Naughty and Nice Caramelized Banana Bread
Author: 
Recipe type: Quick Bread, Snack, Gluten Free
Serves: 1 8" loaf
 
With a bit of booze, espresso, and chocolate yet no added sugars or gluten, this banana bread is both naughty and nice!
Ingredients
  • 3 very ripe bananas, sliced lengthwise + ½ for decoration
  • ½ cup soft Medjool dates, pitted (about 5 large dates)*
  • ¼ tsp + 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup Bailey's
  • ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp pink Himalayan salt
  • 1 tsp finely ground espresso
  • 1 cup oat flour**
  • ⅓ cup quinoa flour**
  • ⅔ cup buckwheat flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 small bar dark chocolate (50g), chopped
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350⁰F and line a 8"×4" loaf pan with parchment paper.
  2. Heat ¼ tsp coconut oil a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Once hot, place bananas cut side down and let cook for about 5 minutes, or until the bottom is caramelized and golden brown. Flip and continue to cook until other side is also caramelized. Immediately proceed to step 3 once bananas are finished cooking.
  3. In a food processor, blend pitted dates, caramelized bananas, and remaining coconut oil until smooth.
  4. Add the egg, Bailey's, vanilla extract, salt, and espresso to the food processor and process until smooth. Scrape down the sides periodically with a spatula to make sure everything is incorporated.
  5. If your food processor is large enough, add the remaining dry ingredients and process to mix. Alternatively, whisk together flours, baking soda, baking powder, and chopped chocolate in a large mixing bowl and then transfer the wet mixture from the food processor into the mixing bowl. Mix with a spatula until evenly combined.
  6. Transfer the batter into the prepared loaf tin. Use a spatula to smooth the top flat. Decorate with reserved half of a banana and bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes. A toothpick should come out clean when loaf is cooked.
  7. Cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
*If dates are not soft, soak whole dates in hot water for 10 minutes to rehydrate
**Make homemade flour by blitzing oats and quinoa in a coffee grinder until very fine
Recipe by Radiant Rachels at https://radiantrachels.com/caramelized-banana-bread/