Healthy and Delicious Banana Bread (No added oil or sugar)

17:17:00 Unknown 0 Comments

I've always heard that banana bread is just as good without added sugar because over ripe bananas are just so sweet. I have the biggest sweet tooth on the planet or at least second to my dad. So unsurprisingly I have been skeptical of banana bread with no added sugar. However, I have really been craving something more exciting than just plain toast for breakfast, so I thought I would give it a try. This banana bread can be made sweeter with a tbsp of honey and some chocolate chips (I added the chocolate as you can tell). Honestly though, you don't need either one. If you feel like you want the honey then go ahead and add it or drizzle some one the finished, baked product. I tried this recipe out on my family and a few friends. The general consensus was that no one believed it was healthy. This banana bread is still super sweet and packed full of potassium. I'm kind of craving some now. Too bad I don't have any bananas at home. Crap.

FYI: If you have a nut allergy, the almond meal can be substitute with just more regular, plain, old, white flour.



Ingredients









2.5 dl or 2 (US) cups of plain flour
2.5 dl or 2 (US) cups of almond flour/meal
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
10 pitteded dates
8 very ripe bananas
2 eggs

Optional:
1 tbsp of honey
a handful of dark chocolate chips

Preparation

1. Preheat your oven to 150C or 300F. 
2. Prep a loaf tin with baking spray and line with baking/parchment paper. 
3. Add your dates, bananas and honey (if using) into a food processor or blender. Pulse until almost smooth. A few lumps of banana will make for a lovely texture once baked. Alternatively, you can mush your bananas with a fork and finely chop your dates. 
4. Pour your wet ingredients into a large bowl. 
5. In a smaller bowl combine all of your dry ingredients (baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and flours). 
6. Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients into the larger bowl with the wet ingredients. Combine with a spatula taking care not to over mix. Then add one egg. Combine. Add another 1/3 of the dry into large bowl. Then the last egg. 
7. Finally add the final 1/3 of flour and combine with the spatula. 
8. If you are using chocolate chips toss them in some plain flour, then fold into the mixture as well. Take care not to add too much additional flour.
9. Gently pour or spoon the banana bread mix into the prepared loaf tin. 
10. Bake for 60-70 minutes in the centre of the oven until fully golden and fully baked. A toothpick should come out clean from the middle. 
11. If around 30 minutes you feel the banana bread is browning too quickly, simply cover the loaf with some aluminium foil. 
12. Enjoy as is or lightly toasted! I like mine with fresh raspberries. Cream cheese is a naughtier but delicious topping too!