Were finally in the home stretch with spring finally here, guys!
That means Summer, beautiful weather, and relaxation (with some added cooking of course) is just right around the corner!
For those of you who don't know, I go to school in Alabama and my family is currently in Georgia where I spent most of my childhood growing up.
So just a little clarification behind the name of the post.
can you tell I'm anxious to get back?
Lots of exciting other things going on this summer, but thats for a later post!
and whats the best way to kill time in between waiting?
Oh, how did you know?
Baking of course!
That means Summer, beautiful weather, and relaxation (with some added cooking of course) is just right around the corner!
For those of you who don't know, I go to school in Alabama and my family is currently in Georgia where I spent most of my childhood growing up.
So just a little clarification behind the name of the post.
can you tell I'm anxious to get back?
Lots of exciting other things going on this summer, but thats for a later post!
and whats the best way to kill time in between waiting?
Oh, how did you know?
Baking of course!
Nothing says "I miss home" like warm fresh out the oven banana bread.
So obviously I had to hit the kitchen to work some magic.
I was going for that old school banana bread look, flavor, smell, and familiar walnut crunch,
but I wanted to throw in a curve ball to change it up a bit, and to put my own little spin on my epic loaf.
So obviously I had to hit the kitchen to work some magic.
I was going for that old school banana bread look, flavor, smell, and familiar walnut crunch,
but I wanted to throw in a curve ball to change it up a bit, and to put my own little spin on my epic loaf.
Just like in any banana bread (and in life in general)
chocolate is a major necessity.
To up the protein, fiber, and melty chocolately goodness I opted to use a cut up Double Chocolate Chunk Questbar instead of the traditional chocolate chips!
Best.
Decision.
Ever.
chocolate is a major necessity.
To up the protein, fiber, and melty chocolately goodness I opted to use a cut up Double Chocolate Chunk Questbar instead of the traditional chocolate chips!
Best.
Decision.
Ever.
I mixed more than half of the quest bar and finely chopped walnuts in with the batter, and saved the other little bit for the top of the bread.
In this exact moment while I was taking this picture above, the debate to just eat this bowl of raw dough commenced because of how good it smelled......
It wasn't even in the oven yet and the entire kitchen smelled like a Keebler Elf Tree house....
needless to say it was gonna be a rough 30 min waiting/baking period....
It wasn't even in the oven yet and the entire kitchen smelled like a Keebler Elf Tree house....
needless to say it was gonna be a rough 30 min waiting/baking period....
like I said before, make sure to keep some of the walnuts and chopped Double Chocolate Chunk questbar for the top of your bread, its what gives the bread that extra crunch, and plus the chocolate quest bar melts and fluffs up under the high heat.....
Gosh I'm making myself drool just typing this description out....
Gosh I'm making myself drool just typing this description out....
Im still in utter shook of how good this turned out for my first official banana bread while just throwing some stuff together and making up my own recipe...... Usually that how all the greatest things are made, kinda just going off a whim and throwing everything together.
Another thing I'm still in utter shock about is how so much greatness can fit into a bread pan....
Because as you can see form the picture of the finished product below,
this banana bread can only describable as being associated with the stuff of legends.
Another thing I'm still in utter shock about is how so much greatness can fit into a bread pan....
Because as you can see form the picture of the finished product below,
this banana bread can only describable as being associated with the stuff of legends.
Can you tell with all the pictures I was itching to let this bad boy cool off so I could slice it up?
it goes without saying It was a waiting game...
it goes without saying It was a waiting game...
Let me try to put this banana bread into perspective for everyone.
Close your eyes and imagine the best food you've ever smelled...
ok open your eyes.
Now close them again, but this time imagine that smell x 10 maybe even x 20.
Yes people.
That good.
Close your eyes and imagine the best food you've ever smelled...
ok open your eyes.
Now close them again, but this time imagine that smell x 10 maybe even x 20.
Yes people.
That good.
It smelled so good in the entire house....
Needless to say I'm expecting hand written thank you letters form each of my individual neighbors for the smell.
Once again,
yes people.
That good.
Needless to say I'm expecting hand written thank you letters form each of my individual neighbors for the smell.
Once again,
yes people.
That good.
I certainly wouldn't doubt if all my neighbors probably think the Keebler Elf, Pillsbury Doughboy, Cookie Monster, and I were baking up batches of cookies and bread by the pounds from the aroma radiating from my kitchen.
The banana bread simply put, turned out more than perfect.
Exactly what I was shooting for in the final result.
That all to recognizable mom's own, oven baked, old school banana bread flavor that everyone grows up craving.
With that simple roasted walnut crust crunch inside and on top.
followed with the evenly distributed Double Chocolate Quest bar Chunks melted throughout.
Exactly what I was shooting for in the final result.
That all to recognizable mom's own, oven baked, old school banana bread flavor that everyone grows up craving.
With that simple roasted walnut crust crunch inside and on top.
followed with the evenly distributed Double Chocolate Quest bar Chunks melted throughout.
Trust me guys.... I wouldn't lead you astray, and when I say this could be the greatest thing to ever come out of my oven (and into my mouth) I still fell like its an understatement, and I'm not giving this banana bread its justice.
Get the full Recipe and instructions below! and try out your own-
Protein-Packed Double Chocolate Chunk Baked-Banana-Bread
Get the full Recipe and instructions below! and try out your own-
Protein-Packed Double Chocolate Chunk Baked-Banana-Bread
Ingredients- for 1 loaf (makes 7 slices but can easily be cut into more)
Macros (per serving/slice for 7)- 200 cal: 6F - 25.5C - 15P
Dry:
Wet:
Additions (Kept separate):
Instructions-
Macros (per serving/slice for 7)- 200 cal: 6F - 25.5C - 15P
Dry:
- 1cup oat flower (just blend rolled oats till flower like consistency)
- 1 Scoop Cinnamon Swirl Cellucor Whey Protein Powder
- 1 Scoop Whipped Vanilla Cellucor Whey Protein Powder
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
Wet:
- 3 mashed bananas (came out to be 1 1/2 cup)
- 2 eggwhites (6 tbs)
- 1tbs Sugar Free maple Syrup
- liquid stevia drops (Sweetleaf : Cinnamon flavor used in mine)
- 1/2 tsp Butter extract
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
Additions (Kept separate):
- 1 Double Chocolate Chunk Quest Nutrition bar (Cut up used as chocolate chips)
- 1/3 chopped Walnuts
Instructions-
- Set oven to 350
- Spray bread pan with non stick spray (I use Coconut oil)
- in a large bowl Mix all dry together, and set aside
- Mash bananas till liquidly with no chunks (use the back of a fork to mash)
- once banas are mashed and turned to a liquid, add the rest of the wet and mix throughly till combined
- Pour wet into dry and mix till combined and a thick consistency is formed
- add more than half of your chopped up quest bar and over half of your walnuts to batter and mix
- Pour batter into ready bread pan
- Top with the extra quest pieces and walnuts
- Stick in the oven and bake for 30-35 min, check yours because ALL OVENS ARE NOT MADE EQUAL PEOPLE
- Take out when you can stick a knife in it and it comes out clean
- Let cool on a cooling rack for 30 min or so before slicing
- Keep in a sealed container in fridge for up to a week to keep fresh