Monday, May 18, 2009

Recipe: The Good Banana Bread


The average piece of store bought banana bread (anything from Starbucks to 7 Eleven) has over 14 grams of fat and almost 400 calories. Yikes. Just go for the boston cream donut at Tim Hortons. Actually you can get two for almost the same caloric intake.
OR, make your own. Now, sure mine doesn't taste super sweet and cake-like (if that is what you like) but it is tasty and good for you. Easy, super low fat and as healthy as breakfast pastry/baked goods get.

3 egg whites, beaten
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons applesauce or pureed cooked sweet potato
2 ripe bananas, pureed (about 1 cup)
1/4 cup stevia or splenda sugar substitute
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Optional: 1 teaspoon vanilla

Servings: Approximately 12 pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl mix egg whites through bananas. Add vanilla if you like. In a small bowl combine flour through cinnamon. Add flour mixture to banana mixture, stirring with a whisk until combined. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake for 45-60 minutes or until a knife can be inserted and comes out dry.

HINT: Because this is so low fat, low sugar you can add butter on a nice hot piece (microwave for 20 seconds) and it still comes out under 5 grams of fat. I know, it sounds like it defeats the purpose, but sometimes you just need butter.
I buy the snack-pack applesauces as one is about 4 tablespoons and perfect for substituting oil in baking recipes. And that way you don't have to open a whole jar!

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