Cinnamon Banana Nut Bread with Oats and Flax

I’m not a big baker, for two main reasons;

1. I typically make things up as I go along when I’m cooking, and that doesn’t transfer well into baking, where you have to be at least someone exact with measurements or else your cake will have the texture of an actual sponge.

2. Baked goods are generally not super healthy, and I have no self control, so if I have something delicious and sugary in the house, I will eat all of it (in about 2 hours).

However, I do have to break out of my anti-baking agenda to share this banana nut oat bread with you, because it doesn’t really fit into the category of typical baking.

I’ve played around with the ingredients several times, added different seeds, dried fruit, a little almond butter- whatever, and it’s still come out great! So, while the base ingredients stay the same, add and change specialty ingredients to your little bellies desire. Next, while I can’t promise this is the healthiest thing you’ll ever eat, it has a lot more nutrition than a normal loaf of sweet bread, thanks to oats, whole wheat flour, and coconut oil! You can up the nutrition and lower the sugar by omitting chocolate chips or subbing them for cacao nibs and adding about 1/4 cup of flax and chia seeds. Additionally, this recipe is easily made vegan by subbing the egg for a vegan egg replacement.

Enjoy!

Cinnamon Banana Nut Bread with Oats and Flax

• 1 cup oats

• 1 cup whole wheat flour

• 1 1/4 cups mashed banana (about 3 bananas)

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tablespoon cinnamon ( plus 1/2 tsp if desired)

• 1/2 tsp nutmeg

• 1/2 cup maple syrup or brown sugar

• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup coconut oil

• 2 eggs

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

• 3 tablespoons flax seed

• 1/3 cup chocolate chips or cacao nibs (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and oil a loaf pan. Place oats in a food processor or blender and mix until you have a semi-fine oat flour. In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In another bowl, mix the maple syrup or brown sugar, vanilla, coconut oil, eggs, and banana. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until combined. Stir in flax seeds, nuts, and any other add-ins desired. Pour batter into loaf pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick or knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.