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Got some leftover bananas sprouting brown spots on your kitchen tables? With their short lifespan, bananas are common items thrown away during kitchen clear out sessions. Unlike other food, bananas can be repurposed even when they are mushy. In the spirit of reducing food wastage, why not give these ugly and overripe bananas a new lease of life? Unfrosted, unadorned, and unassuming, nothing beats a slice of freshly baked banana bread paired with a warm cup of coffee or tea.



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What exactly is banana bread? The longstanding debate has led many to question if banana bread is bread or cake. Baking fanatics would be familiar with Paul Hollywood from the Netflix hit – Great British Bake Off, who took to Instagram to proclaim that banana bread is in fact a cake. However, some confectionary connoisseurs might argue that banana bread is not a cake as it is usually denser and heavier as compared to regular cakes. Regardless of #TeamBread or #TeamCake, the baked treat is a happy medium between cake and bread, and undoubtedly a go-to comfort food for many.



<img loading="lazy" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/dy-gX-wXCIK5c2mI09N0gCDlTIagYXpvXDqNf88zYXm0sJGgOljKn9frlY2qY7g1qEOeX_L659cqomlplwekCjaFYwqgu2e53NMb_FSDXMMh5Hocs2pENLw0vs3sXTs8pLNB18HM" width="624" height="468">Given the rise in its popularity during the pandemic lockdown, banana bread is also known as the “lockdown loaf”. Delicious yet requiring very few ingredients, it was perceived as an unambitious baking project and the whole universe seemed to be baking banana bread while self-quarantining. However, this is not the first time that the sweet treat has gained traction during a crisis. Its popularity can be dated back to the Great Depression, which resulted in severe unemployment and food scarcity. For thrifty housewives looking to stretch their budgets, using overripe bananas for loaves was the perfect solution that hits the sweet spot. Over the years, banana bread recipes have been adapted and improved, with the addition of ingredients such as cinnamon, nutmeg, nuts and even chocolate chips.



We can all agree that the perfect banana bread is a fine reflection of the quality of ingredients used. Light and fluffy with a loose and crumbly exterior, a well-executed banana bread boasts the natural sweetness and flavours from the fleshy fruit and is not overly cloying. If you are craving a loaf of banana bread but do not wish to get down and dirty in the kitchen, here is a list of our specially curated selections.



1. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sugardress_sg/?hl=en">@sugardress_sg</a>



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Famed for a wide range of bakes which range from Raya Cookies, Jelly Cakes to Bombolini Donuts, @sugardress_sg churns out moist and flavourful banana bread. Sweetened to the correct degree, each loaf of banana bread is handmade with love and studded with generous chunks of fresh bananas for the perfect bite.



2. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bakevivme/?hl=en">@bakevivme</a>



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Freshly baked to order, @bakevivme offers simplicity on a plate with its no-frills “You Make Me Bananas Bread”. Made with only ingredients of the best quality with a recipe that has been mastered, each loaf of banana bread is cloaked with a crackly caramelised crust and spongey soft centre, jam-packed with bananas.



3. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hayacakeu/">@hayacakeu</a>



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Known for their sinful bakes for birthdays, weddings and other significant events, @hayacakeu is a Muslim-owned business offering both sweet confectionaries and savoury dishes. Perfectly moist and well-balanced, @hayacakeu’s rendition of banana bread features comforting loaves crowned with almond and chocolate chips.



4. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/semisweettoothed/?hl=en">@semisweettoothed</a>



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Set to conquer the hearts and stomachs of those with a sweet tooth, @semisweettoothed introduces indulgent variations to the conventional banana bread. Putting their very own unique spin on banana breads, the humble home-based business offers the likes of peanut butter banana bread and chocolate chip banana bread.

A second Life: Banana Bread

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