Easy & Moist Banana Bread

This banana bread is so delicious! If you are a fan of banana bread, this is the recipe for you. The trick is to use plenty of bananas, and make sure they are ripe. The darker they are, the better tasting banana bread you will get! This bread makes great Christmas presents, and is so tasty on any Saturday morning. 

Besides making two loaves of banana bread, I have also made them in cupcake or muffin pans to make banana bread muffins! They are just as tasty, and takes half the time to bake. So check it out, and let me know what you think!

INGREDIENTS

Bread Ingredients

* 1 Cup Coconut Sugar 

* 2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour

* 1/4 Cup Almond Flour

* 1 Tablespoon Milled or Whole Flax Seeds (recommended)

* 1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds (optional)

* 3/4 Cup Melted Coconut Oil (Walnut Oil is also delicious!)

* 3 Large Eggs

* 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

* 1 1/3 Teaspoon Baking Soda

* 1/4 Cup Milk (I use Almond Milk)

* 1 Cup Your Favorite Chopped Nut (Pecans or walnuts are a great choice!) 

* Couple Hand Fulls of Dark Chocolate Chips (Optional)

* 4-5 Ripe Bananas

Tip: Remember to make it your own by experimenting. For example, if you don't have almond flour, use whole wheat flour for all of the recipe. The coconut sugar can be replaced with light or dark brown sugar, or an organic sugar. The almond milk can be replaced with regular milk, buttermilk, I've even used half & half when I've been out of milk. Feel free to experiment by adding things such as dried cranberries or dark chocolate chips. It's amazing what you can come up with when you start making it your own!  

Topping Ingredients (Optional)

* 1 Teaspoon Coconut Oil

* 1/3 Cup Coconut Sugar

* 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

* 1/2 Teaspoon Honey

* 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla

* 1 Teaspoon Almond Milk

* 1 Tablespoon Walnuts or Pecans (optional)

* 1 Teaspoon Whole Flax Seeds (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease or spray 2 loaf pans or 24 muffin pans with coconut cooking spray (or what you have available).

3. In a small bowl, stir the baking soda and milk and set aside.

4. In a large bowl, mash the bananas and then add in all of the ingredients (including the milk & baking soda).

5. Mix with a spoon, until well incorporated.

6. Stir in the chopped nuts and/or a hand full of dark chocolate chips.

7. Pour the mix into the loaf pans or muffin pans, and place in the oven.

9. While the bread begins baking, begin making the optional topping.

10. Using a small sauce pan, heat stove in a low to medium temperature.

11. Melt the coconut oil (or butter).

12. Once the coconut oil has warmed up a bit, add in the sugar and stir until completely melted and smooth.

13. Once the sugar is smooth, add in the remaining ingredients and let simmer (slightly bubble up). 

Tip: The purpose of the milk is to liquefy the mix. If you want a more liquid consistency, gradually add milk until reached desired consistency.

14. Immediately pour the topping mix unto the banana bread or muffins.

Tip: If you want a fun topping, spread some dark chocolate chips on top instead!

15. Bake the loaves for 45-50 minutes, until a toothpick (or knife) comes out clean. If making muffins, bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. 

Tip: Make sure to remove the banana bread slightly before a completely clean toothpick, you will have a much more moist and delicious bread by not over baking it. 

16. Let cool and enjoy!

Don't forget, that baking with the best ingredients is part of your lifestyle change. The better ingredients you use, the better you will feel. Balance is key, so just because you're eating with better ingredients, does not mean that you can eat as much of it as you'd like. Having portion control plays a big role in living a good and healthy consistent lifestyle.

These are Lisa's Fit 4 Life tips! Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram under "Fit 4 Life," "Lisa Clepper," or "LISASFFL."

"Changing the way we eat, one cookie at a time!"