Chocolate Chip and Walnut Banana Bread

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Not all banana bread is created equal. Some banana bread veers a little too healthy, resulting in a cardboard-like texture. Hard pass. This banana bread recipe, however, manages to straddle the line between delicious and healthy: it’s not too sweet or buttery, but it’s studded with dark chocolate so you’re not missing any decadence. A mix of flours keeps the texture balanced.

Ingredients:
  • 4 ripe bananas
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 1/2 cups oat flour
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
  1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees and coat a 9″x5″ loaf pan with cooking spray.
  2. In a medium bowl, mash the bananas using a fork until they are the consistency of applesauce, then stir in the egg, vanilla, and maple syrup.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the oat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add the banana mixture and mix until fully combined, then gently fold in the chocolate chunks and walnuts.
  4. Spoon the batter into the loaf pan, then bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Remove the banana bread from the pan and place on a wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days or in the fridge up to 5 days.

Sweet Potato “Toast” with Bananas and Almond Butter

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These “toasts” may not be beautiful but they’re the perfect breakfast: both dense in nutrients and sweetly satisfying. Bake the sweet potatoes ahead of time and this dish comes together in minutes. This recipe makes enough for four people but feel free to scale up or down depending on your preference.

Ingredients:
  • 2 large sweet potatoes (skin on), cut crosswise into 1 1/2 inch-thick slices
  • 1 teaspoon avocado or coconut oil
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • 4 teaspoons almond butter
  • 1 banana, sliced into rounds
  • Pinch of ground cinnamon
  1. Preheat the oven to 400F degrees and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Place the sweet potato slices on the baking sheet and toss with the oil and salt. Roast for 15 minutes, then flip over the slices and cook for 15 more minutes, or until lightly browned and tender. Let cool for 10 minutes.
  3. Top each slice of sweet potato with a heaping teaspoon of almond butter, banana slices, and a pinch of sea salt and cinnamon.

Banana-Chocolate Overnight Oats

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I’ve been on a make-head breakfast bender, mostly because mornings are hectic and I only have a few minutes to spare. Lately my favorite are these overnight oats, sweetened with bananas and topped with shavings of dark chocolate. A healthy breakfast masquerading as a decadent dessert. Not a bad way to start the day.

This recipe makes enough for two servings, but can easily be doubled (or tripled).

Ingredients:
  • 1 ripe banana
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1 tablespoon shaved salted dark chocolate, for topping
  1. In a bowl, mash together the banana, maple syrup, and chia seeds with a fork, then stir in the yogurt, milk, and vanilla. Add the oats and mix again. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  2. To serve, spoon into two bowls and sprinkle half the shaved chocolate on top of each bowl.

Loaded Avocado Toast

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I am the most basic millennial in that I will never, ever tire of avocado toast. Avocado toast with an egg? Check. Avocado toast with chili crisp? Yes. Loaded avocado toast? Always. This version uses sourdough bread topped with radishes, pepitas, and queso fresco, for a Cali-Mex-inspired version of our beloved avocado toast. This makes one toast, so double or triple your quantities depending on how many you’re making.

Ingredients:

  • 1 slice sourdough bread
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1/2 teaspoon Meyer lemon juice
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 tablespoons sunflower microgreens or similar sprouts
  • 1 radish, thinly sliced
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin seeds, toasted
  • 1 tablespoon crumbled queso fresco
  1. Toast the bread until lightly golden brown. Cut the garlic clove in half and rub it all over the toast.
  2. In a bowl, mash the avocado with the lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste. Spread the mashed avocado onto the toast. Top with the microgreens, radish, pumpkin seeds, and queso fresco.

Mochi Waffles with Brown Butter Bananas

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I’m a sucker for anything made with mochiko flour. Hawaiian butter mochi, mochi ice cream, yaki mochi — I love it. This mochi waffle recipe, adapted from Bon Appetit, is a little chewy, a little sweet, and the perfect vehicle to soak up the delicious syrup from the brown butter bananas.

Ingredients:
  • 1 1/4 cups mochiko flour
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs, separated
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided
  • Nonstick vegetable oil spray
  • 2 bananas, halved lengthwise, sliced crosswise into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 cup maple syrup
  1. Whisk mochiko, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl. Whisk egg yolks, milk, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl until smooth. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a medium skillet over medium heat, then gradually add to egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly; reserve skillet. Add dry ingredients to bowl and whisk until smooth. Lightly whisk egg whites in a small bowl until foamy, then whisk into batter.
  2. Heat a waffle iron on high; lightly coat with nonstick spray. Pour 1/2 cup batter (or enough to cover surface) onto iron and cook until waffles are golden brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter, coating iron with more nonstick spray as needed.
  3. Meanwhile, melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in reserved skillet over medium-high heat. Cook bananas, cut side down, undisturbed, until bananas are browned and butter is amber, about 3 minutes. Stir in maple syrup and remove from heat.
  4. Serve waffles topped with bananas and sauce.