Banana Bread Bonanaza

If you follow me on Instagram then you know how bust I am. I am currently working 40-60 hours a week at two jobs and this is all new to me.

I apologize for how long it has taken me to get this posted, but here it is and I am so happy to be sharing it with all of you.

These recipes are INSANE. All banana, all amazeballs. Many of my followers are vegan or follow a clean lifestyle. I wanted to find different recipes to fit different lifestyles.

These three recipes include a vegan option, clean option, and a gluten-free option. All of which were tested on as many people as I could find. I didn't inform them of which recipe they were eating or the fact that there was anything "special" about them at all.

The verdict? They all passed with flying colors!

My favorite recipe is the vegan recipe, but honestly? They are all delicious!

So here you go!

CLEAN HEALTHY WHOLE WHEAT BANANA BREAD
(Adapted from Ambitious Kitchen)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 heaping cup mashed bananas
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup milk of choice (I used unsweetened almond)
• 1.5 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1.5 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon


DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 9-inch loaf pan with nonstick organic cooking spray.

2. In large bowl combine mashed banana, applesauce, honey, egg, almond milk and vanilla until well combined and creamy.

3. In separate medium bowl whisk together whole wheat flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until just combined (don't over mix!).

4. Pour into prepared loaf pan, sprinkle oats over top (if desired), and bake for 60-70 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean with a few crumbs attached.

5. Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool completely. Cut into 12 slices and enjoy! Keep bread tightly wrapped to maintain moisture.


Notes:

To make vegan:
Use brown sugar, agave, or pure maple syrup instead of honey. Simply omit egg; the banana bread should still hold together just fine. However you can use a flax egg as well.

To make gluten free:
Use an all-purpose gluten free flour instead of whole wheat; make sure you also use gluten free oats and that all other ingredients are gluten/alcohol free (such as vanilla).

ONE BOWL GLUTEN-FREE BANANA BREAD
(Adapted from Minimalist Baker)

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 medium ripe bananas (~1.5 cups)
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 egg (or sub 1 chia or flax egg - see notes)
• 3 Tbsp grape seed or coconut oil, melted
• 1/4 cup organic cane sugar
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2-3 Tbsp honey, depending on ripeness of bananas
• 3.5 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3/4 cup almond or dairy milk
• 1 1/4 cup almond meal
• 1 1/4 cup gluten free flour blend (my go-to blend)
• 1 1/4 cup gluten free oats


DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a loaf pan with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray.

2. Mash banana in a large bowl. Add all ingredients through almond milk and whisk vigorously to combine. Last add almond meal, gluten free flour blend and oats and stir.

3. Bake for 1 hour – 1 hour 15 minutes. When ready, it should feel firm and be crackly and golden brown on top.

4. Let cool completely before cutting or it will be too tender to hold form.

5. Serve with butter and honey or as is. Store leftovers in a covered container for up to a few days. Slice into 10 slices and freeze for longer term storage.

VEGAN BANANA BREAD
(Adapted from Vegan Recipes of India)

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 medium sized ripe or over ripe bananas
• 1.5 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 or 2/3 cup coconut oil or sunflower oil (adding about ⅔ cup would result in a more softer texture)
• 1/2 cup organic brown sugar or cane sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla powder or 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp sunflower seeds (optional)
• 1.5 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• a pinch of salt (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease a bread pan or a rectangular cake pan with some coconut oil or cooking spray.
3. Mash the bananas well or puree them with a hand blender.
4. Add the oil, sugar & vanilla to the banana and blend well.
5. Sieve the flour with the baking soda and baking powder and fold together. This folding step is important as you want the bread mixture mixed evenly.
6. Lastly add the sunflower seeds, if using, and fold them in.
7. Pour the bread mixture into the greased bread pan. Bake at 350 degree F for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the bread comes out clean.
8. Let the bread cool completely before removing from the pan. cool remove the bread from the pan.
9. Slice and Serve!

ENJOY! 

XO -B