Wholesome Banana Bread

If you have very ripe bananas, this banana bread is the perfect recipe to make. Its soft texture and sweet taste make it a classic to serve this holiday season, not to mention any time of the year. I also love how it fills the house with the most amazing smell.

Do you want to put a twist on serving this family favorite during the holidays? Cut the bread into cubes and place them as part of a charcuterie board filled with fresh fruits and other mini holiday treats.

Kitchen tip: Instead of using a fork to mash the bananas, save time by using an electric hand mixer to mash the bananas.

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole white wheat flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 cup butter (softened)

1/2 cup applesauce

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs, beaten

2 cups ripe bananas (~4 bananas), mashed

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 9x5" loaf pan with cooking spray (Pam)

2. In a bowl, combine both flours and baking soda.

3. In another bowl, cream together brown sugar, applesauce, & butter. To the mixture, stir in eggs and bananas until blended.

4. Add the wet mixture to the bowl of dry ingredients, and stir until just moistened. Pour into prepared pan.

5. Bake for 65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center and it comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn over the loaf to remove it from the pan. Continue to cool on a wire rack before placing it in a container.

Photo credit: Valley Nutrition & Wellness, LLC/Jessica Clark, RD, LDN