This banana bread recipe has a little extra spice than your typical banana bread and my kids can’t seem to get enough. I swapped out half the butter for applesauce in this recipe and they are just as tasty as the full butter version.
This recipe makes 1 banana bread loaf or 18 muffins.
AuthorcookingwithtoddlersIngredients
General Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, applesauce, and sugar until fully combined.
- Add eggs
- In a small bowl, mash bananas then add them to the mixing bowl
- Add milk, spices, and vanilla
- Add flour (1 cup at a time), baking powder, and baking soda
- Add optional chocolate chips and/or walnuts
- Grease baking dish/muffin tin OR add cupcake liners to muffin tin, then pour batter into dish. Fill each muffin tin ¾ of the way.
- Optional: Top with sprinkles
- Bake for 25 minutes for muffins or 1 hour for bread pan
Toddler Instructions: Click on the skill level below for detailed instructions. (#’s relate to General Directions)
Beginner:
2. Pour/empty premeasured applesauce and sugar into mixing bowl. You can assist with hand over hand to ensure it all gets in the bowl.
4. Help peel banana. Pour mashed bananas into mixing bowl
5. Pour in premeasured ingredients.
6. Pour in premeasured ingredients.
7. Pour in premeasured ingredients if adding.
8. If making muffins, placing cupcake liners (if using) in muffin tin.
Experienced:
2. Unwrap butter. Pour/empty premeasured applesauce and sugar into mixing bowl. Using a large mixing spoon, help to stir sugar and applesauce to creamed butter.
3. In a separate bowl, mix egg whites/yolks using a whisk until combined. Pour into mixing bowl.
4. Peel banana. Mash bananas using a masher. Pour mashed bananas into mixing bowl. Help to mix in bananas.
5. Pour in premeasured ingredients. Help to fully mix into batter.
6. Pour in premeasured ingredients. Help to fully mix into batter.
7. Pour in premeasured ingredients if adding. Help to fully mix into batter.
8. If making bread, help to pour batter into greased bread pan (use hand over hand assist as bowl will be heavy). If making muffins, placing cupcake liners (if using) in muffin tin.
9. If using, add sprinkles from hand to top of batter
Pro:
2. Unwrap butter and cut stick in half. Help to measure applesauce and sugar, then pour into mixing bowl. Using a large mixing spoon, let toddler stir sugar and applesauce to creamed butter first, then finish mixing as needed.
3. Crack eggs into a separate bowl and mix egg whites/yolks together using a whisk until combined. Pour into mixing bowl.
4. Peel banana. Mash bananas using a masher. Pour mashed bananas into mixing bowl. Mix into batter (help finish mixing as needed).
5. Help measure ingredients. Add to batter. Mix into batter (help finish mixing as needed).
6. Help measure ingredients. Add to batter. Mix into batter (help finish mixing as needed).
7. If adding, help measure ingredients. Add to batter. Mix into batter (help finish mixing as needed).
8. If making muffins, placing cupcake liners (if using) in muffin tin. Use a large spoon to transfer batter into tin. If making bread, help to pour batter into greased bread pan (use hand over hand assist as bowl will be heavy).
9. If using, add sprinkles either from hand or shake container to top of batter
Notes:
- Butter: If you are like me and forget to plan ahead, you can warm up the butter by microwaving it in 7 second increments until soft but not melted. Personally, I find it easier to cream the butter alone first, and then add in the sugar and applesauce.
- Applesauce: If you don’t normally use larger portions of applesauce on a regular basis, you can buy the applesauce cups which are typically ½ cup each. Since it is already premeasured, help your toddler remove the applesauce lid and then pour it into the mixing bowl.
- Cracking eggs tip: Either tap on flat surface or lift egg a couple of inches off the counter and lightly drop it onto the flat surface. Use both thumbs to then pull shell apart. This helps to open the egg without getting shells into the bowl.
- If making muffins, cupcake liners can make the muffins more fun as they will look more like cupcakes and can increase acceptance of some kids eating the muffin. Also, the cupcake liner significantly reduces amount of cleaning at the end. To reduce waste, you can use washable and even dishwasher safe silicone liners instead of disposable ones.
Suggested Fine Motor Activities:
- Peeling stickers
- Play-dough
Recommended supplies: Amazon affiliate links:
- Silicone muffin pan with reusable liners: https://amzn.to/43PQAyf – muffin pans need to be used with a cookie sheet underneath
- Anchor bread pan: https://amzn.to/40dqcft
- Anchor baking dish set (with bread pan included): https://amzn.to/44l72qq – We bought this set years ago and use it frequently and it is still in excellent condition
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