Tropical Rum Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips

One of my husband's favorite things to eat is banana bread. I don't get a chance to make it very often. However, tomorrow our son is coming home for the day and I wanted to have a treat for him to eat while he is here, so this is a great chance to show them both I was thinking of them.




First mash up 1 1/2 cups of ripe bananas. The bananas that are getting spots or have a lot of spots are perfect for this. After mashing (about 3 to 4 bananas depending on the size) set aside.

Cream together 1 cup of butter and 1 1/2 cups of sugar until light and well blended.

Add 3 eggs and beat some more

In a bowl combine 4 cups of flour + 2 Tbls, 1 1/2 t baking powder, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt. When you have gotten that combined well, mix it in with the butter mixture. When well blended, add 1/2 cups sour cream, 1/4 cup rum or 3 T. rum flavoring, and the bananas. Blend well. This is where I now put in 1 cup walnuts, ( I prefer macadamia nuts but I was out) 1 cup of coconut, 1 cups of chocolate chips. I then pour into "3" prepared pie pans and bake at 350* for one hour.

I got the basic recipe a long time ago off of cooks.com and tweaked it to my family's liking. Here is the basic recipe I started with.



1 cup butter ( I don't use margarine in this recipe but you can substitute if you prefer)

1 1/2 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 c. bananas, mashed
4 c. flour (plus 2 tbsp.)
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 c. sour cream
1 c. chopped walnuts, optional
1 tablespoon Butter Schnapps or Banana Liquor (optional)

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat. Add bananas and beat. Mix dry ingredients together (baking powder, baking soda and flour).

Add the well-mixed dry ingredients to the creamed mixture alternately with the sour cream. Beat until smooth. Beat in liquor, if using.

Stir in chopped nuts last.

Pour into 2 large greased and floured loaf pans and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes at 350 degrees. To test for doneness, insert a sharp knife into center of bread. If it comes out clean, bread is done.

This bread is very moist and freezes well.