baby banana loaves with coconut, flax & walnuts

by Kristen on March 14, 2009


Blackening bananas on the counter = something delicious in the oven :)
Warning: this will make your house smell heavenly!

They took on a wonky look from the rise, I don’t know why, but I am assured that it does not affect the taste. I am not bothered by it, I think it looks cool. There is something comforting in food that doesn’t look too perfect.

ingredients:

  • 3 ripe bananas
  • 1/3 cup canola or favorite light flavored oil
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • handful chopped walnuts, optional
  • handful wide flaked coconut, unsweetened, optional
  • 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed, optional
  • chocolate chips, to garnish, optional

Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare pan by greasing. I used a mini loaf pan, but this can also be made in an 8×8″ square or round, or a loaf pan.

Mash the Bananas in a large mixing bowl. Add the oil and sugar and beat with a wooden spoon until very well combined. Add the egg and vanilla, continue to combine.

Mix the flour, soda and salt in a small bowl. Add to the banana mixture and combine well, being careful not to over mix. Add the walnuts, coconut and flax.

Scoop into the prepared pan, garnish with chocolate chips and bake anywhere from 25 minutes to 1 hour depending on your oven and the chosen pan. Check with a toothpick, the cakes are done when the toothpick comes out mostly clean. Allow to cool.

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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Sylvia March 17, 2009 at 12:05 am

This is a great recipe! We are in Hawaii and we used fresh apple bananas, and macadamia nuts rather than walnuts. It was a hit this morning with our fresh brewed Kona coffee! Thanks for sharing!

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2 Sandie March 17, 2009 at 2:06 pm

Yay! Another banana bread recipe to add to my collection. I can’t wait to give it a go!

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3 Leela March 25, 2009 at 1:52 pm

Kristen – These look lovely! I like the chocolate chip “buttons” on top. Banana bread is my favorite thing to make, because it’s a one-bowl-one-spoon kind of thing. Besides, it’s a perfect vehicle for healthy things which don’t always taste that great by themselves, flaxseed being one of them (for me, anyway).

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4 cookingschoolconfidential.com March 28, 2009 at 12:21 pm

They LOOK like they would smell good.

And I adore banana bread. Something, alas, we don’t cover at school (I’m a culinary school student). And, clearly, should!

Cheers.

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5 Shari@Whisk: a food blog April 2, 2009 at 2:11 pm

I love those chocolates sitting prettily on top. I bet this smelled great! (and tasted great too!)

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6 Maggie April 3, 2009 at 10:49 am

Beautiful looking loaves! The coconut sounds so good in these.

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7 Kristen April 6, 2009 at 9:23 pm

Sylvia, sounds like a great combination of apple bananas and macadamias. yum.

Sandie, a hundred banana bread recipes may not be enough ;-)

Leela, I also love one-bowl baking recipes. I love to be able to whip something up quickly and without the electric mixer.

CookingSchoolConfidential, No banana bread at Culinary School, such a shame, haha.

Shari, they did taste & smell great!

Maggie, I love the addition of coconut, it is not overpowering here.

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8 Tartelette April 7, 2009 at 12:27 am

Never enough banana recipe! The loaves look delicious and super moist!

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9 Sophie January 20, 2010 at 11:29 pm

MMMMMMM,….what tasty & inviting looking banana breads!! I so love the chocolate on top! Yum!

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10 Nichole April 17, 2011 at 11:21 pm

Hey Kristen!
I have been using this recipe for months now as muffins and you wouldn’t believe the raving reviews!!! I loved your idea of chocolate chips on the tops of the loaves so we tucked a chunk of dark chocolate into the center of the muffins. Everyone loves the surprise in the center! Also the coconut and ground flaxseed make such a nice texture and 3 bananas keep the moisture there. AWESOME! Thank you for sharing this one. It is a hit!! I keep having to share the recipe and send people to your blog! Darn, right?
Love
Nichole

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11 Kristen April 21, 2011 at 8:55 pm

Thanks Nichole :) Chocolate chunks in the center, what a fabulous idea!!! So nice of you to leave such a fantastic comment. Hugs!

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12 Jessica Warnke September 15, 2011 at 5:14 pm

Kristen!
Love, Love, Love this recipe!!! Nichole (my sister) made these one day for everyone and we were hooked! I had to get the recipe, they are absolutely amazing!! I make them every time my bananas get ripe! All my friends are doing the same too! Thanks so much!
Jessica

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13 Kristen September 15, 2011 at 9:43 pm

Ah Jessica, you are WAY too sweet! Thank you so much for the wonderful comment. I have bananas on the counter right now that are just about ready to make more ;-)

btw, thanks for following my facebook page too!!!

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