Naturally Sweet Honey Banana Bread
I can’t pretend that I don’t love a good piece of candy or bakery treat now and again. Since having my second daughter I have given up on most sweet items. Which was rather hard because I had the BIGGEST sweet tooth. Probably because growing up walking to the neighborhood market to pick up a 25 cent Little Debbie oatmeal cream pie or a zebra cake was the thing that we youngins lived for. Super cheap and convenient. It was also an easy way to incentivize my siblings and I, and we had an opportunity to acert some independence. It amazes me that we had so much candy and snacks- even more than I allot my children- and little to no issues when it comes to overall health.
Dental Health
All that being said, the cavitiy rates in youth are increasing and it has dentists baffled. I’m baffled. My little guy had a rapidly decaying cavity just a few months back and he hardly has any sweets. I’m especially baffled when I fight the ever battle of sugar for my kids. I say that being a proud mother whose children can’t even name one candy bar in the market. We stay away from processed foods and just the other day my little darlings asked me what a cheeto was! I was too tickled. That being a point of pride because I have made most all of my kids foods since they were born, and I love that process foods isn’t something they aren’t super familiar with. Even still, the battle of wills amongst the grandparents and other people in their life to give them a “treat” always has us taking ten steps back. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to step in and say no to this and no to that. I have to sacrifice those little happy faces for their long term benefit and it sucks. But nothing matters more to me than my kids longevity in life and avoiding a lot of lifestyle diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Deprived?
I dont want to ever deprive my darlings from the sweetness of the world( pun intended), so when the time comes and the kids are searching for something sweet I make banana bread. We always have a good supply of ripening bananas because who doesn’t love Costco? Banana bread is a beloved staple in our home and its healthy too. My boys love bananas so we always have some lying around. We tend to have a few that get ripe as can be and I think the intent is always to leave a few for this very purpose.
Sugar Substitute
I never feel bad about making this recipe. The natural sweetness of the fruit and the added salt helps when the morning hunger arises and the sweet tooth needs a little satisfying. I use a sugar replacement in the form of honey, molasses or stevia. These types of substitutes dont spike insulin the same way that processed sugar does and is overall better on teeth. Another favorite substitue that I like to use for sugar is xylitol made from birch trees.Not only is it sweet it actually kills the cavity causing bacteria in your mouth. The bacteria simply cant process it and they eat is and die. What’s not to love?
Naturally Sweet Honey Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 2 Cups All purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 Baking Soda
- 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 Nutmeg
- 2 Eggs Lightly beaten
- 4 to 5 Bananas Ripened
- 1 Cup Honey Raw, unfiltered
- 1/2 Cup Butter
- 1 Chopped Nuts ( walnut, pecan,almond) Optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a bread pan and place a piece of parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- In large bowl combine all dry items and mix well. In a separate bowl mix all wet ingredients and mix well. Add wet mix to dry mix in portions. Mix until just combined. Mix should be lumpy.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Insert a toothpick or butter knife in the center to ensure doneness. If bread still needs more time due to oven variation, cover with aluminum foil to prevent burning and continue to bake in 3 minute increments.
- Once done, cool on rack for 10 minutes then remove from pans. Cool completely before slicing. Enjoy!
