Banana Bread

 

This is my favorite banana bread - delicious, nutty and just sweet enough! Very easy to make, this treat will fill your house with the most inviting aromas! Serve it on its own, with coffee or a scoop of ice cream.

Wet ingredients

- 4 ultra ripe bananas

- 1 1/2 cups dates, pitted and soaked for about 30 minutes

- 4 Tablespoons coconut oil, melted

- 2 Tablespoons flaxseeds + 6 Tablespoons water

- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

- 1 cup oats

- 1 cup almonds (ground finely using a food processor) or almond flour

- 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped (by hand or using a food processor)

- 1/2 cup chocolate chips

- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon

- 1 teaspoon nutmeg

- 1 teaspoon cardamom

- 1 Tablespoon baking powder

- 1 teaspoon baking soda

- a pinch of sea salt

To decorate

- walnuts

- chocolate chips

• In a small bowl, combine the flaxseed with the water and allow to sit for a few minutes until the flaxseed has absorbed the water.
• Place the soaked dates and a few tablespoons of their soaking water into a food processor and pulse until you obtain a paste-like consistency, adding a little bit of their soaking water at a time, as needed.
• In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork then add in the date paste, melted coconut oil (I melt it on the stove, in a small stainless saucepan, on low heat), the soaked flaxseed and the vanilla extract. Mix to combine.
• In a medium bowl, combine the oats with the ground almonds, coarsely chopped walnuts, chocolate chips, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, baking powder, baking soda and sea salt.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones and mix to combine.
• Line a 9 inch loaf pan with parchment paper and pour in the batter (it will be quite thick). 
• Decorate with the walnuts and chocolate chips.
• Bake at 350F for about 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean (keeping in mind that the toothpick might encounter melted chocolate chips) and the edges look done.
• Remove from the oven and allow to stand at least 15 minutes before slicing so the banana bread will not crumble. Enjoy!