Is it fair to say that we’ve all looked at those bananas that are sitting in the fruit bowl, slowly getting browner, and browner, wondering what to do with them? We all have a preference for how ripe we like a banana and after a certain point in the bananas fruit bowl life, we get to a point where we don’t particularly fancy eating it any more.
The worst thing we can do with those bananas that are over ripe is throw them away. Food waste is a big issue, with so much food being thrown away every year, there must be a way to avoid it. And there usually is. People are always coming up with innovative ways to use up food that’s at risk of going to waste.
One thing that has been around for a long time, that helps avoid wasting those over ripe bananas is banana bread. There are thoughts that banana bread could have been created as early as the time of Pliny (23 to 79 AD), in Greece. We know that the Greeks were making bread with honey and fruits around this time, and Pliny had knowledge of bananas. So, could banana bread have been invented by the Greeks in that time?
The thing that possibly puts that theory out of the window is that banana bread (as we know it) is a type of quick bread, so it uses leavening agents such as baking powder. However, baking powder wasn’t developed commercially until 1857. So, although they may have had their own version of banana bread, it was unlikely to be anything like the banana bread we know today.
It wasn’t until the 1930’s that a banana bread recipe was published in an American cookbook, so it’s likely that it wasn’t created until around or shortly before then. This is most likely due to access to bananas being limited. When we think of bananas, they are probably a good go to fruit for most families, and they’re usually there in abundance, but that hasn’t always been like that.
England got its first glimpse of a banana in 1633, when merchant Thomas Johnson displayed a bunch in his shop window in London. We imagine if it was your first time seeing one, it was probably a little bit baffling to passer-by's as to what they were. And they may not even have much resembled the bananas we see today. It’s thought that most bananas you will find today will be descended from the Cavendish banana.
Obviously, as bananas grow in more tropical environments it is hard for them to grow in our natural climate in the UK, so when the wars came about, like most things' bananas were hard to come by. But, as rationing came to an end and items became more available, bakes that people loved before started to make a comeback, like banana bread.
It’s such a lovely way to use old bananas, as when they become over ripe, all of the natural sugars start to be released from the fruit and you get a stronger banana flavour which makes a great treat for everyone to enjoy. It’s a very homely cake, something you could make with your family, but we know not everyone is a baker. You may like cake and bread, but sometimes if it’s not your strong skill you may be put off from doing it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy these things, why not get cakes and bakes delivered to your door?
We took huge inspiration from banana bread. At classic combination is chocolate banana bread, when you add chocolate chips into the banana bread mixture, and chocolate and banana go hand in hand so it’s one of those things that just made sense. So, we created a banana and chocolate chip cake as part of our wholesome range.
Not everyone enjoys buttercream with cake, and we want everyone to be able to enjoy a slice of one of our cakes, so we created our wholesome cake range. These cakes are simple classic cakes, like the ones your Grandma may have produced from that tin in her cupboard.
Our irresistible Banana and Chocolate Cake has smashed bananas are mixed into the cake, bringing a natural banana flavour to the sponge, with chocolate chips mixed through for a chocolatey kick. The cake is finished off with a beautiful chocolate drizzle on top.
And to make it even more accessible, we are working on a gluten free version of this cake. It will be exactly the same as the standard banana and chocolate cake, the only difference is that it will be suitable for those on a gluten free diet. We have had great feedback on our gluten free cakes, with many happy customers telling us that they wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between our standard and gluten free cakes if it wasn’t for the label.
Sponge offer next day delivery on our cakes all over the UK, when you order by 3pm. So, if you can’t be with a loved one on a special occasion, or want a delicious birthday cake delivered to your door, or have a cake emergency, we will ensure that your cakes are delivered safely and securely straight to your front door. Our Sponge cake delivery service is second to none with our robust designed packaging that keeps your order safe in transit.
If you’re ordering a banana and chocolate cake for a special occasion, we recommend selecting the delivery date for a day or two before you require your order to make sure it is there in plenty of time. This is in case there are problems with the delivery (breakdowns, exceptional circumstances, or events). This cake has a 7 day life from the date of dispatch, so even if it arrives a day or two early, it will still be fresh and delicious on your special occasion.