Here is an outstanding banana bread recipe from innkeeper Donna Muilenburg at the Okoboji Country Inn.

Banana Bread Recipe

• 3/4 cup butter, softened 1 oz. package cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups sugar 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 4 medium)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups chopped pecans divided

Orange Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 teaspoon grated orange peel

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add bananas and vanilla, mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture. Fold in 1 cup chopped pecans. Transfer to two greased 8×4 inch x 2 inch loaf pans. Sprinkle with the remaining pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Glaze

In a small bowl, whisk the glaze ingredients together and drizzle over loaves. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans. Place on wire racks to cool.

Enjoy this award winning banana bread. Our summer helper Katelyn, is in 4-H and entered this recipe in the Dickinson County Fair last week and won a blue ribbon. It was also selected to go to the Iowa State Fair and is on it’s way there now. Katelyn may decide to enter it in the Clay County Fair too. It may just be a triple award winner!!! Enjoy!!!