Spiced banana bread

This is just the thing to have around when anyone fancies a little something in the afternoon - as members of my family often do! It’s good on its own or extra yummy spread with butter and I really like it toasted. Just make sure you get soft figs or dates so they purée easily.

164 calories per slice • Prep: 20 minutes • Cooking: about 1 hour

Makes 12 slices

 225g wholemeal flour (wheat or spelt)

1 heaped tbsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp grated nutmeg

150g soft dried figs OR pitted dates

300ml buttermilk

4 eggs

3 very ripe bananas, mashed

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/Fan 160°C/Gas 4. Line a large loaf tin with baking paper. 

2. Put the flour, baking powder and spices into a large bowl with a generous pinch of salt and whisk together.

3. Snip the tough stems off the figs. Cut the figs, or dates, into small pieces, then put them in a food processor or blender with the buttermilk and eggs. Whizz together until well combined – the buttermilk should turn the colour of honey. Stir in the bananas.

4. Pour the combined wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together, trying to keep stirring to a minimum. Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf tin.

5. Bake the banana bread for about an hour until it is well risen, rich golden brown in colour and a skewer comes out clean. Check it at regular intervals and if the top is getting too dark, cover it with a sheet of foil.

6. Leave the banana bread to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn it out on to a cooling rack. Cut it into thick slices.