This flourless banana bread delivers a triple threat of protein, flavor and nutrients that the whole family will love. The best part? It’s gluten-free, nut free, dairy free and contains zero artificial sweeteners or preservatives. Each serving packs a powerful punch of superfoods including coconut oil and rolled oats.
Flourless banana bread
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten-free rolled oats, uncooked
- 3 slightly overripe bananas, mashed
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup (honey works too!)
Optional additions: 1/2 cup walnuts, pecans or mini cacao chips (Some of these additions will result in a recipe that is no longer considered “nut-free.”)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F
- Coat a 9 x 5” loaf pan with coconut oil — make sure to cover all the way up the sides.
- Blend all ingredients (except for optional nut or cacao additions which can be folded into batter before turning into loaf pan) in a food processor or blender. If you don’t have these tools, simply mix ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and stir until smooth.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake on the middle rack for 35-45 minutes.
- After your timer goes off, turn the oven off and insert a clean (non-serrated) knife into center of loaf to make sure that it’s cooked through — your knife should come out clean.
- Let the bread sit in the closed oven for 10 minutes.
- Remove loaf pan from the oven and let cool completely before slicing around the sides of the pan with a knife. Then, flip upside down to invert banana bread onto serving plate.
More easy ways to enjoy rolled oats
- Oatmeal: Give your morning cereal a major boost by cooking your oatmeal with an alternative milk instead of regular old water — we love cashew or flax seed milk. Top with a hearty mixture of nuts and berries for added protein and antioxidants.
- Oat flour: Substitute gluten-free oat flour in any recipe that calls for white or whole wheat flour to boost nutritional value of your baked goods — sans gluten.
Oats are the only food source that contains a polyphenol called avenanthramide which naturally increases nitric oxide production while inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation — lowering blood pressure and restoring arteries to a healthy state.
That’s why if certain lifestyle factors or family history have increased your risk of developing heart disease or atherosclerosis (translation: coronary artery disease, stroke, peripheral artery disease or kidney issues), getting more oats in your diet is a wonderful natural remedy for proactively reducing high blood pressure and plaque buildup. And another big reason to enjoy delicious — and nutritious — flourless banana bread.
P.S. Don’t be surprised if it’s gone before lunchtime…
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Find out more heart-healthy ideas in our article Preventing heart disease – the natural approach. Share it with a friend too! |
