Plantain Bread (Loaf Cake)

Give your bread flavor like never before with the delicious, easy, and healthy Plantain Bread recipe!

Nowadays, there are already so many bread flavors you can try. I especially like plantain bread because my family loves plantains. Each slice is starchy, sweet, and incredibly good for you.

Once you bake it, you’ll feel just how moist and tender it is. Plantain Bread can be the perfect dish to make for breakfast, snacks, and celebrations at home.

Whether you are a beginner or an expert baker, this dessert is easy enough for anyone to make yet decadent enough to impress your friends and family.

In this blog, you will learn everything you need to know to cook the best Plantain Bread perfectly. You will surely add this to your favorite plantain and bread recipes!

How to Make Plantain Bread

Baking Plantain Bread is like baking ordinary bread but you just need to add plantains in the batter. Just season the bread well and let the oven bake away.

I’m sure you will love baking it as much as you love to taste it!

Ingredients

Here’s everything you need to bake Plantain Bread:

Plantains

What makes plantains suitable for baking bread? First, plantains taste especially delicious when you cook them. I suggest using ripe or overripe plantains for better flavor.

Not only do they have a unique starchy flavor, but they are have sweet undertones. You will certainly appreciate how much flavor and quality it can give to your bread.

Infusing your bread with plantains will surely be one of the best baking decisions you will ever make. You’re not just satisfying your cravings, but you’re also taking care of your health!

Plain flour

It won’t be a bread recipe without plain flour. You will need the flour to get the proper shape of the loaf. It allows the bread to rise, giving the loaf an airy and soft quality.

There are different kinds of flour you can use. Some of the best flours to use for baking bread are all-purpose flour, bread flour, whole wheat flour, and even gluten-free flour.

I always have this in stock because I also use it for Banana Bread, Pancakes, Chin Chin, and Pound Cake! 

Leavening agents

In any bread recipe, you will always need leavening agents. In this dish, I suggest using both baking powder and bicarbonate of soda. These will allow the bread to rise to make it fluffy.

You will get the bread texture you’re looking for when you use these leavening agents. I also use these to make Banana Bread, Chocolate Cake, and Carrot Cake for decadent quality.

Seasoning

Make every bite of the Plantain Bread delicious with the best seasoning. Just add in some cane sugar, nutmeg, and vanilla extract to give your bread an awesome flavor.

The cane sugar also gives the bread a beautiful brown color. Meanwhile, the vanilla extract and nutmeg add a fragrant aroma and rich flavor.

Milled linseeds

Milled linseeds are optional ingredients to make the bread extra healthy. Here are some of the milled linseeds I suggest for this recipe:

• Goji, sunflower, and pumpkin
• Golden omega
• Sesame, blueberries, and raspberries

Salted butter

Sometimes, all you need to make better bread is a little bit of salted butter. It gives the dish a rich and pleasing flavor and texture while extending its shelf life.

Adding salted butter is one of the best ways to give the bread a decadent flavor. Even the crumbs will stay moist and tender as you slice into the bread.

Eggs

Eggs play such an important role in baking bread. First, eggs are crucial for the bread’s structure and texture. They hold the bread together while keeping it moist and crumbly.

Moreover, they give the bread a rich flavor and even a beautiful golden brown crust. Sometimes, eggs are also binding ingredients to make the perfect loaf bread.

Evaporated milk 

Give the Plantain Bread a creamy and milky quality with evaporated milk. It also complements the butter and eggs to bake bread with the best crust.

This milk makes the bread tender and soft. It will surely make a huge difference in how the bread looks and tastes. Every bite will feel like it melts in your mouth!

After baking Plantain Bread lots of times, I have tried and tested how effective these ingredients are. Trust me, they can give the best flavor, texture, and quality! 

Directions

Commit these steps to your memory to get the perfect Plantain Bread every time! 

Make the batter

1. Measure the ingredients with measuring cups and spoons.
2. In a bowl, mix plain flour, cane sugar, nutmeg, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, and linseed milled, using a whisk. 
3. Use a knife to peel and slice the plantains. 
4. Mash the plantain with a whisk or fork. 
5. Whisk in the melted salted butter, evaporated milk, and eggs.
6. Then, season it with vanilla extract.
7. Mix the wet batter with the dry mixture until well combined. 

Bake the bread

1. Line or oil a loaf pan.
2. Pour in the batter and cover to avoid over-browning.
3. Place it in a preheated oven set at 160°C for 50 to 55 minutes.
4. After 25 minutes in the oven, remove the lid and continue to bake. 
5. Insert a cake tester or skewer in the center of the cake; if it comes out clean, the cake is ready.
6. Then, allow it to cool, and remove it from the loaf tin. 
7. Finally, slice it and enjoy! 

Don’t you just love how easy and delicious this Plantain Bread is? You can do this for occasions or even as a business product! You can bake this even if it’s your first time! 

Tips

Plantains

Buying plantains

• The Pioneer Woman suggests buying yellow and black ripe plantains. 
• They should feel soft but not too mushy. 
• You can also buy unripe plantains to ripen over time.

Storing plantains

• Peel and slice ripe plantains and freeze them to store for several weeks or months.
• Check out the video for a detailed guide:

Plantain Bread Variations

The classic Plantain Bread is incredibly delicious and you can further improve it.

For the batter, you can mix in some chocolates, cinnamon, pecans, raisins, almonds, dried fruits, desiccated coconut, peanut butter, and more.

For vegan and gluten-free diets, use alternative baking ingredients. Moreover, make a vegan version using oat milk or almond milk and egg substitutes. 

Meanwhile, you can make a gluten-free version with oat flour, almond flour, corn flour, and other options. If you don’t have an oven, then you can make the Plantain Bread using the following methods:

Steam

1. Preheat a large pot over high heat for 30 minutes. 
2. Place ceramic beans and the iron stand in the pot. 
3. Put the loaf pan on the iron stand and let it steam cook for ten minutes.
4. Then, rotate the loaf pan every five minutes to cook all sides.
5. Remove it from heat and allow it to cool. 

Air fryer

1. Pour the batter into a round loaf pan and cover it with aluminum foil.
2. Preheat the air fryer. 
3. Place the loaf pan in the air fryer basket. 
4. Then, air fry the plantain bread at 160°C for 25 minutes. 
5. Remove the foil and cook for ten more minutes.
6. Let it cool at room temperature until ready to serve. 

More Plantain Recipes

• Crispy Fried Plantains – make the plantains extra crunchy and flaky.
• Plantain Fufu – fufu is a swallow food that tastes better with plantains.
• Plantain Porridge – turn your plantains into a hot and comforting porridge.
• Plantain Chips – snack your worries away with plantain chips.
• Plantain Baby Food Puree – even your baby can have a taste of plantains.

Recommended Tools

• Oven: Bake the Plantain Bread in the oven.
• Loaf pan: Pour the batter into a loaf pan for shape. 
• Bowl: Prepare the batter in a bowl.
• Whisk: Mix the ingredients and mash plantains with a whisk.
• Cake tester or skewer: Check the cake for doneness using a cake tester or skewer.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Measure ingredients properly.
• Knife: Peel and slice the plantain with a knife.

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How to Serve Plantain Bread

How do you plan on enjoying the Plantain Bread?

On its own, it already makes a good snack or breakfast option. It tastes well with a glass of tea or coffee for a filling meal in the morning. You can also toast it to make it crispy and crunchy.

I suggest smearing it with spreads like peanut butter, cashew butter, almond butter, or even strawberry jam. Plantain bread slices will also taste well as sandwiches with fruity fillings like bananas and avocados.

It can also be a suitable kind of bread for making French Toast or bread pudding. You can also serve it as a Grilled Cheese sandwich or as a side dish for soups and stews.

• Hibiscus Tea – feel the comfort of the bread with a side of tea.
• Peanut Butter – add a nutty flavor with some peanut butter.
• Iced Coffee – kickstart your morning with coffee and bread.
• Fried Pepper Stew – enjoy a savory stew with bread as a side dish.
• Breakfast Sandwich – make a special breakfast sandwich with your plantain bread.

Storage Tips

At room temperature: Keep the Plantain Bread in a container at room temperature for four days. 

Frequent Asked Questions

Can you substitute plantains for bananas in banana bread?

Yes, plantains can make good alternatives to bananas. However, note that you must use ripe or overripe plantains for sweetness. They are also easy to mash, healthy, and affordable! 

Can plantain flour be used for baking bread?

You can use plantain flour to make bread. All you have to do is dry and grind the plantains until you turn them into a powder. However, note that it behaves differently than other kinds of flour. It tends to absorb more liquid and adds more flavor.

Which has more sugar plantain or banana?

The sugar content of plantains and bananas depends on the ripeness. A ripe banana has about 14 to 15 grams of sugar while a ripe plantain has about six to eight grams of sugar. Plantains have more starch than sugar.

How to make plantain flour?

Here’s a quick guide to making plantain flour:

1. Peel and slice ripe plantains.
2. Dry the plantain in the oven, dehydrator, or under the sun until crisp.
3. Then, grind the plantains with a food processor.
4. Sift the flour with a sieve.
5. Store the plantain flour and use it as needed.