Ingredients:
- 3-4 very ripe bananas (with plenty of brown spots)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar for a healthier option)
- 1/3 cup neutral-flavored oil (canola, melted coconut, etc.)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional – walnuts or pecans are great)
- 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
- Mash Bananas: In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas thoroughly.
- Wet Ingredients: Add both sugars, oil, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Mix until well combined.
- Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- Combine: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined (don’t overmix).
- Add-Ins: Gently fold in any optional 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: Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips:
- Super Ripe Bananas: The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be!
- Applesauce Substitute: Replace the oil with 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce for a lower-fat version.
- Flavor Variations: Add a splash of lemon juice, a pinch of nutmeg, or try other add-ins like dried fruit.
- Gluten-Free Option: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend.
