Classic Peruvian banana bread: Easy queque de platano recipe

plantain cake, or “plantain bread” or “banana bread,” is a popular snack in Peru, made with very ripe bananas or plantains, eggs, butter, flour, and a little sugar for added sweetness. Add a little cinnamon for a sweet-spicy twist. Add some pecans or walnuts, raisins, cranberries, apricots and chocolate.

Mix together baking soda, baking powder, and a pinch of vanilla to slightly elevate the dessert. The mixture is cooked and cooled before being served hot and tastes great when paired with a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

In this recipe we will use ripe bananas, but if you can find sweet plantains (plátanos) in your supermarket, grocery store, or ethnic food store, I recommend using them when making the recipe in the future. The plantains must be absolutely ripe and will have a slightly starchy flavor (not very noticeable in the finished product). Ripe bananas have a creamier texture. Green plantains have a very starchy flavor and are not suitable for this recipe.

Don’t throw away those old spotted bananas and try this delicious, simple and easy to prepare dish made with simple ingredients. To be enjoyed in the afternoon or as a sweet breakfast.

The list of ingredients

• Plantains/Bananas: Ripe bananas or plantains are great for baking. The riper the fruit, the sweeter it is.
• Eggs – to bind everything together.
• Unsalted butter – adds structure and richness to the bread.
• Oil – to grease the pan, keeps the bread moist.
• Vanilla, cinnamon – added flavourings
• Brown sugar – to add sweetness.
• All-purpose flour: Strengthens the batter.
• Baking powder – to lighten and expand the batter.
• Baking soda – helps color the bread a nice golden brown.
• Pecans, walnuts and raisins – optional fillings.

Suggestions

• If you want to tone down the sweetness and reduce the sugar rush, use less ripe bananas (fewer brown or black dyes visible on the skin).
• To check if the bread is completely cooked, insert a toothpick into the center of the loaf; it should come out clean or with a few dried bits attached.
• Once the queque de platano has cooled, store it in an airtight container. It should keep in the refrigerator for at least 3 weeks.
• To reheat, place in the oven at 150°C (300°F) for 5 – 7 minutes or until hot.

Step by step photos

Step 1: Pulp the bananas to 1 cup and transfer to a bowl.

Step 2: Mix in the eggs, warm melted butter, oil and vanilla extract. Set the bowl aside for now.

Step 3: In a separate bowl, combine brown sugar, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda.

Step 4: Optional: If using additives such as nuts, chocolate, or raisins, blend them with ½ cup of the dry ingredient mixture. This prevents them from accumulating in the final product.

Step 5: Stir the dry ingredients and optional extras into the bowl of banana mixture. Continue mixing until you no longer see any flour residue.

Step 6: Prepare the 7 x 3-inch baking pan for baking. First line it with baking paper, then generously apply butter or oil.

Step 7: Pour the banana bread mixture into the pan, leveling the surface and, if desired, decorate with more bananas or nuts.

Step 8: Bake in a preheated oven at 177°C (350°F) for 40 – 45 minutes.

Step 9: Once cooked, let the banana bread sit and cool in its pan for an hour, after which you can transfer it to a wire rack to cool further.

Step 10: Serve the bread hot straight out of the oven or once it has completely cooled. Enjoy!

Frequent questions

What kind of bananas should be used?

Ripe, very brown, spotted or black-streaked bananas are best to use in baking, especially when mashed for banana bread. Fruits at this stage of maturity have a stronger natural sweetness. You can also freeze brown bananas at exactly the right stage of ripeness for later use.

What else can you put on top of banana bread?

If you want to decorate the top of the bread to serve as a dessert or a fancy snack, drizzle chocolate syrup or caramel syrup on the top. You can also spread ganache, Nutella or peanut butter on individual slices of bread or place a scoop or two of ice cream on the side.

What can I use instead of nuts or raisins?

You can also use other dried fruit such as apricots, dates, cranberries or even fresh fruit such as blueberries or strawberries, or white, milk or dark chocolate. For a tastier taste you can also add cheese to the mix.

What spices, besides cinnamon, can I add to the recipe?

While this is a simple dish prepared with easy-to-find ingredients, you can also add spices like nutmeg, cloves, allspice or a mix of these. Be sure to add these spices in small amounts before cooking, as they can overwhelm the dish.