Banana bread – Autumn edition

The smell of freshly baked banana bread filling your kitchen on a cold autumn day is just something magical!

This autumn edition of banana bread takes the classic favourite to a whole new level of cosy comfort. It’s packed with ripe bananas, sweet pears (you can also use apples if you want), crunchy pumpkin seeds, and juicy raisins, all wrapped in the comforting flavours of cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg.

The brown sugar adds a hint of caramel warmth, while the spices make every bite taste like fall in a loaf. It’s the perfect recipe for slow mornings, afternoon tea, or when you just want a sweet homemade treat that feels like a hug.

Soft, fragrant, and full of seasonal goodness, this banana bread will make you wish autumn lasted all year long!

Ingredients: (for ~12/14 slices – my tray was 11 × 30 cm)

• 3 ripe bananas
• 1 large, well-ripened pear (or one big apple)
• 80 g butter
• 50 g yogurt
• 100 g brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• a few drops of vanilla extract
• 200 g all-purpose flour
• 10 g baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon + 1 teaspoon ground cardamom + 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• pumpkin seeds
• 50 g raisins or dried cranberries
• 20 g extra brown sugar (for sprinkling on top)

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F) and let it heat up.

Wash the pear and cut it into small cubes.

In a large bowl, add the bananas (broken into pieces). Melt the butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds, then pour it over the bananas. Add the yoghurt, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Using a hand mixer, blend everything together for about 2 minutes until smooth.

Next, add the baking powder, spices, and flour, and mix again until everything is well combined.

Finally, fold in the diced pear and raisins using a spoon or spatula, mixing until evenly distributed.

Line a pan with parchment paper, then pour in the batter and spread it evenly. Sprinkle pumpkin seeds and a bit of brown sugar on top for that lovely crunch and golden finish.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Once it’s done baking, take it out of the oven and let it cool for about 20 minutes before slicing and serving.

You can even freeze a few slices for later, it keeps beautifully and tastes just as good when reheated!

If you try the recipe, let me know how you liked it! 😊

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