If the top center of the bread looks too moist when you take it out of the bread machine, you can try the classic baking “toothpick test”. Gently push a toothpick/chopstick/skewer into the top of the bread and see if any batter sticks to the toothpick/chopstick/skewer. Make sure to wear oven gloves because the bread pan and bread machine will still be hot. If batter is sticking to the toothpick/chopstick/skewer then it hasn’t completely cooked. Place the bread loaf pan back into the still warm bread machine for another 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes, remove the bread pan and test the banana bread again with a toothpick/chopstick/skewer. FYI – Given variability in banana sizes, banana breads tend to have more moistness variability than many other recipes. Moreover, since most bread machines turn off automatically after a specified time and you can not adjust the baking temperature, they are little less flexible than ovens in dealing with baking “variances”. Thus the need to use the toothpick test if the banana bread top looks too moist (or you can skip the toothpick test and just leave the banana bread in the still warm bread machine for an extra 5 minutes if the top looks a little too moist).
zojirushi home bakery virtuoso plus breadmaker - stainless steel
I made this yesterday. It came out perfectly. The only difference from the original recipe was that I used chocolate chunks instead of chocolate chips because it’s what I had in the house. I wouldn’t recommend it because they migrated to the edges. And I added 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract. My wife doesn’t like bananas or walnuts and she loved it.
zojirushi home bakery
Enter the bread machine settings (Quick Bread, Light Color, 2 lb) and press the start button. FYI – Before making this recipe, please READ the tips section below for more information regarding the Quick Bread setting. This setting can be a little confusing on some bread machines. If you do not use the correct settings, you will have trouble with bread machine recipes (i.e. potentially under or overcooked).
zojirushi zojirushitm home bakery virtuoso® plus bread maker
Select the Dough setting, and press Start. Mix the bread for 3 to 5 minutes until the bananas are mashed and all ingredients are thoroughly combined. If necessary, use a rubber spatula to push the dough from the sides of the bread pan. When 3 to 5 minutes have passed on the clock display, press Stop. Do not continue mixing. Smooth out the top of the loaf with the rubber spatula.
Optional – If you want to make bread machine banana nut bread, you can add 3/4 cup of chopped walnuts to this recipe after the first bread machine mixing cycle and before the second mixing (final mixing). I like to add the chopped walnuts after the first mixing and before the final (second) mixing in order to minimize any mixing “breakage” of the chopped walnuts.