"Coco-nutty Chocolate Chip" Banana Bread

For this banana bread I amped it up with hints of coconut, walnuts, and chocolate chips. 

Also, did I mention it's gluten-free and vegan? Yup. Pretty much this bread OWNS the oven and sets all standards for banana bread. 

Here's what I threw together..

3 ripe bananas; mashed 

1/2 c. Vegan butter; softened 

2 c. Coconut flour

1/2 xanthan gum powder

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. baking soda 

1/2 c. Maple syrup

1/2 c. Sugar

3 flax eggs (1 flax egg= 1 tbsp flax+3 tbsp water)

1 c. Almond milk (or amp up the coconut with coconut milk)

1/4 c. Vegetable oil

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. cinnamon 

Salt to taste 

1/4 c. Walnuts; chopped

1/2 c. Dark chocolate chips 

1/2 c. unsweetened coconut flakes

Directions: 

Combine all dry ingredients. Prepare flax eggs and set aside.  In a separate bowl mix wet ingredients and add flax egg. Gradually add wet ingredients (and banana) to dry ingredients and mix until smooth. Stir in walnuts, coconut flakes (leaving some left to sprinkle on top) and chocolate chips. 

Pour batter in two small loaf pans lightly sprayed with coconut oil (I used one loaf and a round tube pan due to being in a pinch). Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until lightly browned and cooked through but not too dry. 

For a gluten free bread this stuff turned out surprisingly fluffy and moist. 

The banana is subtle with plenty of sweetness.

 I actually became a little reminiscent of Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey icecream. Me and Chunky Monkey go way back... So yeah... That makes this bread even more so the bomb.com..

Oh yeah! 

~Crago 

Gluten-Free Spiced Sweet Potato Muffins

Ok I admit it. Being that it is September, my "Fall Fever" has kicked in. So these sweet potato muffins are pretty perfect, and just scream "Fall". 

With just enough spice and sweetness, these sweet potato muffins do just the trick. Also did I mention they are gluten-free and vegan?

Here's the sweet and simple list of ingredients:

(This recipe made 24 muffins or 2 batches)

2 large sweet potatoes

1 c. Coconut oil; melted (or olive oil) (I did a mix of both) 

1 c. Almond milk

1/2 c. Maple syrup

1/2 c. Apple sauce 

5 tsp. baking soda 

2 tsp. Apple cider vinegar 

4 c. Brown rice flour 

2 tsp. xanthum gum 

1/4 c. Brown sugar

3 tbsp. Chinese 5 Spice 

2 tbsp. cinnamon 

2 tsp. pure  vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. sea salt 

Directions:

First bake sweet potatoes wrapped in foil at 400 degrees for 1 hour.

Mix cooked sweet potatoes with coconut oil, olive oil, almond milk, maple syrup, apple sauce, vinegar and vanilla.

Combine in a separate bowl all dry ingredients. Combine brown rice flour, xanthum gum, baking soda, sea salt, Chinese 5 spice, cinnamon, and brown sugar. 

Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until smooth.

Scoop into lightly greased muffin pans. Add extra brown sugar and bake for 25 minutes at 400 degrees until lightly browned to a crisp. Add extra maple syrup drizzle when there's 5 minutes left with the bake time. 

Enjoy!

~Crago 

Vegan Banana Bread

What better way to use those spotty, ripened bananas than in a loaf of banana bread? I have been a fan since a little kid and now have just tweaked the classic recipe a bit. This recipe is vegan friendly by avoiding the cups and cups of refined sugar and butter often found in other banana bread recipes. I'm still working to make this recipe EVEN better but this one is pretty top notch if you ask me!

Ingredients:

2 flax eggs (2 tbsp of ground flax mixed with 6 tbsp of water; let sit for 5 min.)

1/2 cup vegan butter (or do half vegan butter/ half coconut oil which is what I did based on what was available) 

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

2 ripe bananas; mashed 

2 cups of whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. allspice 

Additional add-ins (I used chopped dates and almonds, topped with sunflower seeds) 

Directions:

Prepare flax eggs and set aside. Mix together maple syrup and vegan butter. Add prepared flax eggs and mix into mixture. Mash bananas with fork and add to wet mixture. Now mix all remaining dry ingredients and sift into prepared wet mixture (flour, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice). Stir in additional toppings. I used chopped almonds and chopped dates rolled in flour. I used these only because this is what was available in my kitchen. Walnuts, pecans, dried cranberries, flaked coconut or even dark chocolate chips would be delicious add-ins as well! 

Pour batter in greased loaf pan and sprinkle with additional add-in topping. I used sunflower seeds but chopped up walnuts or pecans would be great too. Anything really! 

Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool for about 10 minutes before diving in. This particular loaf turned out very sweet and moist. The nuts and dates were just enough crunch leaving this vegan banana bread as a devine snack! This stuff could even stand in as dessert easily and would be a much healthier option. 

Have a piece and go bananas!

~Crago  

Banana-Date Muffins

Banana-Date Muffins

These might possibly be the best vegan banana muffins I've ever had. These might be the best muffins I've ever had; ever. I've tried many different combinations and this is by far the best recipe! Not to mention they are vegan and fabulous.

Here we go...

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas

2 cups of flour

2 tsp. of baking soda

2 tsp. baking powder

Pinch of sea salt

1/2 cup of dates

1/2 cup of pecans finely chopped

1/3 cup of high grade maple syrup 

1/4 cup of agave nectar 

1/4 cup of coconut oil (melted)

1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil 

2/3 cup of almond milk

2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 

Directions:

First in one bowl mix your flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt. Set aside. In another bowl mix your mashed banana, and liquids (maple syrup, agave, milk, coconut oil, olive oil, and vanilla). Now gradually add your dry mixture to your wet mixture. The consistency will be kind of lumpy. 

Now take your dates and chop them into tiny pieces. Toss chopped dates in a little flour. Mix dates into batter and then add 1/4 of the pecans. Spray a 12 count muffin pan with cooking spray. Pour batter into pan and sprinkle remaining 1/4 of pecans on top. Bake in oven at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes. 

Once out of the oven, your home should smell of warm, banana deliciousness. The middle will be nice and moist with a little crunch and chew from the dates. Honestly, these are the best and are very filling as well. 

Happy baking!

~Crago