Using this for teacher gifts. Was planning on using my favorite recipe from the Fanny Farmer Baking Book for the bread, but noticed that the ingredients were almost identical so I used this one instead. I omitted the cloves (don’t like them much) and after reading from another reviewer that the bread had tasted a little too spicy. Cut back a little on the cinnamon too. I also used cooking spray to grease the inside of the jars. After filling half-full I placed the jars directly on the rack (as another person suggested). They came out perfect and the recipe is delicious! If when taking them out of the oven you noticed that they’ve popped out of the jar a little you can carefully (with gloves of course) press the top of the bread down gently so that the sides are away from the seal. I made sure that the rim was clean and even with them being quite full they all sealed perfectly. Found the pint-size wide mouth jars by where I live for only 5.99 for a dozen at Big Lots. Plan on decorating them with 7″ round pieces of material with ribbons and will print out gift tags to attach with a note to heat for less than 30 seconds in the microwave so they will slide right out and be ready for slicing. Will definitely make them again, plan on buying more mason jars and storing them for holiday baking! Hope this review helps…all the others did for me as well!
Ingredients:
2/3 cup shortening
2 2/3 cups white sugar
4 eggs
2 cups mashed bananas
2/3 cup water
3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves (I used half a teaspoon because I didn’t want mine too ‘clovey’.)
2/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
You will also need:
12 250 ml canning jars – sterilized
funnel
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease insides of a dozen 250ml canning jars. (I wiped mine down with vegetable oil.)
In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Mash bananas–Beat in eggs, bananas, and water.
Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, and cloves.
Add to banana mixture and mix well.
Add nuts and stir them in with a spoon.
Insert canning funnel into the mouth of the jar and pour the mixture into greased jars, filling half full. Do NOT put lids on jars for baking. Be careful to keep the rims clean, wiping off any batter that gets on the rims.
Place jars directly on the rack in oven. Bake for 45 minutes. Don’t worry if a few rises over the top of the jar a bit. You can press it down with the lid after it has finished baking.
While jars are still warm, add lids. Screw on tightly.
Listen for the ping once you have added the lids; this means that the jar is sealed. If you miss the “ping”, wait until they are completely cool and press on the top of the lid. If it doesn’t move at all, it’s sealed.