Tag Archives: banana bread

Whole Wheat Banana Bread with Coconut Cinnamon Streusel

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Every morning, I follow the same routine. I get up around 6, and after I go for a run and shower, I sit down with my coffee and read the 6 or 7 blogs that I follow.  It’s such a relaxing start to my work day. My favorite blogs consist mostly of “healthy living blogs” which typically revolve around healthy recipes, race recaps and stories from the lives of other 20-something girls. But there are a few blogs that I read that have no mentions of exercise, vegetables or health food of any kind. Food Blogs. And in my opinion, one of the best ones out there is How Sweet It Is. This blog features recipe after recipe of indulgent and mouthwatering dishes. But I should warn you, perusing this blog will most definitely make you hungry. Well the other day, Jessica of How Sweet It Is posted a classic Liz Lemon “I want to go to there” recipe that I knew I would have to make in the coming week. This moist, flavorful banana bread is topped with the most delicious coconut cinnamon streusel I have ever tasted. The bread itself actually uses coconut oil, rather than your typical butter, as a source of fat. If you’ve never used coconut oil before, I highly recommend it. It is solid at room temperature, but a few seconds in the microwave results in a syrupy, lightly flavored oil that is delicious on toast. I’ve also heard it can be used as a lip balm or a hair mask. Personally, I prefer it in my recipes. Especially this recipe. It is a perfect sweet treat and will make your whole house smell absolutely heavenly. Enjoy!

Ingredients: Recipe from How Sweet It Is

  • 1 2/3 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup loosely packed brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup canned coconut milk
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted and slightly cooled
  • 4 bananas, mashed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon coconut extract

Streusel

  • 2/3 cups brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
  • 2 teaspoons unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 9×5 loaf pan thoroughly with nonstick spray.

2. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt, whisking thoroughly. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and brown sugar until smooth.

4. Add in coconut milk and coconut oil, whisking until combined.

5. Stir in mashed bananas, vanilla and coconut extracts until mixed.

6. Slowly stir in dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Pour batter in the greased loaf pan.

7. Combine all the streusel ingredients in a bowl and mix with your hands until butter is well combined.  Evenly sprinkle on top of the banana bread batter.

8. Bake for 75-85 minutes, or until center is set. If the streusel begins to brown, tent the bread with aluminum foil.

9.Remove and let cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting.

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Classic Banana Bread with Brown Sugar Crust

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This weekend was filled with butter, sugar and buttercream frosting. Because this was the weekend that my mom and I made dozens and dozens of Christmas cookies to share with our family and friends. Every December we spend an entire Saturday dusting the kitchen with flour and sugar while  watching White Christmas. And though I have quite a few new Christmas cookie recipes to share, I thought I would share one last healthy recipe before the December sugar coma ensues. This recipe for Classic Banana Bread comes from Cooking Light. It is low in calories and fat and is a perfect use for those few browned bananas you have lying around. I did jazz the original recipe up a bit by adding a brown sugar topping. The topping forms a sweet crust to the soft bread and adds an extra little punch of sweetness. This bread is great with a smear of peanut butter but is perfectly sweet just on its own.
Now let the holidays begin!
Ingredients: Makes 1 loaf, adapted slightly from Cooking Light
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • cinnamon
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)
  • 1/3 cup plain greek yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the topping:

  • 2 tablespoons cold butter
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar

Preparation:

  1. In a medium bowl, sift dry ingredients until just combined (flour through cinnamon)
  2. In a large bowl, beat sugar & butter together until creamy
  3. Beat in eggs, one at a time
  4. Add bananas, yogurt & vanilla to butter mixture and beat until well blended
  5. Add flour mixture slowly and mix until just combined
  6. Pour banana bread batter into a greased loaf pan
  7. For the topping, mix butter, flour & sugar together until crumbled and sprinkle over banana bread batter
  8. Bake at 350 for 1 hour

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