Gluten-free Cacao Banana Bread
Decadent and Healthy: Gluten-Free Cacao Banana Bread
Banana bread is such a beloved classic – do you recall the quarantine days when it seemed like everyone and their brother was making banana bread and posting themselves doing it online? But have you ever tried taking it up a notch with rich, chocolatey cacao? This Gluten-Free Cacao Banana Bread does just that, combining the natural sweetness of bananas with the deep flavor of BareOrganics Extra Rich Cacao Powder. It’s a delightful twist on a traditional favorite that’s not only delicious but also packed with health benefits.
First things first: to achieve the best flavor and texture in this recipe, you’ll want to use very ripe, even over-ripe, bananas. Do not throw away those bananas that are starting to turn brown and spotty! They’re perfect. Over-ripe bananas are incredibly sweet and moist, making them ideal for baking. They blend seamlessly into the batter, adding natural sweetness and ensuring your banana bread is wonderfully moist.
Now, let’s talk about the star ingredient—BareOrganics Extra Rich Cacao Powder. Unlike regular cocoa powder, cacao powder is made from cold-pressed, unroasted cacao beans, preserving more of the natural nutrients and antioxidants found in cacao. Here’s why you’ll love using it in your baking:
Rich in Antioxidants: Cacao powder is loaded with flavonoids, which are powerful antioxidants that help protect your body from free radicals and oxidative stress. This can contribute to overall health and may even have anti-aging benefits.
Mood-Boosting Properties: Cacao contains compounds like theobromine and phenylethylamine, which are known to enhance mood and promote feelings of well-being. It’s like a natural, delicious way to boost your happiness. And seriously, doesn’t chocolate seem to make everything better?
High in Nutrients: Cacao powder is a good source of essential minerals such as magnesium, iron, potassium, and calcium. These nutrients play a vital role in maintaining healthy bodily functions, from muscle and nerve function to bone health.
Heart Health: The flavonoids in cacao can help improve blood flow, reduce blood pressure, and support overall heart health. Including cacao in your diet is a tasty way to give your heart some love.
This recipe for Cacao Banana Bread is not only gluten-free but also dairy-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free, making it a wholesome treat that you can feel good about enjoying. It combines blanched almond flour and oat flour for a nutritious base, and uses pure maple syrup for sweetness, along with avocado oil and a touch of vanilla extract for added flavor.
To make this delightful bread, you simply mix the dry ingredients (including that wonderful cacao powder) and the wet ingredients (including those super ripe bananas), then combine them and bake until your kitchen smells heavenly and a toothpick comes out mostly clean. The result? A loaf of banana bread that’s moist, chocolatey, and utterly satisfying. I like to slather a slice with some butter and a few sprinkles of coarse sea salt – delicious!
So, next time you have some over-ripe bananas on your counter, don’t toss them—turn them into a delicious and nutritious treat with this Cacao Banana Bread. With the benefits of BareOrganics Cacao Powder, you’ll be adding a healthy twist to a beloved classic.
Happy baking! And eating!
Gluten-free Cacao Banana Bread
Ingredients
- Gluten-free non-stick cooking spray
- ½ cup BareOrganics Extra Rich Cacao Powder
- 1¼ cups blanched almond flour
- ¾ cup oat flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher or fine sea salt
- 3 ripe bananas
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Line with parchment and lightly spray the parchment.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cacao powder, almond flour, oat flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Blend together the bananas, eggs, maple syrup, oil, and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mix well. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 50 – 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
- Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
Nutrition
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