064 / 100 · Bake Together

Banana-Date Mini Loaf

Name: Banana-Date Mini Loaf
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 110 min
Yield: 1 loaf, 10 slices
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tsp baking soda; 1/4 tsp salt; 1 cup mashed ripe banana, about 2 large bananas; 1/3 cup packed brown sugar; 1 large egg; 1/4 cup canola oil; 1/4 cup milk; 1/2 cup finely chopped pitted dates

Suggested ages 12+ Cook with help: an adult handles heat and sharp tools

1 loaf, 10 slicesActive 20 minTotal 1 hr 50 min

Very ripe banana is soft enough to mash with a fork. Chopped dates add chewy spots without a frosting layer. A loaf takes longer than muffins because the heat has farther to travel to its center.

Start with the grown-up check

A golden banana-date loaf with two slices showing small dark date pieces. — AI-generated gouache-style food illustration. Follow the written ingredients and method.

Before you begin · grown-up check

The adult chops dates, cracks the egg, handles the oven and slices the cooled loaf.

A grown-up checks ingredient labels, the workspace and the young cook’s readiness before starting.
Adult heats oven to 350°F, lines pan, checks dates for pits, chops them and cracks egg into a bowl.

Ages are a starting guide. A grown-up checks your readiness and stays nearby. Follow the actor label on every step.

Let’s make it

Tick off steps as you go. Your ticks stay in this browser.

TogetherWash hands with soap and water, clear the work area and read all the steps before measuring.
Young cookWhisk flour, baking soda and salt together. In the other bowl mash banana, then mix in sugar, egg, oil and milk.
Young cookFold in dry ingredients and dates until no dry flour remains. Do not taste batter; scrape it into the cold pan.
TogetherWash hands and clean all raw-batter utensils while the adult puts the loaf in the oven.
Grown-upBake 45–55 minutes until a cake tester through the center has no wet batter; tent loosely with foil if the top browns early. Cool in pan 15 minutes, then at least 20 minutes on a rack before slicing once cool.

The skill you’re learning

Check the deepest part of a loaf, not just its browned top. A dark surface can appear before the middle is cooked.

Try one change

Replace dates with 1/2 cup raisins; check them for any stems before mixing.

Serving & storing

A grown-up puts leftovers in a covered shallow container at 40°F or colder within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F. Use within 3 days.

Cook with a grown-up

Read the young-cook and grown-up guide for help labels, clean preparation and ingredient checks.

Keep your recipe card

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Printable ingredients, age and actor-labeled steps for Banana-Date Mini Loaf