Chai Banana Bread

2 very ripe bananas
3/4 cup buttermilk
125g unsalted butter, softened
3/4 brown sugar
1/4 cup caster sugar
2 eggs, at room temperature
3 tsp vanilla
2 cups plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/4 tsp salt
chai spice blend - 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp ground cardamom, 1/3 tsp ground ginger, 1/3 tsp allspice
1/2 cup pecans, halved.

Preheat oven to 150 degrees celsius (fan-forced).

Cream the butter with the sugars.

Beat in the eggs, one at a time.

Add the vanilla and beat well to combine.

Mash the bananas and squish them into the butter mixture along with the vanilla. Try squishing the bananas 30-60 minutes before you need to use them to increase the banana flavour.

Whisk the flour with the baking power, bicarb and salt and chai spice mix.

Add flour mixture to the banana mixture, alternating with the buttermilk.

Add the pecans and stir to combine.

Pour the batter into a greased loaf tin and bake for about an hour or until a skewer comes out clean.

Try this served with nutella (spread like butter) and sliced strawberries.

Try this served with honey mascarpone cream. To make this combine 125g mascarpone cheese, with 2 tbs honey, a pinch of cinnamon and a pinch of fine lemon zest. Mix well to combine.

Try making your own buttermilk but adding 3/4 tbs white vinegar to 3/4 cup milk and leaving it to stand for 5-10 minutes before you need to use it. Buttermilk is better but not always available.