We recently bought another grill, but this time we bought a pellet grill. We were at the local hardware store looking at plants and we could smell the smoker being used. We noticed it was someone at the hardware store using the smoker. We asked if we could see it because we had always wondered about that particular smoker and the manager was happy to show us. I’ll be honest, we use the kamado-style grills and love them. We refer to pellet grills as “Easy-Bake-Ovens” because they seem to be pretty easy to use and don’t seem to require much attention. The pork butt they were smoking at the hardware store looked really good. Jon and I talked it over and we ended up going back to buy one and bring it home.
The pellet grill made sense to us because of the convenience factor of it. I could put something on it to smoke while I’m working at home and control it from the app on my phone.
We have been on staycation all week, so we have been cooking all kinds of things. Essentially, the pellet grill, just like the kamado-style grills can be used just like an oven when set up for indirect heat. Because of that, I’ve managed to do some baking this week right on the pellet grill, making chocolate chip cookies and now a Smoked Bourbon Banana Bread! Using the grills to bake makes it super nice in the summertime so you don’t have to heat up the house with the actual oven.
We are in no way giving up our kamado-style grills, but just adding to the family with the pellet grill.
Ingredients:
1 stick unsalted butter (room temperature)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp Blackstrap molasses (optional)
2 ounces bourbon (your favorite kind)
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2-3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
In a mixing bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar, sugar, eggs, vanilla, molasses, and bourbon. Using a hand mixer, mix on low to medium speed until ingredients are combined.
Add the flour, baking soda and powder, salt, and cinnamon to the bowl. Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients have been incorporated.
Add the mashed banana and nuts (if using the nuts) to the bowl and fold in.
Transfer the batter into a grill-safe loaf pan that’s been greased.
Bake indirect on a pre-heated smoker at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for about 2 hours or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserting into the center. Remove from heat (use your oven mitts, the pan will be hot) and allow the Smoked Bourbon Banana Bread to cool. Cut into slices and serve.
Smoked Bourbon Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 stick Unsalted butter room temperature
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 2 Items Eggs
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 tsp Blackstrap Molasses
- 2 oz Bourbon
- 1 3/4 cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 2-3 Items Bananas mashed
- 1/2 cup Walnuts or Pecans chopped
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the butter, sugars, eggs, vanilla, molasses, and bourbon. Using a hand mixer, mix on low-medium speed until combined.
- Add in the flour, baking soda and powder, salt, and cinnamon. Mix on low speed until incorporated.
- Fold in the bananas and nuts.
- Transfer the batter to a grill-safe loaf pan that's been greased or sprayed with baking spray.
- Bake indirect in a preheated smoker/grill on 250 degrees Fahrenheit for about 2 hours, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center.
- Remove from heat (pan will be hot, so use caution and use your oven mitts!). Allow to cool. Cut into slices and serve.
