Banana Bread

Those of you who know me know that I like to eat tasty, healthy food. I'll also indulge myself with something delicious with little to no nutritional value on occasion also. Regardless, taste is very important to me! This banana bread is tasty and very, very nutritious - I was SHOCKED! I've made other healthy sweets that didn't make it to the blog because I didn't like it, thus I simply wouldn't suggest for anyone else to make it. However, this banana bread is packed with nutrition and taste. Give it a stab before you look at the ingredients and say "HECK NAW!"

Banana Bread
Source: Adapted from never(home)maker
Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients
5 tablespoons butter, softened (or 1/3 cup Earth Balance), plus more for greasing pan
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 banana
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup almond milk
1 heaping tablespoon peanut butter
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup garbanzo beans
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 handfuls chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F. Then, lightly grease a bread pan. 
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and maple syrup. A couple of minutes should do.
3. Then add in the vanilla, almond milk, garbanzos, peanut butter, and banana. Mix on high with the flat beater attachment until everything is smooth - 5 to 7 minutes.
4. In another bowl, whisk together the wheat flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet. Mix until well moistened.
6. Fold in the chocolate chips.
7. Pour the mix inside.
8. Bake for 30 minutes, then check for done-ness. Then add another 10 minutes to the bake cycle and keep an eye on the bread so it doesn't over-bake.
9. Bread is done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Say WHAT? Whole wheat flour, no sugar AND GARBANZO BEANS!?!?! Yes, yes and yes! Surprisingly the garbanzo beans only change the texture, and I really like what they did. This can easily be veganized by substiuting butter with Earth Balance.

I've made this twice since discovering it. I would suggest that you ONLY make this if you have an electric mixer...or super strong arms, but preferably the former. Additionally, I found I got the best texture with the beans using the flat beater instead of the wire one. I tried both, so trust me on this one. I'd love to hear if any of you make this, please let me know what you think!