Make use of ripe bananas with Mary Berry's 'perfect' banana bread recipe

With the temperatures increasing, you might find that your than usual, which can be super annoying. However, this will be the best way to make sure they don't go to waste. is one of those comforting foods that you just can't go wrong with, and with 's , you're bound to not be disappointed.

The renowned chef's "small but perfectly formed" banana bread is perfect for the whole family to enjoy, and even better, the recipe includes loading the delicious bread with chocolate chips, which will certainly give it that extra sweetness. If you have loads of bananas to use up, that's not an issue either, because all you will need to do is simply "double" the "classic" .

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana (peeled weight 100g/4oz)
• 1 tbsp milk
• 50g/2oz soft butter or baking spread
• 75g/3oz plain flour
• 75g/3oz caster sugar
• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 free-range egg
• 50g/2oz dark chocolate chips

To decorate (optional)

• 50g/2oz dark chocolate

Method:

Preheat the oven 160C/140C Fan/Gas 3. Grease and line a 450g/1lb loaf tin with baking paper.

Use a fork to mash the peeled banana in a mixing bowl. Add the remaining cake ingredients (except the chocolate chips) and beat with an electric hand whisk until combined and smooth.

Stir in the chocolate chips and spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin. Level the top.

Bake for 40-45 minutes or until well risen, shrinking away from the sides of the tin and golden-brown.

Set aside to cool for 10 minutes, then remove from the tin and leave to cool on a wire rack.

For the optional decoration, break the chocolate into small pieces and add to a heatproof bowl.

Melt the chocolate in the bowl over a pan of simmering water (ensuring that the bowl does not touch the water). Stir regularly until almost completely melted, then remove from the heat. The heat of the bowl will melt any remaining lumps.

Spoon the melted chocolate into a piping bag and pipe zig-zags across the top of the loaf. Set aside for the chocolate to set. Slice and serve.