Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

By Robin Plotkin, RD LD and Kylie Held

There is nothing quite like smelling the scent of cinnamon infused banana bread baking on a winter morning. But beware, traditional banana bread recipes are nutritionally more like cake. This recipe adds a twist to make it more nutritious. The secret ingredients: garbanzo bean and oat flour. The garbanzo bean and oat flour add protein and fiber as well as a whole-grain boost. Using mini chocolate chips is a great way to get a little chocolate in every bit without too many extra calories!

Eat a thin slice for breakfast with some low-fat whipped cottage cheese or serve it as a healthier dessert. You may even want to make some mini-loafs and wrap them pretty along with a print-out of the recipe to give as a post-holiday gift.

Ingredients

Method of Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350^o F.
2. Grease and flour a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray and oat flour. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine garbanzo bean flour, oat flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, mashed banana, maple syrup and vanilla extract.
5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and combine until all dry ingredients are just moistened. 
6. Fold in mini chocolate chips.
7. Pour batter into greased/floured loaf pan.
8. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the bread is golden brown.
9. Allow bread to cool for 15 minutes in the loaf pan before removing from the pan and placing on a cooling rack to cool completely.  

Yield and Servings

Yield: 1 loaf (12-slices)

Serving Size: 1 slice

Nutritional Analysis

Calories 152, Protein 5.0 g, Carbohydrates 27 g, Total fat 3.0 g, Cholesterol 35 mg, Sodium 193 mg, Sugars 13 g, Fiber 3.0 g