Oh girl….Can you ever leave good enough Banana Bread alone?
I’m sure I can’t be alone in this habit of mine. I see a recipe that sparks my imagination… I am served an entrée at a restaurant that gets my creative juicing going… someone tells me about a fabulous dish they ate that triggers a new idea….and I’m headed straight to the kitchen! I can never tell when something is going to grab my attention. Like just last week, Chef Mom wrote about her amazing Banana Bread recipe from her friend Doree.
Okay, banana bread. I would have read that post on any other day and thought it sounded good, I’ll try it someday. However, on that particular day, it triggered a reaction. What I loved about the recipe was its very basic, simple ingredients. I like having recipes with a good foundation that I can seasonally add in ingredients or make adjustments like swapping out sugar for agave. Chef Mom had rave reviews on this bread so that helped too.
The versatility of this bread is awesome from beginning to end. I could serve this banana bread warm from the oven or top a toasted slice with whipped cream cheese and fresh mango for a special breakfast treat and later that evening, serve a grilled slice with rum sautéed pineapple, a scoop of coconut gelato and a sprinkling of nuts. A drizzle of chocolate was later added to this outrageous dessert treat!
Banana Bread in all its glory
Adapted from Chef Mom – see her original recipe here
1 ¾ cup whole wheat white flour
¼ cup agave
½ cup raw sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
2 eggs
4-5 mashed bananas
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
¼ cup Greek plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine the dry ingredients; flour, raw sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. Using a large mixing bowl, combine the wet ingredients; eggs, Agave, bananas, applesauce, yogurt and vanilla extract beating until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool on rack.
For the variations above:
Breakfast Treat: Toast a slice of banana bread under the broiler, flipping once for both sides. Smear on whipped cream cheese and top with fresh fruit.
Dessert Idea: In a skillet, sauté pineapple with maple syrup or honey and a splash of rum until warm and slightly carmelized. Lightly toast or grill a slice of banana bread. Top the bread with the warmed rum-sauce pineapple, add a scoop of gelato and a sprinkling of toasted nuts. A drizzle of chocolate as I later did sends it over the top!
spicegirlfla
I love being in the kitchen. Early mornings, soft music, a hot espresso. Easing into the preparation of delicious meals. Glancing through cookbooks, gathering inspiration and planning my day. I look forward to the cycles of the seasons, the pleasures of tasting and savoring and sharing this with those dear to me. Weekends are special to me as my week days are often rushed, but still I create the ambiance, light the candles, set the table and uncork the wine.
31 Comments
Rivki Locker (Ordinary Blogger)
I love the ways you put this bread to good use. And I really love that the bread has no added fats! Wow.
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide
Pineapple with maple syrup and rum sounds amazing. Those mangoes look great too. I love how you took something that’s already wonderful and improved upon it. Uh oh, no offense intended ChefMom, I swear.
ChefMom
Sure. Sure. I’m going to sit home and cry now. LOL. 😉
spicegirlfla
oh no… you should feel flattered!!
thefooddoctor
oh I would take that mango topped one for breakfast every day and I will never get bored..you did an awsome job and I totally understand what you are talking about..somedays you taste something or someone mentions it and you MUST try recreating it
Voyagess
Sounds as fantastic, but more bombastic than berries with yoghurt 🙂
Caroline
I love when bloggers use/adapt fellow bloggers’ recipes. This was a great choice, as I was drooling over Kristy’s recipe. Love the addition of pineapple and mango to the bread. Looks like this was well worth recreating!!
Lisa (Smart Food and Fit)
I could add mango to just about anything. Great dessert suggestion with the the maple and rum syrup and topping it off with some gelato! I’m actually making my first batch of gelato while I’m waiting for it to freeze!
Maris(In Good Taste)
This looks wonderful! Love your creativity!
tiffany
I’m SO down with the smearing of the whipped cream cheese! 😀
ChefMom
I think you’ve given me another banana bread to add to our quest. This looks outstanding – and is a healthier option with the applesauce and yogurt. 🙂 I’m glad you were inspired by Doree’s recipe. I never thought to serve it with fruit over the top…yum! Beautifully done! I knew you would do something fantastic with this!
spicegirlfla
Well, it started with you and your friend Doree! The appreciation goes to you for sharing this recipe!
ChefMom
I just love what you’ve done with it and can’t wait to try it! My little one would flip with the mangos. 🙂
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic
I love banana bread and I LOVE the dessert idea!!
Anna and Liz Recipes
HI Linda! I just came across your blog and LOVE This banana bread recipes!
I love anything bananas and it sound delicious!! Thanks for sharing! Love your stories too!
Anna 🙂
Maureen
Cream cheese and mango on banana bread? I’m banging my head on my keyboard just thinking about it. The flavor combination swimming around in my head is fantastic. What a gorgeous photo!
chicaandaluza
Can I come round for breakfast and stay until dessert please?!
spicegirlfla
most definitely!!
Charles
Oh oh, I love the sound of the breakfast idea – fruity and cool and so delicious. Makes me wish my oven hadn’t just broken down – no banana bread for me until I get it fixed!
forgottenbeast
Rum-sauteed pineapple?? I’m in!
Geni - Sweet and Crumby
You had me at rum sauteed pineapple. Oh heavens. This looks fantastic. I swear Linda, we have to meet and cook together someday.
spicegirlfla
You had me going with your rum syrup on those pancakes you made!! I so agree, it would be fun to meet up sometime!!
Andrea
Oh, goodie, another member in the I can’t help but gild the lily club! Welcome!
Kate (What Kate is Cooking)
I love this healthy recipe! My mom’s banana bread recipe is really good but it calls for a cup of shortening for one loaf- not exactly the healthiest 🙂
Erwan Heussaff
this is what i’ll be making this weekend!
Kay aka Babygirl
I’m not a huge fan of bread but when I see ice cream on top of the bread, I become intrigued LOL. Love this recipe though.
yummychunklet
I think your combos look great! Banana bread is just sweet enough that different flavors and foods can be added to jazz it up.
Kelly
Oh my, this looks positively scrumptious… Personally, I can’t get enough banana bread variations so I’m quite happy that you can’t leave it alone 🙂
kitchenbelleicious
I would have never thought to combine those flavors but they look and sound out of this world delicious. I so want some of that right now! Boy it looks great
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