Banana, Chocolate Chip and Pecan Loaf

A banana loaf may seem simple, but I'm not sure it can really be beaten. This version has banana to give it a wonderful lightness and moistness, chocolate for indulgence and pecans for a lovely crunch.

Recipe - Makes a 1lb loaf cake

For the cake:

• 50g butter, softened
• 115g caster sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 115g plain flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 banana, mashed
• 1/2 banana, sliced
• 30g pecans, chopped roughly
• 50g dark chocolate chips

For the topping:

• 50g dark chocolate, melted
• Banana chips or dried banana pieces, to decorate

Grease a 1lb loaf tin with a little butter and line with a piece of baking paper, then set aside. Preheat the oven to 160C. 

Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl to pale and light. Add the egg a little at a time, beating to incorporated before adding more. Sift in the flour and baking powder and fold in gently, followed by the mashed banana. Tip in the banana slices, pecans and chocolate chips and mix well. Pour into the lined tin and level, then bake for 45-50 minutes, or until risen, browned and the sponge springs back when pressed gently.

Remove the cake from the oven and tip onto a wire rack. Leave to cool.

Put the melted chocolate into a piping bag fitted with an icing nozzle then drizzle over the top of the cake. Alternatively, you could use a spoon to drizzle the chocolate. Decorate with banana chips or dried banana pieces and leave to set.