banana bread

Grain-Free, Sugar-Free Banana Bread!

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IMG_3873Here it is: the perfected version of my homemade banana bread! I’ve been tweaking this recipe for quite some time, and I think I finally got it down!

This past weekend, Steve and I enjoyed a few days of vacation at a small cottage in Northeastern Wisconsin with my future in-laws. It was so nice to get away for a few days, but it was especially nice to eat some really delicious food! Steve comes from a family of real-food lovers, just like I do, so we always manage to eat well even on vacation, which is always a bonus. 

The banana bread turned out to be the perfect treat to travel with. We enjoyed it both as a quick and easy breakfast, as well as an after dinner treat. And because this bread is grain, gluten and sugar-free, all members of the family could enjoy it! 🙂

Feel free to use either cacao nibs or chocolate chips. Cacao nibs tend not to melt as much as chocolate chips, as they do not contain cocoa butter. Also feel free to use almond, peanut or cashew butter. I’ve made it with all three, and they are all great options! If you’re buying nut butter from the store, make sure to read your labels, as always. Hydrogenated oils are sneakily prevalent in many store-bought nut butters. 10519178_10152314773137362_596137875405782126_n

Ingredients:

  • 4 bananas, very ripe (browned and stinky is perfect)
  • 4 eggs from pastured hens (OR 5 egg replacers — 1 tbsp ground flax+ 3 tbsp warm water)
  • 2/3 cup nut butter
  • 1/8 cup coconut oil (or grass-fed butter), melted
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup (optional, as a sweetener)
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour (or other preferred flour)
  • 1 tsp baking powder (read labels to ensure aluminum-free)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract
  • Pinch sea salt
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips or cacao nibs

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. In a large stand mixer (or in a large bowl using a hand mixer), beat together bananas, eggs, nut butter, oil or butter, and maple syrup (if using). Mix until smooth.
  3. Whisk in flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, extracts, and sea salt. Stir well.
  4. By hand, stir in your nibs/chips. 
  5. Grease a 9 x 5 loaf pan and pour batter into pan.
  6. Bake at 350 for about 45-50 minutes, using the toothpick test to make sure they’re baked through.

Enjoy!