Ingredients:
- Ripe Bananas: 3 large, very ripe bananas (mashed, about 1 1/2 cups)
- Eggs: 2 large eggs
- Melted Oil: 1/4 cup coconut oil or olive oil (or a neutral-flavored vegetable oil)
- Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon
- Natural Sweetener: 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey (adjust sweetness to your preference)
- Whole Wheat Flour: 1 3/4 cups
- Baking Soda: 1 teaspoon
- Baking Powder: 1/2 teaspoon
- Ground Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon
- Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
- Optional Mix-Ins: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
- Mash the bananas: In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until mostly smooth.
- Whisk wet ingredients: Add the eggs, melted oil, vanilla extract, and sweetener to the mashed bananas. Whisk until well combined.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
- Combine wet and dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until everything is combined. Don’t overmix.
- Add mix-ins (optional): If desired, gently stir in the chopped nuts or chocolate chips.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and slice: Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy!
Important Tips:
- Ripe bananas are key: Super ripe bananas are the best for this recipe, as they are naturally sweeter and give the best flavor.
- Don’t overmix: Overmixing leads to a tough and dense banana bread. Gently mix until the ingredients are just combined.
- Test for doneness: Use a toothpick or cake tester to check the center of the loaf for doneness.
- Customize: Feel free to add your favorite mix-ins or spices like nutmeg and ginger.
