RECIPE: Banana Bread [optional Chocolate Chips]

Ingredients

2 cups whole-wheat flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon flax

1 cup mashed banana [approx. 2 bananas]

1/2 cup 100% pure maple syrup

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/4 cup unsweetened plant-based milk

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup chocolate chips [optional]

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare an 8×4-inch loaf non-stick or silicone baking pan (I lightly coated the pan with coconut oil)

In a large mixing bowl sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

In a separate mixing bowl, combine the mashed banana, maple syrup, applesauce, milk and vanilla.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients, mixing just until everything is easily moistened.

Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Distribute the batter evenly along the length of the pan but don’t spread the batter to the edges; the batter will spread as it bakes.

Bake for 55 to 60 minutes. It’s hard to test for doneness with a knife because the banana tends to stay moist, so judge by the edges of bread. They should be golden brown and pulling away from the sides of the pan.

Let the bread cool completely, about 20 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and carefully invert the loaf onto a cooling rack.