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Cozy Zero-Waste Banana Bread

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A comforting and sustainable banana bread recipe that uses every bit of ripe bananas and kitchen scraps, perfect for a cozy treat that’s easy to make and mindful of waste.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour (220g)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce (120ml)
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup (80ml)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup chopped nuts or seeds (optional)
  • Optional mix-ins: ½ cup dark chocolate chips, shredded coconut, or dried fruit

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your loaf pan lightly with butter or oil.
  2. In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork or potato masher until smooth but still a bit chunky.
  3. Stir in the applesauce, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently with a spatula until just combined.
  6. Fold in nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, or dried fruit if using.
  7. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top gently.
  8. Bake for 50-60 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the center at 50 minutes; if it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, it’s done. If not, bake another 5-10 minutes.
  9. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Do not overmix the batter once the flour is added to avoid a tough bread. Check doneness starting at 50 minutes with a toothpick. Let the bread cool before slicing to set the crumb. For gluten-free, substitute flour with almond or oat flour. Optional mix-ins add texture and flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: banana bread, zero waste, sustainable baking, easy banana bread, whole wheat banana bread, vegan banana bread, gluten-free banana bread option

Find it online: https://lumalunch.com/cozy-zero-waste-banana-bread-recipe-easy-sustainable-baking-guide/