wanna come over and eat it..? :P
I need to make this. yum