banana

Gluten-Free (Flourless) Banana Oatmeal Bread

/ Jodi / 51 Comments

Gluten-Free (Flourless) Banana Oatmeal Bread.

When you have a bunch of bananas that ripen before you eat them – and you know nobody will eat them – they are perfect for baking.

I have a really yummy banana bread recipe, but it is not the “healthiest.”  I decided I wanted to make something with less (or no) sugar, and maybe no flour either.

I was excited when I found this super-easy and oh so yummy recipe at The Baker Mama.

It’s been very hot here, so I baked this early on a Sunday morning.  I made one loaf for my youngest son and his wife (my son loves banana bread and my daughter-in-law likes to eat healthy and gluten-free if possible) and one loaf for hubby and me.

My son mentioned that if I added some protein powder to the recipe, it would be the perfect breakfast.  I will have to try that next time.

But how simple is this recipe with five healthy, wholesome ingredients?!

Hope you will give it a try.

Gluten Free Banana Oatmeal Bread

Ingredients:

3 ripe bananas
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2  eggs
¼ cup pure maple syrup
1 tsp baking soda

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth and well combined. Pour into prepared loaf pan.
Garnish the top of the batter with thinly sliced bananas or pecans or walnuts, if desired).

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Do not overbake or bread will be dry tasting.

Let loaf cool completely in pan. Store in a Ziploc bag in the refrigerator,

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Dairy-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana “Nice” Cream

/ Jodi / 50 Comments

Dairy-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana “Nice” Cream.

Can you even stand how decadent and amazing this ice cream looks??!!

Well – it is actually “nice” cream!  A dairy-free, healthy version of ice cream made from fresh, natural ingredients.

When my daughter-in-law, Liz, who is a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) as well as a Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN), recently posted this recipe on the blog of  her website about functional nutrition, Nourish & Flourish, I knew I had to try this!

Liz’s knowledge about holistic nutritional health is extraordinary, and she “preaches” and practices maintaining a “normal” lifestyle with most everything in moderation.  I really am very proud of her, and this recipe is nothing short of AMAZING!  You will not miss the dairy, added sugar, or all the preservatives you are used to consuming in your usual ice cream.

Please click on THIS LINK for the recipe for this delicious “Nice” Cream on Liz’s website and blog.  I hope you will subscribe to her blog post as there is always something interesting to learn or to try making for a healthy alternative.  Liz also has a Facebook page and Instagram page, which I encourage you to follow as well.  And if you live nearby Pittsburgh, PA, Liz is available for individualized nutrition consulting.  You can get a free 15-minute consult by signing up here.

But first – make this Nice Cream and let me know what you think!!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Peanut Butter Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips

/ Jodi / 48 Comments

peanut-butter-banana-bread-with-chocolate-chips

Peanut Butter Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips.

I had a few bananas hanging out that were getting very ripe, so I decided to make a loaf of banana bread yesterday morning.

Instead of making my usual, I wanted to try something different.  Knowing how yummy peanut butter toast is with sliced bananas (right??!!), I thought peanut butter would be a wonderful addition to banana bread.  And while I was at it, why not throw in a few chocolate chips?!

peanut-butter-banana-bread-with-chocolate-chips-2

Thinking I was a genius for coming up with this idea, I searched online just in case.  Well of course others had tried this combo!  (Where have I been?!) I found a few different versions, so I took what I liked from them and adapted to come up with this one below.  It was delish!  The peanut butter is subtle, but adds a wonderful new twist.  This bread is SUPER moist and really wonderful warm out of the oven.

Hope you’ll give this twist on banana bread a try!

Peanut Butter Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips

Ingredientspeanut-butter-banana-bread-with-chocolate-chips

  • 4 medium ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk (I make by mixing milk and a dash of vinegar)
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease or spray a large bread loaf pan (of course I use a stoneware bread pan), then line with parchment paper allowing it to hang over the edges for easier removal.

In a large bowl, combine first 8 ingredients.  Mix well.  Add baking soda, salt, and flour.  Mix until combined.  Gently fold in chocolate chips reserving a handful to sprinkle on top. of batter.

Pour batter into prepared pan.  Bake approximately one hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.   If the bread starts getting too brown, place a tent of foil over top at around 45 minutes.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then lift out by grabbing parchment paper.  Cool on wire rack.  

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Pumpkin Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

/ Jodi / 33 Comments

pumpkin-banana-chocolate-chip-bread-1

What do you do when you have over-ripe bananas and a half of a can of leftover pumpkin puree (from making Chewy Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Cookies – which Hubby has officially declared his current all-time favorite cookie!)?

pumpkin-banana-chocolate-chip-bread-2

Well – you make wonderfully sweet and delightful Pumpkin Banana Chocolate Chip Bread of course!

Have you ever thought of combining pumpkin and bananas in a yummy sweet bread?

Wowza!  Pure blissful deliciousness!

pumpkin-banana-chocolate-chip-bread-3

If you are looking for a lovely Autumn sweet bread to enjoy with your morning coffee, afternoon tea, or to curb your after-dinner sweet tooth, look no further.  And how fun is it to make four mini loaves instead of one big loaf so you can keep one (or two) and share the others as sweet surprises for friends or loved ones!  To me, that is more than half the joy in baking…. creating something I can share to make someone smile and brighten their day and tantalize their tummy.

Make this bread to share as a Thanksgiving hostess gift or guest’s sweet surprise.  Or just make it to enjoy!  I’m betting you will!  Warm from the oven, a slice with some melting salty butter is just about heavenly!

Pumpkin Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

  • Servings: 4 mini loaves
  • Print

Ingredients:pumpkin-banana-chocolate-chip-bread-1

  • 3/4 cup softened butter
  • 1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/4 cups pumpkin puree
  • 3 mashed ripe bananas
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream butter and brown sugar with electric mixer on high approximately 2 minutes.  Add eggs and continue mixing until light and fluffy – 1-2 more minutes.  Add pumpkin and mashed bananas.  Mix well.

Add dry ingredients:  baking soda and powder, cinnamon, salt, and flour, and beat just until blended.   Remove from mixer.

Stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips with wooden spoon or spatula.

Pour into 4 greased mini loaf pans.  Sprinkle tops with remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips.

Bake for 40 mins or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Cool 10 minutes in pans and then remove loaves to cooling rack to completely cool.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Homemade & Healthy Blackberry Banana Oat Bars

/ Jodi / 56 Comments

Blackberry Banana Oat Bars

Are you looking for a really yummy treat to give to your sweet for Valentine’s Day that is not only super delish, but also healthy?

These amazing blackberry banana oat bars have NO sugar and NO flour!  How about that?

blackberry banana oat bar

They are packed full of wholesome, nutrient rich fruits and superfood ingredients, while tricking your brain and tummy into thinking you are eating something decadent.

Give them a try!  Heart healthy, hearty, and from the heart for your sweetheart!

Blackberry Banana Oat Bars

  • Servings: 12 squares
  • Print

(adapted from recipe found here)Blackberry Banana Oat Bars

Ingredients:

Blackberry Chia Jam Filling:

2 cups fresh (or frozen) blackberries
2 1/2 Tbsp. honey (local if possible)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp chia seeds
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp freshly ground nutmeg

Banana Oat Crust:

2 ripe bananas
2 cups oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:
To make the jam fruit filling, add blackberries and honey to a saucepan and boil over medium heat for about 10 minutes until fruit is mostly broken down and has released a lot of juice.  Add the other ingredients and boil for another 5 minutes until it thickens.   Allow to cool.

Next, make the crust. Blend up 1 cup of the oats into a fine powder (I used the Ninja).   Stir all ingredients together.

Spray an 8×8 baking stone or dish with Pam and then line with parchment paper.  Spread 2/3 of the oat crust mixture on the bottom of the pan. Spread jam fruit filling mixture evenly over crust. Use the rest of the oats to sprinkle over the top.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes until the oats are golden brown.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Biscoff Crunch Banana Bread

/ Jodi / 52 Comments

Biscoff banana bread 1

I thought I had discovered the best ever banana bread recipe (which is ULTRA amazing!) – but then…. I discovered…

are you ready??…..

BISCOFF BANANA BREAD!

biscoff banana bread 2

Oh Goodness Gracious – the YUMMMMiness of Biscoff Spread, crunchy Biscoff cookies, and sweet, moist banana bread.  It is pretty much the ultimate deliciousness – especially for this time of year when we just crave comforting foods!

biscoff banana bread 3

My guys loved it!

In fact, when I gave Nick his “sample,” I asked if it was a thumbs up.

His reply:

“2”

Score!

No oil in this bread either.  It is made with Greek yogurt.

The original recipe, which I have shared below from Table for Two, calls for plain Greek yogurt.

I used vanilla.

Yum!

And I added about one more tablespoon of butter, which I added in dabbles on top of the crushed up Biscoff cookies on top, just to make them a bit crisper and crunchier.   (I can never just leave well enough alone!)

Biscoff Banana Bread


From: Table for Two

3 ripened bananas, peeled and mashedBiscoff banana bread 1
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup Biscoff spread
3 tbsp. butter, melted
2 eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
18 Biscoff cookies, crushed

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan and set aside.

2. Combine the first five ingredients and mix until well blended.

3. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.

5. Gently fold in 3/4 of the crushed Biscoff cookies with a spatula.

6. Pour the batter into loaf pan and top with the remaining 1/4 crushed Biscoff cookies.

7. Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

8. Let cool completely before removing from pan and slicing.

ENJOY!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

 

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Top Cookies

/ Jodi / 10 Comments

There are certain foods that just love each other…
peanut butter & jelly… bacon & eggs…. macaroni & cheese…
and bananas & chocolate!

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Top Cookies

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Top Cookies – photo by Nick

So when I saw a recipe for Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies on Rantings of an Amateur Chef’s Maggie Monday yesterday, I knew I had to try them.

And I had some perfectly over-ripe bananas on the counter just waiting to be used.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Top Cookies

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Top Cookies – photo by Nick

I hesitated a bit messing with chocolate chip cookies, but when I read that these were more like muffin tops in their taste and texture, I was sold.

Be warned, these are not your normal chocolate chip cookie, and they taste nothing like my “almost famous” chocolate chips cookies, but they are a surprisingly delightful treat.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Top Cookies

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Top Cookies

Even Nick, who was skeptical with me messin’ with chocolate chip cookies, gave them a big thumbs up (and shared some of his photography talent by taking some of the photos I’m sharing today).

If you are looking for something different, and you love banana bread, muffins, and chocolate chips cookies, these are a must try.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Top Cookies

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Top Cookie & Milk – Photo by Nick

Here is the recipe as posted yesterday on Rantings of an Amateur Chef:

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

2/3 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 ripe bananas, mashed
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp baking soda
2 cup chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs, vanilla and bananas. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then gradually add this to the creamed mixture and blend well. Stir in the chocolate chips. Chill dough for at least one hour. Drop by tablespoonfuls about 2” apart on baking sheets covered with parchment paper. Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi