Bitter Chocolate, Lavender, and Banana Tea Loaf

The unexpected flavor combination of bitter chocolate, lavender flowers, and orange zest gives banana bread a sophisticated taste that goes perfect with a cup of your favorite tea.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins
• Calories: 442 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup mashed banana
• 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon coarse sugar for decorating
• 2 teaspoons grated fresh orange zest
• 2 teaspoons dried orange peel
• 1 teaspoon dried lavender flowers
• 0.5 cup butter, softened
• 0.75 cup white sugar
• 0.5 cup vegetable shortening
• 0.5 cup chopped bitter chocolate

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 1 hour.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 5x9-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper.

Step 3

Beat banana, sugar, butter, and shortening together until smooth; mix in eggs. Stir fresh orange zest, dried orange peel, nutmeg, and vanilla extract into mixture. Gradually stir flour into moist ingredients. Fold chocolate and lavender into batter. Spoon batter into prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle coarse sugar crystals over batter.