Banana Almond Bread

For Bread Machines

Makes: 1.5 lb loaf    |   Difficulty Level: Medium    |   Ready In: > 2 hrs

Ingredients:

2/3 cup Water, Warmed
2 tablespoons Butter, Softened
3 tablespoons Sugar
1 1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 Egg, Slightly Beaten
1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup Almonds, Sliced
1 large Lemon, zest only
3 1/2 cups Bread Flour
3 teaspoons Yeast, instant active dry


Directions:

Place all ingredients in bread pan of your bread machine. Select dough setting and press start. When dough cycle has finished, remove dough from pan and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Form dough into an oval, cover with a cotton towel and let rest for 10 minutes.

After resting, turn dough bottom side up and press to flatten. Shape dough into a loaf and place in a loaf pan that's been coated with cooking spray. Cover and place in a warm spot to rise for approximately 30 minutes or until doubled. Preheat oven to 350F.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped. A good check is to use an instant thermometer to test your bread. The temperature should be between 200 and 210 F. Remove from oven and cool on a bread rack for about 10 minutes. Remove from pan.