Hello my gluten free friends and bakers! I realize that it has been quite a while since I have posted a new recipe on the blog – almost 17 weeks to be exact! For those of you wondering where I disappeared to, I was just taking a little break. I am expecting my first baby and like so many women out there became quite sick throughout the first trimester. While I absolutely adore food, the nausea and sickness made it a bit tough to cook and be creative in the kitchen. Now that I am finally on my way to feeling better I have an amazing recipe to share with you!

I decided that a mildly sweetened banana chocolate chip loaf would be a great item to have on hand not only for dessert, but for snacks and even breakfast! Since I have experimented with similar items in the past I thought it would be fun and delicious to add some peanut butter into the mix (all natural of course!). I don’t know about you, but something about the combination of peanut butter, chocolate and banana just gets me every time. This loaf turned out super moist and lasted a good week. Outlined below are a few of my favourite ingredients in this recipe that really make it a healthy and nutritious treat:

Bananas
When we think of bananas one of the first things that often comes to mind is potassium. Potassium is an extremely important mineral in the body that supports the proper functioning of cells, tissues and organs. It is also an electrolyte that is critical to the operation of the heart. Along with potassium, bananas are full of vitamin B6 which helps to strengthen the nervous system, reduce PMS symptoms, and produce white blood cells which support our immune system. In addition, bananas contain tryptophan which is an important amino acid found in food that once ingested gets converted into the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is known to improve our overall mood.

Peanuts
Peanuts are actually a legume that when consumed in moderation and from organic sources (to avoid high pesticide contamination) are a very healthy snack! They are rich in monounsaturated fats, which are considered to be a heart healthy fat. They contain an array of nutrients such a vitamin B2 which has shown to protect against age related cognitive decline, as well as folate which is known to promote fertility. They also contain a variety of antioxidants including vitamin E and resveratrol. Peanuts are also excellent for balancing blood sugar as they are high in fibre and protein. 

Maple Syrup
As a sweetener real and pure maple syrup is one of my top choices. In moderation, this delicious treat actually has some significant health benefits. It is the only food that we consume from the sap of a tree. It contains over 20 antioxidants which play an important role in helping our bodies to fight off and prevent disease. More specifically, antioxidants have anti-cancer, antibacterial AND anti-diabetic properties. Pretty amazing for something that tastes so good!

Now that you are aware of a few of my top favourite ingredients in this recipe, lets get to the actual baking! This loaf is fairly simple to prepare and as always is gluten free, vegan and free from all refined sugars!

Wet Ingredients

– 3 large and very ripe bananas
– 1/4 cup of melted virgin coconut oil
– 1/2 cup of almond milk
– 1/3 cup of maple syrup
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– 3 heaping table spoons of peanut butter (organic and unsweetened)

Dry Ingredients

– 1 cup almond flour
– 1 cup brown rice flour
– 1/4 cup of ground of flax or chia (or both together works well)
– 1/4 cup of coconut flour
– 1 tsp of baking soda
– 1/2 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips (I used Camino)

Directions

1) Place all of the wet ingredients together in a medium sized bowl.
2) Using a hand blend mix together well until all clumps are gone.
3) In a large and separate bowl mix together all of the dry ingredients, leaving the chocolate chips aside.
4) Fold the wet mixture into the dry mixture and combine very well.
5) Once the two have been completely mixed together add in the chocolate chips and mix well.
6) Preheat the over to 375F and use some coconut oil to grease a medium sized square cake pan.
7) Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top begins to fully brown.
8) Let cool for about 15 minutes and enjoy!
9) Tip – For an extra peanut buttery taste you can increase the amount to 4 or 5 tbs depending on your preference.