Coconut Flour or Whole Wheat Flour Banana Bread: 2 Clean Eating options!

I love working with Coconut Flour.  It's got a great flavor, it's naturally Gluten Free, Low Carb and filled with fiber.  It takes less coconut flour than regular flour in most recipes.  Coconut flour really absorbs up the liquid and muffins, cakes, etc will have a big of a spongier feel when using coconut flour.  It does not go cup for cup with other flour.  It takes a bit of experimenting to get some recipes just right when subbing with coconut flour. But, try out this recipe and it should come out just right!!

There is no added sugar, no grains, super easy and tastes great!!

My kids love it too! They think its extra special with a little honey drizzled on top, so I do that for them, but it still tastes great without it. 

Coconut Flour Banana Bread

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients:

*4 very ripe bananas, mashed

 (the browner the better because it will make your bread sweeter.  If your bananas aren't quite that ripe then you may add about 1/3 cup honey or pure maple syrup to the batter, or just wait until they are ripe enough :)

*1/3 cup coconut oil or grass-fed butter (Kerrygold butter from Costco is great), melted

*4 free range eggs

*1 tsp vanilla extract

*1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

*1/2 cup organic coconut flour (it will not work to sub another flour)

*1 heaping tsp baking soda

*1/4 tsp salt

**Optional add-ins: dark chocolate chips, walnuts, pecans, slivered almonds, raisins, etc. I added "Enjoy" chips.  They are gluten, soy, nut and dairy free.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350.  Mix everything in a medium bowl/mixer until well combined.  Grease your bread pan (I use coconut oil or butter and make sure its coated well). Put in over for 45 minutes or until center comes out clean on a toothpick. Let cool in breadpan for about 10 minutes and then turn out onto a wire rack. 

*this Coconut Flour is a good option: it is more expensive than regular flour, but you don't use as much at a time either, so it should last a while. You can also find Coconut Flour at most health food stores or your local grocery store.  Probably more expensive at your local grocer though. 

*I use this coconut oil from Tropical Traditions OR Nutiva brand coconut oil.

*****

If you rather not use coconut flour but still want a healthier option than the sugar filled regular banana bread recipe then this one is great and still considered "Clean Eating." ;)

Clean Eating Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup sugar free applesauce
• 3/4 cup honey
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 mashed overripe bananas
• 
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together applesauce and honey. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.