Additional Ingredients to add to your Banana Loaf
You don’t have to add anything to a banana loaf cake, particularly if you’re wanting more of a banana bread that is going to be eaten, in the American tradition, at breakfast time. However, adding ingredients is fun and can make the cake feel like your own.
The options are endless. If it goes with bananas, it will probably work. Think dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, etc. Similarly, you can try different spices if you want. Here are some of our favourites.
Banana Loaf with Raisins
This is the classic additional ingredient and the one we prefer to use in our Classic Signature banana loaf recipe. In our opinion it enhances the cake in just the right way - it adds moistness and sweetness, breaking up the monotony of the cake texture and giving your tastebuds a nice surprise each time you come across one. You could also use sultanas, currants or chopped prunes or dates if you wanted. You need about 100g/4oz.
Chocolate chips
If you’re a chocolate fan and can’t bear a cake without chocolate (who can blame you) then you can add chocolate chips to the cake. Plain chocolate chips work particularly well. You can add about 50-100g (2-4oz) depending on how chocolatey you like it.
Spices
If you’re feeling more adventurous, you might like to know that we very much like adding some spice with our chocolate chips. The spices give a warmth to the cake. Ginger and cinnammon work particularly well. See our Spiced Choc Chip Banana Loaf Cake Recipe for more inspiration.
Banana Loaf Cake with Nuts
Walnuts are probably the classic choice for nuts in a banana loaf cake. Pecans are also good. If putting in some chocolate, the chopped hazelnuts would be worth a go too. Try using about 50g (2oz).