Down-under Banana Bread

Thanks to my friend Sarah Lobb for this incredible New Zealand recipe - I'm afraid it won't last long, too good to resist.... If you watching your sugar intake, then have a little slice once in a while as a treat!

125g butter, softened
175g caster sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
4 bananas, the riper the better
1 tsp bicarb of soda
2 Tbs milk
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
225g plain flour
1 Tbs demerara sugar

Preheat oven to 180C.  Line a loaf tin tin with baking or grease proof paper

Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer.   Gradually beat in the eggs, a spoonful at a time, so mixture doesn't curdle.

Mash 3 of the bananas, and mix into the butter mixture.

Sift the flour, baking soda, cinnamon then mix into the butter mixture until everything well combined.

Heat the milk in a little saucepan (or in a mug in the microwave) until boiling, add the bicarb of soda, mix the froth well and add to the butter mixture, beating well.

Pour the mixture into the loaf tin, slice the remaining banana and arrange on top.   Sprinkle demerara sugar on top.   Bake in the oven for approx 40 mins (test its done but inserting a skewer or tooth pick, it should come out clean!).   Leave to cool for 4-5 mins, then gently take the banana bread out of the tin, cool on a rack and resist if you can....

NB  You can do the all-in-one method, mixing all the ingredients (except the topping) together!