Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Banana Bread: Make Your Gluten-Free Friends Smile
Drop everything and make this healthy chocolate chip peanut butter banana bread right now. Trust us.
Looking for a healthy, homemade treat to bring to your in-laws’ or to share at a get-together with your gluten-free besties? Or maybe you’re just planning on WFH all week, and you need cake for breakfast to get through it? Either way, this chocolate chip banana bread is just the ticket to make you everyone’s most favorite person in the world. You’re welcome.
Bananas, with their naturally sweet taste, are effortlessly transformed into nutritious desserts everyone will enjoy. They’re an obvious choice for homemade vegan ice cream; they’re delicious when sautéed with coconut oil and spooned over oatmeal. They end moisture to granola bars, and they co-star with eggs in two-ingredient protein pancakes that come together like magic.
Nutrient-packed bananas also lend their moist texture and natural sweetness to baked goods. Enter this chocolate chip banana bread: a nutrient-dense breakfast or dessert you’re sure to love.
A Healthy and Nutritious Banana Bread Thanks to Two Key Ingredients
Bananas and coconut flour.
One medium-sized banana contains…
Potassium: 9% of the recommended daily intake (RDI).
Vitamin B6: 33% of the RDI.
Vitamin C: 11% of the RDI.
Magnesium: 8% of the RDI.
Copper: 10% of the RDI.
Manganese: 14% of the RDI.
Fiber: 3.1 grams.
Protein: 1.3 grams.
Fat: 0.4 grams.
Along with digestive friendly fiber and nutrients, bananas are packed with antioxidants that help to reduce oxidative stress in the body. Some of a banana’s antioxidants include dopamine and catechins – two compounds thought to reduce the risk of heart disease1 and degenerative diseases2 when consumed frequently.
This chocolate chip banana bread uses coconut flour to make the recipe both gluten-free and fiber-rich. Coconut flour is made from ground and dried coconut meat, aka the white flesh on the inside of a coconut shell. Due to its minimally processed nature, coconut flour is rich in a variety of nutrients and is easy to use in baking or cooking – even if you’re not used to making gluten-free recipes.
A Healthy Banana Bread with Paleo Possibility – and So Much More!
You can easily make this chocolate chip banana bread Paleo-friendly by swapping out the peanut butter for almond or hazelnut butter. To make this recipe plant-based, use flax eggs or egg replacer.
And a word of advice: If you are substituting ingredients due to dietary restrictions, check the chocolate chip ingredients, too! Most conventional chocolate chips contain soy, dairy, and even gluten. I like Enjoy Life chocolate chips, which are certified vegan, non-GMO, Paleo approved, and gluten-free.
Ingredients
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper, and spray with coconut oil.
- In a high-speed blender or food processor, combine the bananas, vanilla, and peanut butter. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Add the eggs and blend until combined.
- Add the coconut flour, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa powder, and salt. Mix again until just combined. Stir in ½ cup dark chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle with a handful of dark chocolate chips.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a tester inserted into center comes out clean. Let cool and devour!
Sources
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23953879
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21226664
