by Charmaine Broughton
According to my husband and kids, there’s nothing better than my homemade banana bread. Over the years, I’ve tried swapping super-healthy ingredients for the so-called “not so healthy” ones, but I always come back to my original recipe. I’m a firm believer in the philosophy of “everything in moderation,” including moderation. Hope you and your family enjoy this loaf as much as my gang does!
1 cup (250 mL) white sugar
¾ cup (187 mL) vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 tsp. (2 mL) pure vanilla extract
2 cups (500 mL) flour
½ cup (125 mL) Char’s magic seed mix (see note at bottom)
2 tsp. (10 mL) ground cinnamon
1 tsp. (5 mL) ground ginger
1 tsp. (5 mL) baking soda
½ tsp. (2 mL) baking powder
3 overripe bananas, mashed
1 cup (250 mL) 70% dark chocolate chips
½ cup (125 mL) milk
Garnish: melted dark chocolate and banana chips.
Pre-heat oven to 350°F (180°C). Beat together sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients until just combined. Stir in bananas, chocolate chips and milk until evenly combined. Divide batter evenly between two well-greased 9 X 5-inch pans. Bake in centre of pre-heated oven for 1 hour, or until cake tester comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool completely. Drizzle with melted chocolate and banana chips. Makes 2 loaves (10 slices each).
Per Serving (1 slice)
266 Calories
14.4 g Total Fat
2.7 g Saturated Fat
0 Trans Fat
20 mg Cholesterol,
86 mg Sodium
31.8 g Carbohydrate,
2.8 g Fibre
17.8 g Sugars
4.6 g Protein
Char’s Magic Seed Mix: Once a month, I head to our local bulk food store and purchase equal amounts of chia seeds, hemp seeds and whole flax seeds (I grind them at home). I mix them together and store in a large mason jar. When I’m making cookies, pizza dough, muffins or bananabread, I add a few hefty spoonfuls for a nutritious boost of fibre, plant protein and good-for-you fats.
Charmaine Broughton is a food media specialist, avid runner and eater, and mother of two active (and always hungry) teenage boys, Tyler and Colgan. See more of what she is up to at charmainebroughton.com.