Spelt Banana Bread

I know, I have a slew of banana bread recipes here on Lemon Drop but this one is a tad different.  Plus the recipe is accidentally well-timed as today is National Banana Bread Day!

This golden quick-bread is egg-free, dairy free and made with spelt flour.  It is sweetened with honey and has the added moisture of 3 big ole bananas, some glorious grapeseed oil and last but not least, unsweetened applesauce.

Why spelt flour?  Because I wanted a change from the standard white flour based banana breads.  Is spelt flour gluten-free?  No , it is not so avoid if you have major gluten-sensitivities or suffer from celiac disease.

Is it better for you than whole wheat flour?  My opinion - yes. The benefits of spelt flour are many: higher protein and fiber content that whole wheat flour, a good source of calcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc, iron, manganese, vitamin E and B-complex vitamins.

There are many brands of spelt flour out there but I love the Whole Spelt Flour from Oak Manor

This banana bread is super moist and filled with flavor.  It is studded with chopped walnuts and spiced with both cinnamon and nutmeg.  It doesn't rise as much as most banana breads and is a bit denser than white flour based versions but it truly is lovely. 

If nuts aren't your thing, try 1/2 cup of golden raisins or dark chocolate chips (look for dairy free if that is a concern for you).  Even white chocolate chips would work well and would add wonderful flavor to this bread.  Whatever you do, don't shy away from this recipe because of spelt flour. If you haven't tried it, you don't know what you are missing!

READY?  Let's bake!

RECIPE: 
*adapted source recipe: Spelt Banana Bread,  Food Doodles

WHAT YOU NEED

2 cups whole spelt flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup runny honey
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
3 large bananas, mashed
1/2 cup applesauce (sugar-free)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

MAKE IT

PREHEAT oven to 350F
SPRAY a large loaf pan with cooking spray 

IN MEDIUM BOWL, whisk together first 5 ingredients
IN LARGE BOWL, whisk together remaining ingredients except walnuts
ADD dry ingredients into wet ingredients and stir just until combined
FOLD in chopped walntus
POUR batter into loaf pan and smooth top
BAKE 45-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean
LET cool in pan 5 minutes
TRANSFER loaf to cooling rack and let cool completely before slicing

ENJOY !

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