Banana Bread (with soaked raisins)

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients
100g sultanas
75ml dark rum, or bourbon
175g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp salt
125g unsalted butter (melted)
150g caster sugar
2 large eggs
4 small very ripe bananas, mashed
60g walnuts (optional)
1 tsp vanilla extract

 
Instructions
1. Put the sultanas and alcohol in a small saucepan and bring to the boil. 
2. Remove from the heat, cover and leave for an hour, or until the sultanas have absorbed nearly all the liquid, then drain.
3. Preheat the oven to 170c. Put the flour, baking powder, bicarb of soda and salt in a large bowl. Combine well.
4. In a large bowl, mix the melted butter and sugar and beat until combined. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the mashed bananas. Then, with your spoon, stir in the walnuts, drained sultanas and vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture, a third at a time, stirring well. Scrape in to a loaf tin and bake for 1-1 hour 15 mins. 
5. Leave in the tin to cool, then turn out on to a rack.

Adapted from Nigella Community Recipes

Gluten free alternative: Just replace flour with gluten-free alternative plain flour (some have suggested using a richer sugar, eg. molasses, dark brown sugar.