WHOLE GRAIN BANANA BREAD

Whole Grain Banana Bread image

Provided by Lance Washburn

Time 1h20m

Number Of Ingredients 22

1ST STAGE INGREDIENTS:
1/4 c wheat germ
1/4 c ground flax seed
1/4 c oat flour
1/4 c whole wheat flour
3/4 c bread flour
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2ND STAGE INGREDIENTS:
1/3 c coconut oil
1/4 c honey
1/4 c packed natural brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 c mashed over ripe bananas
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3RD STAGE INGREDIENTS:
1/4 hot water
1 tsp baking soda
OPTIONALS:
1/2 c chopped walnuts
1/2 c dark chocolate chips, preferrably 60% cocoa
1 c strawberries, hulled and sliced (strongly recommend this.... yum yum)

Steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2. Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan with coconut oil.
3. Combine flour, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Whisk and set aside.
4. In another large bowl, combine butter, honey, and sugar and beat for two minutes. Add the eggs and lightly beat until just combined. Mix in bananas and vanilla -- do not over mix. Gradually beat in the flour mixture in thirds.
5. Dilute baking soda in ¼ cup hot (not boiling) water, then beat into batter.
6. Fold in, by hand, any optional ingredients that you choose.
7. Pour the batter into the pan and bake at 325 for 50-60 minutes. (Test for doneness being careful not to over bake as it may dry out the bread)
8. Remove from pan and place on a wire rack to cool. If you plan to serve this to guests and want clean slices, then allow it to cool for 30 minutes. If you want to enjoy some melt-in-your-mouth, out-of-this-world, warm banana bread, then dig in after 5 minutes.