Carrots, apples, and bananas, oh my!
Spring is fast-approaching, and with it, comes carrot cake season. Carrot cake was created in the Middle Ages to sweeten cakes and desserts, since sweeteners like sugar were so expensive. The dessert took off during the second World War when sugar was rationed.
So it makes sense that when you combine naturally sweet carrots, apples, and bananas, you come up with a healthier dessert that tastes delicious. Add a streusel topping to this quick bread and you have yourself a winner.
To make, you'll need:
Bread
1 c. applesauce
2 bananas
1/4 c. honey
1/4 c. maple syrup
1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. milk
4 eggs, beaten
1 c. wheat flour
2 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 c. shredded carrot
1 c. chopped apple
Streusel
1 1/2 c. oats
3/4 c. almonds
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. whole wheat flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
5 T. vegetable oil
Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease two bread pans.
In one bowl, mash bananas and add in applesauce, honey, and maple syrup. Mix in the brown sugar and vanilla.
Mix in the eggs and milk.
In another bowl, mix together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg.
Working in batches, add the dry ingredients to the wet, making sure to fully mix the dry ingredients in before adding more.
Fold in the apples and carrots.
Pour the batter into the prepared pans, splitting evenly between the two pans.
In another bowl, make the streusel. Mix together the oats, almonds, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon.
Add in the oil, mixing together until the streusel is crumbly.
Sprinkle the streusel over the loaves, dividing evenly between the two.
Bake the loaves for one hour, or until the toothpick comes out clean.
This bread is sweet, moist, and delicious. The recipe yields two loaves, so be sure to share with a friend! You can't go wrong with carrots, apples, and bananas.
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