Coconut Banana Bread with Lime Glaze by Cooking Light

I had three bananas on the counter yesterday that were starting to turn brown, which gave me the perfect excuse to make one of my favorite Cooking Light recipes. This Coconut Banana Bread with Lime Glaze will probably be one of the best, if not the best, banana bread you’ve ever had. It definitely is not the banana bread your grandmother makes… but sorry grandma, I think this is better!

Cooking Light has always been one of my favorite cooking magazines since I could read and cook. Their recipes are always flavorful, and they always turn out great. This recipe was written by Jean Patterson and featured in Cooking Light’s September 2003 issue.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour 
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)
1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt
3 tablespoons dark rum
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup flaked sweetened coconut
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon flaked sweetened coconut
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime or lemon juice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk.
3. Place granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add banana, yogurt, rum, and vanilla; beat until blended. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until moist. Stir in 1/2 cup coconut. Spoon batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon coconut.
4. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Combine powdered sugar and juice, stirring with a whisk; drizzle over warm bread. Cool completely on wire rack.