Liberian Rice Bread (Banana Rice Flour Cake)
In short: A moist, lightly spiced loaf of rice flour and mashed ripe banana with ginger and nutmeg, a gluten-free Liberian snack for tea or coffee. It takes about 1 h 10 min in total and makes 10 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 55 min
- Total
- 1 h 10 min
- Servings
- 10
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 275 kcal
Rice bread is a Liberian baking staple and is closer to a banana cake than to bread. It is made with rice flour and very ripe bananas, plus eggs, butter and a little ginger and nutmeg, and baked until deep gold with a tender crumb. Families bake it for tea and for sharing at gatherings. Because there is no wheat, the texture is slightly dense and moist, and the loaf tastes even better the next day.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease a 23 x 13 cm (9 x 5 in) loaf pan and line it with parchment.
- Whisk the rice flour, baking powder, salt, ginger and nutmeg together in a bowl.
- In a second bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar for 2 minutes until pale. Stir in the mashed bananas, melted butter, milk and vanilla.
- Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ones until just combined. The batter will be thick and slightly grainy. Let it stand for 10 minutes so the rice flour absorbs the liquid.
- Scrape the batter into the pan and smooth the top. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, until deep golden and a skewer in the center comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a rack. Slice when completely cool, because rice flour cakes firm up as they cool.
Tips
- Use bananas with black-speckled or fully black skins for the best flavor and sweetness. Very ripe plantain also works and gives a slightly denser crumb.
- Rice flour cakes dry out quickly. Wrap the cooled loaf tightly and slice only what you need.
Questions and answers
Is Liberian rice bread gluten-free?
Yes, if you use pure rice flour and check your baking powder label. The recipe contains no wheat.
Can I make rice bread dairy-free?
Replace the butter with 80 ml (1/3 cup) vegetable oil and the milk with water. The eggs help bind the rice flour, so keep them in.
How long does rice bread keep?
Three days at room temperature if wrapped well, or a week in the fridge. You can also freeze slices for up to 3 months.
How long does it take to make Liberian Rice Bread (Banana Rice Flour Cake)?
About 1 h 10 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 55 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Liberian Rice Bread (Banana Rice Flour Cake)?
About 275 kcal per serving, with 4 g of protein, 44 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 275 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 44 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 20 g |
| Sodium | 190 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
