Healthy Banana Bread

INGREDIENTS

• ⅓ cup melted coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil

• ½ cup honey or maple syrup

• 2 eggs

• 3 mashed ripe bananas (or two large)

• ¼ cup milk (can sub water)

• 1 teaspoon baking soda 

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour

• Totally optional: ½ cup mix-ins like chopped walnuts or pecans, chocolate chips, raisins, chopped dried fruit, fresh banana slices…

INSTRUCTIONS

1 Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.

2 In a large bowl, beat the oil and honey together with a whisk. Add the eggs and beat well, then whisk in the mashed bananas and milk. 

3 Add the baking soda, vanilla, salt and cinnamon, and whisk to blend. Lastly, switch to a big spoon and stir in the flour, just until combined. If adding any additional mix-ins, gently fold them in now.

4 Pour the batter into greased loaf pan.

5 Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (typically, if I haven’t added any mix-ins, my bread is done at 55 minutes; if I have added mix-ins, it needs closer to 60 minutes). Let the bread cool in the loaf pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes before slicing.