Gary’s Date, Walnut and Ginger Banana Bread

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Gary's Date, Walnut and Ginger Banana Bread

My ex-colleague Gary gave me this recipe and I’m so pleased he did! This tea bread is dense, moist (there I said it!) and the dates and the walnuts give it add some wonderful crunch and chewiness. The ginger and the banana add the perfect balance of sugar and spice to make this the perfect teatime treat!  And of course, I added the Thermomix conversion! 

Ingredients – Traditional

2 cups plain flour

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

pinch of salt

1 cup chopped dates

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup mashed banana (2 medium bananas)

½ cup plain yoghurt

2 eggs, lightly beaten

½ cup rapadura sugar (or brown sugar)

¼ cup light olive oil

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

How to – Traditional

    1.   Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan-forced. Line an 8 x 4 inch loaf tin
    2.  In a large bowl, combine flour, ginger, baking powder and salt and mix well. Fold in the dates and walnuts.
    3. In another bowl, combine the banana, yoghurt and bicarbonate of soda.
    4. In a third bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla essence and blend well.
    5. Combine the banana and yoghurt mixture with the egg mixture and blend well. Stir the dry ingredients in by hand, but not too much!   Don’t overmix!
    6. Spoon the batter into prepared tin.
    7. Bake in preheated oven for 50-60 mins
    8. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before turning out onto cake rack.

Ingredients – Thermomix

300g plain flour

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

pinch of salt

170g dates

120g  walnuts

130g plain yoghurt

2 eggs, lightly beaten

100g brown sugar

40g light olive oil

2 bananas, roughly chopped

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

How to – Thermomix

    1.   Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan-forced. Line an 8 x 4 inch loaf tin
    2.   Place flour, baking powder, ginger and bicarbonate of soda into TM bowl and combine for 5 seconds on speed 5.
    3.   Add the dates and chop for 4 seconds on speed 6.
    4.  Add the walnuts and chop for 3 seconds  on speed 5. Set the dry ingredients aside.
    5.  Add eggs, sugar, oil and yoghurt to TM bowl and mix for 40 seconds  on speed 6.
    6. Add the banana and vanilla and mix for 3 seconds  on speed 6.
    7. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix for 10 seconds on reverse speed 5. 
    8. Spoon batter into greased 8×4-inch loaf tin.
    9. Bake in preheated oven for 50-60 mins.
    10. Allow to cool for 10-15 mins before turning out onto cake rack to cool.

Gary's Date Walnut and Ginger Banana Bread