Whole Wheat Protein Banana Bread with Toasted Walnut Crust

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Whole Wheat Protein Banana Bread w/ Toasted Walnut Crust

Banana bread has become somewhat of a snack staple in my life these days.  Probably because I usually buy bananas to have with breakfast and end up not eating them until it's too late (oops).  But they're perfect for making this deliciousness to keep on hand for a snack!  Anyone else have this problem?

Today's recipe comes from my mom's side of the family, passed down to her from her great-grandmother.  The original recipe is super delicious, but I've switched up a few of the ingredients to make it a bit healthier.  I swapped in agave for regular sugar, coconut oil for butter, and added in Bob's Red Mill Protein Powder for an extra protein punch and fiber boost.  I also topped it with walnuts and coconut flakes for an added crunch, but feel free to experiment - other awesome additions could be dark chocolate chips (a snack that doubles as dessert!), cranberries, chia seeds, you name it.  That's one thing I love about baked goods like this - you can add in whatever you want and it almost always turns out awesome!

Whole Wheat Protein Banana Bread w/ Toasted Walnut Crust

Whole Wheat Protein Banana Bread w/ Toasted Walnut Crust

Whole Wheat Protein Banana Bread w/ Toasted Walnut Crust

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2/3 cup agave (substitute for 1 cup sugar)
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil (substitute for 1/2 cup butter)
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1/2 cup Bob's Red Mill protein powder (I used the unflavored protein & fiber nutritional booster, but you can use any flavor you'd like)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup sour milk (1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar + add milk to 1/2 cup line)
  • 2 ripe bananas, mashed
  • crushed walnuts (for topping)
  • unsweetened coconut flakes (for topping)

INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350˚
  • Spray loaf pan with non-stick baking spray
  • Mix all dry ingredients together in large bowl
  • In a separate small bowl, beat together agave, coconut oil, and eggs until just combined
  • Combine wet mixture with dry ingredients
  • Prepare sour milk and add in
  • Add mashed bananas and mix until all ingredients are combined
  • Pour into loaf pan and top with crushed walnuts & coconut flakes
  • Bake for 60 minutes or until knife/toothpick comes out clean
  • Enjoy!

Yum yum yum!  I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!  AND - in case you missed it or need some inspiration for other healthy delicious snacks, check out these Chocolate Chai Protein Bites (inspired by one of my favorite drinks - the chocolate chai martini).  Enjoy and have a great rest of your weekend!

Readers: chat with me!  Do you bake banana bread often?  What healthy substitutes are you making in your baked goods?  Do you use protein powder often?  What are some of your favorite snacks to have on hand when life gets busy?