'I Tried Pillsbury's Banana Bread Batter Tube and Whoa'
I'm not a baker. I don't try to hide this and I don't pretend to be something I'm not. Sure, I can make a pretty tasty batch of muffins and I will even bake something special for a birthday if I'm asked, but baking just isn't a passion for me like cooking is. The saying in our house is "I will cook you a delicious four-course meal, but there will probably be a store-bought dessert at the end."
So when I found out that Pillsbury launched a pre-made banana bread batter, I knew I had to try it. I'm all about cookie dough logs and canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls, so I couldn't wait to see what a packaged banana bread batter could do for me!
I wasn't able to find the product at my local grocery store, but luckily the kind folks at Pillsbury were able to send me samples to try. Here's what happened when I baked some up in my home kitchen.
Pillsbury
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What Is Pillsbury Banana Bread Batter?
You know those logs of cookie dough? That's just like this, but it's filled with banana bread batter. Other than palm oil and glycerin, the ingredients list is stuff you'll recognize: flour, banana puree, sugar, canola oil, eggs, leaveners. And the prep couldn't be easier. All you have to do is cut, squeeze and bake. I was excited to see if this might be my solution for an easy breakfast, brunch, after-school snack, dessert or a smart bake sale shortcut.
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Where Can I Buy Pillsbury Banana Bread Batter?
You can find Pillsbury Banana Bread Batter right now at Albertson's, Kroger, Safeway and Publix. Additional stores will begin to carry it later this month, so keep checking those if you don't see it right away.
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How Much Does Pillsbury Banana Bread Batter Cost?
A tube costs $6.74, which some might think is a bit pricey. The price seemed fair to me because if you were making banana bread from scratch and didn't have all of the ingredients on hand, you could rack up $7 in groceries pretty quickly. Plus, for me, sometimes convenience is worth a couple of extra bucks.
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How To Use Pillsbury Banana Bread Batter
When Pillsbury claims you can cut, squeeze and bake, they are not exaggerating!
Krista Marshall
Okay, so you have to preheat the oven, grease the pan and then spread the batter into it, but with no measuring or mixing, this banana bread couldn't be easier!
Krista Marshall
Once you have the batter ready to bake, just pop it into a 350°F oven for about an hour (maybe a little more), cool slightly and enjoy!
Krista Marshall
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My Honest Review Of Pillsbury Banana Bread Batter
I can't tell you how much I loved this! For someone who really doesn't enjoy baking, but wants to give her family a special treat now and again, this batter is perfection.
Since I used a glass loaf pan, I was careful to read the directions thoroughly. I know that shiny metal and glass pans typically need a little longer baking time and there was a note on the package that addressed that. Normally the bread needs to bake at 350°F for 60-70 minutes, but with a glass pan the suggestion is to add 10 to 15 extra minutes.
I began testing the bread with a toothpick at the one-hour mark, just to be sure, and it was still very wet. I baked it for 15 minutes more and it was perfectly brown and set.
I was also super impressed by how well it released from the pan. I let it cool on a rack for about five minutes and then flipped it out to finish cooling the rest of the way. It didn't stick at all!
Krista Marshall
I sliced the banana bread while it was still warm, and it stayed together perfectly. It tasted homemade and was extra tasty with some soft butter. My boys raved about how yummy it was, and couldn't believe I didn't make it from scratch.
Krista Marshall
I also really appreciate the no-mess factor. I literally only dirtied a spatula and the loaf pan — fewer dishes mean a happy mommy!
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4 Tips For Making Pillsbury's Banana Bread
Read the directions carefully. Make sure you give the package a read before you start baking. The helpful note about baking times for different types of pans was key to my success.
Grease the pan. Grease the loaf pan well with cooking spray, shortening or butter so it releases cleanly.
Let it cool. Allow the bread to cool in the pan on a wire rack for a few minutes before you try to release it. It tastes great warm, but if it's too hot, banana bread can have a slightly gummy texture.
Get creative. When I make this again (and there will be a next time), I'm thinking about adding some chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or sprinkling the loaf with cinnamon sugar. If you had a banana handy, you could halve it lengthwise and add it to the top of the loaf like all the Instagram bakers do.