One bowl banana bread

This is a go-to recipe for any parent of a toddler. It all comes together in minutes in one bowl, and young kids love the job of mashing the bananas with a potato masher. It’s easy to modify, too. Try swapping half the flour for whole wheat or oat flour, add a shake of cinnamon, bran or flaxseed, toss in a handful of berries, nuts or raisins, or use flax oil to boost omega 3s, important for proper brain function and development.

Ingredients:

3 very ripe bananas
1/2 cup (125 ml) sugar (white or brown)
1 large egg
1/3 cup (85 ml) canola or flax oil
1 tsp. (5 ml) vanilla
2 cups (500 ml) all-purpose or whole  wheat flour, or a combination
1 tsp (5 ml) baking soda
1/2 tsp (2 ml) salt
1/2-1 cup (125-250 ml) berries, fresh or frozen
fruit, nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, or other additions

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F.

2. In a large bowl, mash the bananas with the sugar, egg, oil and vanilla until well blended – don’t worry about getting all the lumps out.

3. Add the flour, baking soda and salt and stir until the batter starts to come together. Add any additions you like and stir until combined.

4. Pour the batter into an 8” x 4” loaf pan that has been buttered or sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake for 50-60 minutes, until the top is golden and springy to the touch.

Makes 1 loaf; serves 10.

Per slice (made with half whole wheat flour and 1 cup blueberries):

242 calories, 6 g fat (0.6 g saturated, 3.6 g monounsaturated, 1.9 g polyunsaturated), 1 mg cholesterol, 45.7 g carbohydrate, 3.7 g protein, 3.7 g fibre

Originally published in ParentsCanada, May/June 2012