Plantain Bread (Loaf Cake)

Have you ever tried a plantain bread – loaf cake? If you answered “no”, then you are in for a real treat! Plantain loaf cake is a delicious and unique twist on the traditional banana loaf cake, mixed with its own subtle flavors that will leave your taste buds wanting more.

Plantain bread is a homemade flavored bread that’s healthy, delicious, and unique! You can bake moist and soft loaf cake in your kitchen with ripe plantains. Indeed, it’s the perfect cake for breakfast, snacks, and celebrations.

moist plantain loaf cake recipe

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

In this blog, we will discuss what makes plantain loaf cake so special, step-by-step instructions on how to make it, variations to the recipe, and a few tips to get it just right. You will surely add this to your favorite plantain recipes! Isn’t it a great way of combining fruits and bread?

How to Make Plantain Bread

Baking plantain bread is easier than it sounds. It’s simply making bread but with plantains! 

So if you are looking for something new to try or want to impress your friends with your baking skills, get ready to learn about this fantastic plantain loaf cake.

moist plantain loaf cake ingredients

Ingredients

If you want to try this Plantain Bread, then make sure to add these to your grocery list.

Plain flour

Plain flour is an essential ingredient in bread. It helps with the dish’s proper shape, texture, and flavor. Aside from bread, this flour is also used for bread, cake, cookies, and other baked goods. 

Moreover, plain flour makes the cake light and airy inside. I always have this in stock because I also use it for Banana Bread, Pancakes, Chin Chin, and Pound Cake

Plantain

This Plantain Bread recipe uses overripe plantain. Additionally, this is likely to have a sweet flavor for tasty bread. Aside from bread, you can also make Crispy Fried Plantains, Plantain Porridge, and Plantain Baby Food

Leavening agents

You need leavening agents like baking powder and bicarbonate of soda to make the bread fluffy. These also allow the bread to expand and rise for  the right texture and crust. 

Furthermore, I use this pair for Banana Bread, Chocolate Cake, and Carrot Cake for decadent quality!

Seasoning

The batter for this recipe is seasoned with cane sugar, nutmeg, and vanilla extract. These can also balance the flavors of the bread. Additionally, the cane sugar gives the bread a beautiful brown color. 

Meanwhile, the vanilla extract adds a fragrant aroma and rich flavor. Don’t forget to use nutmeg to further improve the quality of the bread!

Milled linseeds

Milled linseeds are optional, but I suggest adding them to make the Plantain Bread extra healthy. I used a mixture of different variations of milled linseeds in this recipe. these are the variants I suggest:

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

Salted butter not only adds flavor and texture but also extends the shelf life of the bread. It adds richness and flavor to the Plantain Bread for better overall quality! 

Eggs

According to MasterClass, eggs help give the dough the proper rise. In addition, it adds moisture to better distribute the flavors of the seasoning. You will surely appreciate how eggs can improve the crust. 

Evaporated milk 

Evaporated milk helps activate the leavening agents. It also complements the butter and eggs to bake bread with the best crust. This milk makes the bread tender and soft. 

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! 

plantain loaf cake slice

Directions

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

Make the dry mixture

  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

Prepare the wet batter

  1. Use a knife to peel and slice a ripe or overripe plantain. 
  2. Then, mash the plantain with a whisk or fork
  3. Whisk in the melted salted butter, evaporated milk, and eggs.
  4. Season it with vanilla extract.
  5. Mix the wet batter with the dry mixture until well combined. 

Bake the bread

  1. Line or oil a loaf pan.
  2. Then, 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. 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! 

moist loaf cake

Tips

Plantains

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

Plantain Bread Variations

Just when you think Plantain Bread can’t get any better, you can further improve it. For instance, the batter can be mixed with chocolate, cinnamon, pecans, raisins, almonds, 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-bake

  1. Preheat a large pot over high heat for 30 minutes. 
  2. Place ceramic beans and the iron stand in the pot. 
  3. If you have a thermometer, then check if it reaches 200°C. 
  4. Put the loaf pan on the iron stand and let it steam cook for 10 minutes.
  5. Then, rotate the loaf pan every five minutes to cook all sides.
  6. 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 aluminum foil and cook for ten more minutes.
  6. Let it cool at room temperature. 

On the other hand, you can try more plantain recipes:

plantain loaf cake slice
  • 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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moist plantain loaf cake

How to Serve Plantain Bread

Plantain bread is best served for breakfast, snacks, desserts, or celebrations. Just like any other bread, you can enjoy it with these drinks and juices recipes:

Storage Tips

  • At room temperature: Keep the Plantain Bread in an airtight container at room temperature for four days. 

make ahead

  • In the fridge: Wrap the bread in cling film or aluminum foil. Then, place it in a resealable bag or container to refrigerate for a week. 
  • To freeze: Freeze the bread for up to several months. Let it thaw at room temperature. Otherwise, reheat it in the microwave. 
moist plantain bread

Frequent Asked Questions

Can you use plantains instead of bananas?

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 I use plantains instead of bananas in banana bread?

Of course, you can convert banana bread into plantain bread by replacing bananas with plantains. They belong to the same fruit family and have similar flavors. 

What is the healthiest way to eat plantains?

There are many healthy ways to eat plantains, and this Plantain Bread recipe is undoubtedly one of them. They can be fried, roasted, steamed, and air fried.

plantain bread recipe

Plantain Bread (Loaf Cake)

4.50 from 2 votes
Do you have a sweet tooth and are looking for an irresistible dessert? Then this plantain loaf cake recipe is perfect for you! Plantain loaf cake is a traditional Central and South American recipe made with overripe plantains.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 8 slices
Course Bread, Breakfast & Brunch, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine African, American
Calories 234kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Dry ingredients

  • cup plain flour
  • 3 tbsp cane sugar
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 pinch bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 tsp Linseeds milled (goji, sunflower, pumpkin)
  • 1 tsp Linseeds milled (golden omega)
  • 1 tsp Linseeds milled (sesame, blueberries, and raspberries)

Wet ingredients

  • 1 plantain (medium-sized, overripe)
  • 6 tbsp salted butter
  • 4 tbsp evaporated milk (or fresh milk)
  • 2 eggs (medium-sized)
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions
 

Make the dry mixture

  • Measure the ingredients with measuring cups and spoons
  • In a bowl, mix plain flour, cane sugar, nutmeg, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, and linseed milled, using a whisk.

Prepare the wet batter

  • Use a knife to peel and slice a ripe or overripe plantain. Mash the plantain with a whisk or fork.
  • Whisk in the melted salted butter, evaporated milk, and eggs. Season it with vanilla extract.
  • Mix the wet batter with the dry mixture until well combined.

Bake the bread

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

Video

Notes

  • You can also cook the bread in a pot or in an air fryer.
  • Use ripe or overripe plantains for sweetness.
  • Check for doneness with a skewer or cake tester. If it comes out clean, it is ready. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 (of 8)Calories: 234kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 5gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 153mgPotassium: 177mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 593IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 1mg
Keyword baked plantain bread, best plantain bread, easy plantain bread, healthy plantain bread, homemade loaf cake, homemade plantain bread

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