Banana Bread

It's my favorite season of the year and I absolutely love the coziness it brings. For all you Northerners, you know how beautiful it is this time of season in the Fall, and all the eats that come with it. All those baked goods, hot cider, donuts and all the beautiful leaves falling to the floor as you walk through beautiful cider mills and pumpkin patches. I could go on...can you tell?!

Living in Florida has me missing my favorite season, but it doesn't mean I still can't have my home smelling like a cold, cozy, Michigan Fall afternoon. My ripe bananas were calling for me and cinnamon is definitely the spice of the season. So it wasn't long before I quickly jumped to it and got in the kitchen to whip up some delicious banana bread.

Here's the recipe for a quick treat to enjoy with a hot cup of coffee or cider or to just make your home smell divine!

Wet Ingredients:

1 Eggs

1/2 c. Oil or Apple Sauce

2 tbsp Milk

1 tsp. vanilla

3 Mashed Bananas

1/2 to 3/4 c. Sugar (depending how ripe your bananas are)

-Mix it all together in a mixer and set aside.

Dry Ingredients:

-Sift together:

2 c. Flour

1/4 tsp. Baking Powder

3/4 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/4 to 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

1/8 tsp Nutmeg (optional)

Method:

-Combine the wet and dry ingredients together and add in a cup of nuts or chocolate chips, if desired.

-Grease and flour a loaf pan or 4 mini loaf pans.

-Pour the batter into the pan or pans.

-If you have extra ripe bananas, cut in half and lay over top with a sprinkle of brown sugar. (Be sure to adjust sugar quantity if adding extra bananas on top due to over sweetness)

-Top with more walnuts or chocolate chips.

-Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 50 to 75 mins until knife comes out clean.

-Mine cooked for 65 mins and mini loaves cook anywhere between 20 to 35 mins.

-You can also substitute grated zucchini instead of bananas for zucchini bread.

This specific loaf I didn't add any sugar aside from the sprinkle of brown sugar over top to caramelize the extra ripe banana I placed on top. And used unsweetened apple sauce to substitute for oil. Comes out delicious every time and the boys definitely enjoy it without ever noticing that there's no sugar! #MommyWin!

Hope you try this recipe out and enjoy it as much as we do!