Taste of Home’s Banana Walnut Mini Loaves with Cream Cheese Spread for Family and Holiday Gifts

 Attend our Taste of Home Cooking School, October 27! In the meantime here is an awesome recipe for you to try.

INGREDIENTS

•1/2 cup butter, softened

•1 cup sugar

•2 eggs

•1-1/3 cups mashed ripe bananas (2 to 3 medium)

•1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

•2 teaspoons ground cardamom

•1 teaspoon baking soda

•1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

•1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

•1/2 cup chopped black walnuts

•CINNAMON SPREAD:•1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

•3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

•1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

•In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in bananas.

•Combine the flour, cardamom, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg; gradually add to banana mixture just until moistened. Fold in walnuts.

•Pour into six greased 4-1/2-in. x 2-1/2-in. x 1-1/2-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350° for 22-26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

•In a small bowl, combine the spread ingredients. Serve with bread. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 6 loaves (4 slices each) and 1 cup spread.