Perfectly soft and tender paleo banana bread sweetened with maple syrup and made with wholesome ingredients, but it tastes just like the classic treat!
How do you like your bananas? I used to love mine when they got the perfectly speckled with little brown dots–you know soft and sweet, but not mushy? Not a hint of green on them. Then when I started eating them before running, something changed and as soon as they got the slightest bit of brown I was done for, and I had to wait for them to get even more ripe and make them into banana bread. That’s when I started making a lot of banana bread.
And somehow I still always end up with unused bananas, so like once a week I end up telling myself I’m going to make banana bread. Usually I forget until the bananas are too far gone, but this batch was so freaking easy to whip up, and it might be the softest banana bread, like, ever.
My friend Lisa was coming over for dinner, and she told me she was eating paleo, so when she arrived I told her I made her a paleo dessert, which I don’t think she even knew could exist because she was like “HOW????” I am pretty set against following specific diets for myself, but I love experimenting with all sorts, and I really do believe that no matter how you’re eating, you can still enjoy delicious treats. Although I have to admit I did get real tired of ricotta cheese with splenda during those awful South Beach days…
Anyway, this banana bread is nothing like that. It is sweetened with maple syrup (which makes everything better, IMO), and it’s made with almond meal. If you haven’t used almond meal for baking yet, you haaaaave to try it. Everything turns out so soft and tender–it’s AWESOME! Between the bananas and the almond meal, it doesn’t need a drop of oil or butter. Just a handful of ingredients you probably already have on hand and you’re good to go!
- 3 very ripe bananas
- 2 cups almond meal
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- dash salt
- Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9x5" loaf pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl mash bananas. Stir in all remaining ingredients, stirring until smooth and combined. Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake until edges are lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few crumbs, about 30-40 minutes.
- Cool completely on a wire rack. Slice and serve. Leftovers may be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days.
