Orange Cardamom Banana Bread

Adapted from James Beard, Beard on Bread, page 170

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 stick butter
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c honey
1 tbsp molasses
2 eggs
1.5 c mashed very ripe bananas (3 large bananas)
1 tsp orange extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp fresh ground cardamom
1.5 c all purpose flour
1/4 c almond flour (or ground almonds or 1/2 c sliced almonds)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Cream butter in kitchenaid.
3. Add sugar and honey. Mix.
4. Add eggs. Mix.
5. Add bananas. Mix.
6. Add extracts. Mix.
7. Add flours, salt and baking soda. Mix.
8. (If using sliced almonds, fold them in now).
9. Bake in 12 x 4.2 x 2.5 inch loaf tin and pour in batter. Bake for 1 hour, or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
10. Enjoy!

NOTE: I baked in two baby bundt pans, a baby sponge pan, and a silicone peanut butter cup pan. Silicon mat was done in 13 min, other pans done in 18.

ICING (optional):

4 tbsp confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp lemon extract
1/4 c (add a little at a time! Could be less!) half and half

1. Mix. Drizzle on cooled cake.
2. Enjoy!