Video:Gluten Free Banana Bread

Transcript:Gluten Free Banana Bread

Hi, I'm Stephanie Gallagher for About.com, and today, we're making gluten-free banana bread with lemon syrup. Let's get started.

Notes About Gluten Free Baking

Now there are many different flours that can replace wheat flour when you're baking gluten free.

It's best to use a mix of several gluten-free flours rather than just one, because each plays a different role in providing texture and flavor to the recipe.

Creating Gluten Free Flour From Scratch

Now you could use a commercially-prepared gluten-free flour mix, but I want to show you how to make your own gluten-free flour mix.

Ingredients for Gluten Free Flour

So we're starting with:

• 1/2 cup sorghum flour
• 1/2 cup white rice flour
• 1/3 cup amaranth flour
• 2 Tbsp. tapioca starch (This makes the bread lighter and smooths out the grittiness you sometimes find with gluten-free baked goods)

Ingredients for Gluten Free Banana Bread

You will also need:

• 1 tsp. xanthan gum. (This helps bind the bread and provide structure)
• 1 Tbsp. gluten-free baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3 large very ripe bananas
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup coconut milk (This adds moisture to the bread.)
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup softened butter

Instructions for Making the Gluten Free Banana Bread

Place all of the flours, the xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and whisk them together.

Place the bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mash them with a potato masher or an electric mixer. I'm using an electric mixer, because I know my bananas are very ripe and I'll be able to smash them easily with just my mixer.

Add the eggs, sugar, coconut milk and vanilla, and beat with an electric mixer. Now add the softened butter.

Actually, most people beat the butter and sugar first in a quick bread recipe, but the first time I made this recipe, I made a mistake and forgot the butter, so I added it after I beat the other wet ingredients together. It turned out great, so I just kept doing it this way. It's really up to you -- the main thing is just to mix the butter with the wet ingredients.

Now add the dry ingredients to the wet, and mix well with an electric mixer.

Pour the banana bread batter into a greased loaf pan, and bake for 45-55 minutes until a knife inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.

Ingredients for Lemon Syrup for the Gluten Free Banana Bread

While the bread is baking, make the lemon syrup. You'll need:

• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup sugar
• the zest of 1 lemon

Instructions for Lemon Syrup for the Gluten Free Banana Bread

Bring those ingredients to a gentle boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, and cook until the mixture becomes thick and syrupy.

Now poke holes in the top of the banana bread with a skewer - I'm actually using a lollipop stick. And pour the lemon syrup over the banana bread, spreading it with a spatula to let it sink into the holes.

And here's our gluten-free banana bread with lemon syrup.

That's all for today. For more great recipes just like this one, join us on the web at About.com.