Banana bread is a superfood. Not in the instagram yoga-mum sense of the word, but in the way that everyone loves a good banana loaf (unless you dislike bananas) and it makes you feel amazing. I can promise you that I have made friends solely through the production and sharing of this banana bread. Its warmth and soft texture makes it perfect for autumn and winter, but this lighter version makes sure it’s not too stodgy and unhealthy. The wholemeal flour increases the fibre and nutrient content, and the date syrup (or alternative) ensures no refined sugars are used.

It’s not totally good for you as such, and doesn’t taste at all like it is (like all the best desserts), but it’s a huge improvement on the traditional recipe (which uses butter, white flour and sugar) and is so delicious it’s suitable for everyone! When I asked my friends, they said it didn’t taste like a healthy dessert, and didn’t have that weird texture too many sugar-free desserts have.

Macros: 244 calories, 13.7g fat, 26.5g carbs, 4.1g protein.

For a marbled effect, add cocoa powder to half the mixture

This isn’t vegan or gluten free, but can be made both! See *notes at the bottom for ingredient substitutions.

Ingredients (serves 10):

• 25g coconut oil
• 100ml vegetable oil
• 1tsp vanilla essence
• 150g light brown sugar
• 2 eggs (or 1tbsp almond butter)
• 2 large bananas (or three small ones)
• 75ml milk of choice (I use soya)
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 1tsp baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 200g flour of choice (I use 100g wholewheat and 100g self-raising)
• Optional: nuts, dark chocolate

Method:

• Pre-heat the over to 180 degrees Celsius and line a loaf tin with baking parchment
• Heat up the coconut oil if it is solid
• Add the coconut and vegetable oils with the vanilla essence to a bowl and mix until combined
• Beat in the eggs and sugar
• Mash the bananas and add to the mix
• Add the milk, baking soda, cinnamon and salt to the bowl and mix everything together
• Add the flour slowly and fold in to the liquid mixture using a large wooden spoon
• Add any extras you want at this point and fold in
• Pour into the loaf tin, and top with cinnamon, or, if you’re feeling decadent, with brown sugar (this creates a crunchy top)
• Bake in the oven for 1h (insert a toothpick/knife into the centre after one hour – if the cake is done, it should come out clean)
• Leave to cool in the tin until the tin is cool. Remove from the tin and leave to col completely on a wire rack before cutting.

*Notes:

Oils: It is possible to use 125ml coconut oil here. However, my aim to is make this affordable for everyone, and coconut oil is not known for being super cheap 😉 But do feel free to switch up ingredients as you like! Just don’t use olive oil!

Bananas: Try to use ripe to over-ripe bananas. I always have a stash in my freezer that I freeze as soon as they become over-ripe. They are perfect for this recipe (and a million other things, such as my carrot cake smoothie bowl recipe).

Vegan? Use flax eggs or 1tbsp almond butter, and make sure to use dairy-free milk. My favourites are hazelnut milk and coconut milk.

Gluten free? This recipe works fine with all-purpose gluten free flour, although liquid levels may have to be increased. Play around and let me know what works for you!

Let me know what you think in the comments below, or if you made any ingredients substitutions that you think work well! 🙂