The Best Banana Bread In Town

By Lilveggiepatch @Lilveggiepatch

These days have been hot and sticky! Time to open all the windows, turn up the fan and think about maybe, maybe getting an air conditioner.
tiny clover bouquet I found in the park

Charley has certainly enjoyed the warm weather, too.

It means longer walks and fun in the sun!

One thing the increased temperature means, though, is that produce turns from ripe to rancid in just a few hours. But there’s good news! This kind of weather is perfect for over-ripening bananas. And black bananas mean perfect banana bread. It’s just cool enough that turning on the oven to bake won’t send us into a hot and sticky stupor, but I can’t guarantee you won’t swoon when you taste this. And did I mention it’s oil-free?

For this bread, I used maple sugar. Dark syrups like maple, molasses and agave are more than twice as sweet as regular cane sugar, so you can use less. If you do decide to use white sugar, though, you’ll probably want to double the amount the recipe calls for.

OATMEAL BANANA BREAD WITH CHOCOLATE CHIPS AND PUMPKIN SEEDS

Makes 1 9 x 5- inch loaf

Ingredients

  • 3-1/2 very ripe large bananas
  • 1/4 c. + 2 T maple sugar (if substituting white sugar, double this amount)
  • 1 t vanilla extract
  • 1 c. rolled oats, plus more for garnish
  • 1 c. whole wheat pastry flour
  • 3/4 t baking soda
  • 1 t ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 t ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 t ground ginger
  • 1/2 t salt
  • 1/2 c. chocolate chips
  • 1/2 c. pumpkin seeds

Preheat oven to 375 and lightly grease a 9 x 5- inch pan.

In a large mixing bowl, mash bananas very well with a fork. Stir in maple sugar, vanilla and oats.

Sift in flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt and mix with your fork until just combined.

Fold in chocolate chips and pumpkin seeds. Pour into your pre-greased loaf pan and sprinkle with additional oats and pumpkin seeds.

Bake 45-55 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean of batter (the chocolate chips will melt and might stick to your toothpick).

Allow to cool before serving.

Cut a few slices and head to a park or nearby coffee shop to enjoy a quiet moment by yourself.

Do you switch to iced drinks (tea, coffee) in the summer?


Something to read: What America Spends on Groceries