Banana Bread

A childhood, coffee shop and farmers market favourite, banana bread has deep family and community roots. There are countless recipes for all types of banana breads but a quick and simple recipe should be in everyone’s back pocket! This easy, wholesome and nutty bread can be whipped up in 10 minutes and enjoyed warm out of the oven with a cup of tea, frozen whole to be grabbed as a last minute gift or thickly sliced for banana bread french toast.

Below are two versions of banana bread – the original is an ‘as is’ traditional bread, the other with healthy modifications. The original recipe version was published in a high school fundraising cookbook submitted by my ‘Auntie Diane’ over 30 years ago. Yeah, it  does have sugar and oil – but the slightly modified version has some substitutions that work well to boost the nutrient profile of this delicious bread. Adjust and experiment as your imagination sees fit!

Ingredients 

Original version

• 1/3 cup oil
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 c banana, mashed
• 1 1/3 c flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

Modified version

• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/4 cups banana, mashed
• 2/3 cup white flour
• 2/3 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup quick oatmeal
• 1.4 cup ground flax seed
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces

Directions 

Original version 

• Cream Together the white sugar and oil
• Add and mix the beaten eggs and the mashed banana
• Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt – mix well
• Pour into a loaf dish – preferably glass
• Bake up to 1 hour in a 350 degree oven – but test with an inserted toothpick at 45 minutes

Directions

Modified version

• Cream together oil, apple sauce, and brown sugar
• Add the beaten eggs, mashed banana and mix
• Add white flour, whole wheat flour and mix well
• Add the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and mix well
• Add the cinnamon, oatmeal, flax seed, and walnut pieces and mix well
• Pour into a loaf dish – preferably glass
• Bake up to 1 hour in a 350 degree oven – but test with an inserted toothpick at 45 minutes

Enjoy!