Best Vegan Whole Grain Banana Bread - Healthy And Delicious ! Less Oil, Low Sugar With Walnuts, Chocolate Chips Or Both. Perfect For Holiday Gift Giving!

Vegan, Whole Grain Banana Bread

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Doug's Banana Bread Goes Vegan!
I've bragged about my husband's banana bread before. In March, 2010,  I posted his recipe made with organic, omega 3, pasture raised eggs. But for some time now he's been making a vegan version of it so I thought I'd pass it on. You can make changes like this to any baked recipe to "veganize" and "healthify" it. Here's what you can do:
* Use less sugar and add a few packets of stevia for added sweetness.
* Replaced the eggs with "flax eggs" .
* Reduce the amount of extra virgin olive oil and use apple sauce to make up for the moisture.
* Use King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour for whole grain goodness with the light texture of white flour or use 1/2 all purpose flour and 1/2 regular whole wheat flour. For a gluten free version, use gluten free all purpose flour and xanthan gum.


Is it Breakfast or Dessert?
If you are serving it for breakfast or brunch, make it with walnuts. For a healthful dessert, make it with vegan chocolate chips.  I like it with both walnuts and chocolate chips!


Ditch the Fruit Cake
The holidays are coming and this makes the perfect gift for friends and neighbors. Instead of the aluminum foil pans you normally see for gift giving, try using a decorative paper loaf pan. I bought some in San Francisco's Japan town but I just found them on Amazon.

Chocolate chip banana bread makes a great holiday gift.
Use these decorative paper loaf pans.

Vegan Banana Bread with Walnuts or Chocolate Chips
Vegan, (Gluten free option)
[serves 12]
[For holiday gifts, this will be enough to fill 2 mini-loaf pans but reduce baking time]


2 tablespoons ground golden flaxseeds
6 tablespoons room temperature water
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup organic cane sugar 
2/3 cup unsweetened organic applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (~ 2 large bananas)
2 cups white whole wheat flour (or 1 cup white and 1 cup whole wheat) *
2 packets stevia (or more to taste)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup raw English walnuts, chopped (or 1/3 cup vegan chocolate chips)


* For a gluten free banana bread, replace wheat flour with same amount of gluten free all purpose flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons xantan gum.


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease an 8.5" x 4.5" glass baking pan.
In a small cup, make flax eggs by beating ground flaxseed with water. Beat well and set aside. After a few minutes, beat again until gooey.
In a large bowl, add oil, sugar, applesauce and vanilla and beat with a hand mixer. Add mashed bananas and flax eggs and beat again until well combined.
In another bowl, mix flour, stevia, baking powder, baking soda and salt. 
Add to wet ingredients and beat until well combined. Fold in walnuts (or chocolate chips).
Pour batter into prepared pan and let sit for 5 minutes. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the loaf.
When done, remove from oven and cool in pan for 10 to 15 minutes. Carefully cut around the edges with a knife and turn over to remove loaf from pan. Place loaf upright on a cooling rack for another 15 minutes. Slice and serve.


Per serving (with walnuts): 189.4 calories, 8.8 g fat, 1.0 g saturated fat, 0.8 g omega 3 and 2.5 g omega 6 fatty acids, 0 mg cholesterol, 3.8 g protein, 24.4 g carbohydrates and 3.3 g dietary fiber.


Per serving (with vegan chocolate chips): 188.6 calories, 7.4 g fat, 1.8 g saturated fat, 0.3 g omega 3 and 0.7 g omega 6 fatty acids, 3.4 g protein, 28.2 g carbohydrates and 3.0 g dietary fiber.