Wholesome AF Blueberry Banana Bread

Alright, here's a recipe I've really been vibin' with lately. I love having this on hand as a seriously wholesome snack when I need it or a satisfying dessert.

Perhaps you have been one of the lucky many who have gotten a slice gifted upon you... Now you can make it and share it. Woohoo!

So what makes this Banana Bread so wholesome?

The fact that it is made with real, minimally processed ingredients like oat & almond flours and fresh, seasonal berries. It is balanced in it's macronutrients (containing healthy fats, proteins, and carbs) without any added sugar or sugar stand-ins.

Now, I'm not against sugar. There's a time and a place to enjoy sugar. Like a delicious chocolate cake, fresh blueberry tart, or a decadent ice cream sundae. You know what I'm sayin?

Sugar has a place. That place is just not often in my afternoon snack when I want my energy to remain steady. Thankfully, Nature provides us with so much sweetness through fruits (and even dairy & some veggies) that can provide more balance any time of day.

Oh, and the final ingredient that makes this banana bread so wholesome? The love & intention that is put into it. Watching the bananas ripen for days on the counter with patient anticipation... Buying local ingredients when I can... Grinding the oat flour from whole oats... Mixing everything together with the pleasure of knowing the outcome will nourish me and all who I share it with...

Ok, without further ado, let's get into it.

Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients:

1 cup oat flour (option to grind fresh from whole oats)

1.5 cup almond flour

4 tbsp hemp protein or other protein powder of choice

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

Wet Ingredients:

3 small, super ripe bananas (larger black spots rather than just speckles)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup melted coconut oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

Optional add-ins and toppings:

1 cup blueberries to mix into batter

8 Banana slices for topping

1 tbsp(ish) hemp seeds for topping

Walnuts or other nuts for topping

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 350F, and grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan with coconut oil or other oil.

2. In a medium bowl, mix your Dry Ingredients with a whisk or fork until well combined. Set aside about 1-2 tbsp of Dry Ingredients for Step 5.

3. In a separate large bowl, add your peeled, super ripe bananas. Smash and stir with a fork until juicy and few lumps remain. Add eggs, coconut oil, and vanilla extract and combine.

4. Slowly add your Dry Ingredients to your Wet until well-combined.

5. Mix your Blueberries with the 1-2 tbsp of Dry Ingredients that you set aside (this step prevents the blueberries from sinking to the bottom of your loaf), then stir into your banana bread batter.

6. Pour your batter into loaf pan and top with nuts, seeds, and banana slices to your liking. She lookin cute at this point.

7. Bake for about 50-60 minutes on center rack. Check your bread occasionally, as oven times will vary. The banana bread will turn a dark golden brown because of the flours and hemp protein used in this recipe.

8. Remove from oven and let cool about 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack for complete coolin' 😎

9. Slice and enjoy.

Tips for max enjoyment:

• This banana bread is balanced and delicious on it's own but can also be enjoyed with a dollop of nutbutter (@jensnutsfresh) or a slather of high-quality salted butter (this second option gives off buttered blueberry muffin vibes—highly recommend).

• This bread is naturally lightly sweet, but if you are feeling a little extra sweet treat for yourself you might add a drizzle of honey, maple syrup, or jam.

• Best enjoyed at room temp. Store in an airtight container on the counter for the first couple of days, then in the fridge for up to a week.

Let me know how it goes and how you best enjoy this anytime-of-day snack!

xo