NO “FAILEO” HERE! THE BEST BANANA BREAD. EVER.

By Lisa 

I am closing in on one year strict Paleo. Isn’t that crazy? My daily diet used to consist of bean burritos, grilled cheese sandwiches, Lean Pockets (when I was having a “healthy moment”), Michelob Ultra and Jose Cuervo Margaritas. Things look completely different from last year. Now I eat things like lettuce-wrapped burgers, stew meat, beef jerky, green apples, almond butter, eggs, and (too much) dark chocolate.

I don’t miss bread and I don’t miss dairy. You could put 10 rolls of bread in front of me and I wouldn’t even bat an eye. Pizza is no problem, either. Beer? Meh. My weakness is sweets. Flaunt a piece of cheesecake or a cookie in front of me and I lose my mind. I’ll kill that gluten-filled, refined-sugar item like I’ve never even heard of Paleo. (Never mind that I’ll pay for it digestively for a few days.) My stomach has become very, very, very sensitive to non-Paleo food and it is not a pretty sight when I cheat. Ask my family.

I have learned in the last year that I can only “Paleo Cheat” if I want to satisfy a sweet craving, while staying out of the bathroom. (I’m sorry. I know that’s graphic. #paleoreality). I’m always in search of new recipes that allow me to cheat “Paleo-style,” but are delicious enough to pass for the real thing. Nothing makes me angrier than to have a recipe completely fail. I call these recipes, “Faileo” and I have found a ton of bad ones throughout the past year. The ingredients for Paleo treats are EXPENSIVE and it is beyond frustrating to have a “Faileo” when you have a sweet craving. It’s enough to make you drive the 4.1 miles to The Cheesecake Factory to pick up a slice of Oreo Cheesecake that’s heavy on the whip cream (not that I know).

When I find a great recipe, I like to let everyone know about it so they don’t find themselves with a “Faileo.” This Banana Bread Recipe from Civilized Caveman is probably my favorite Paleo recipe ever. It’s delicious. This banana bread is so good that it’s hard to believe there are no added sweeteners in this recipe. I’ve started making it into muffins in an attempt at portion control. I’ve been mildly successful. You’ve got to try this one, even if you’re not Paleo. It’s that good. Promise.

Ingredients

4 bananas (I like to use 6 bananas that are pretty ripe)
4 eggs
1/2 cup almond butter (I use Creamy MaraNatha from Costco)
4 tablespoons grass-fed butter (I use coconut oil)
1/2 cup coconut flour (purchased in Bulk Section at Sprouts)
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pinch of sea salt

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit
Combine your bananas, eggs, nut butter, and grass-fed butter in a blender.
Once all of your ingredients are blended, add in your coconut flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla, and sea salt and mix well.
Grease a 9×5 glass (see notes) loaf pan with coconut oil. If you use a metal pan it will probably bake in 35-40 minutes so start checking at 35 to ensure the middle stays moist.
Pour in your batter and spread it evenly throughout.
Place in your preheated oven and bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Remove from oven and flip your bread out onto a cooling rack.
Slice and serve with Kerrygold Butter.

Notes

If you want to make these into muffins, use the same recipe and bake approixmately 20 minutes.