As a typical social media distracted college student, I often find myself pinning recipes and colorful pictures of fruit salads on Pinterest instead of writing my five-page midterm paper. I recently stumbled upon a recipe for banana bread with three over-ripe bananas resting on my kitchen counter.
The problem with my final product was that it turned out so heavy and dry. With more than 200 calories in each slice, I wasn’t sure indulging in this Pinterest-inspired baking excursion was even worth the distraction from my midterm paper.
After a little research I found that the best solution to making better, healthier banana bread was substituting a single ingredient — butter. Using 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce in place of 1/3 cup of butter replaces 537 calories with 50 calories and cuts each slice of banana bread down to 100 calories.
Substituting applesauce made my banana bread a moist, guilt-free study snack. To add an even healthier twist to the recipe, consider using whole-wheat flour and adding chopped walnuts or raisins for a nice complement to the banana flavor.
Banana Bread Recipe:
• 3 ripe bananas
• ¾ cup of sugar (may substitute brown sugar)
• ½ cup of unsweetened applesauce (use cinnamon applesauce for more flavor)
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• 1 ½ cups of flour (may substitute whole-wheat flour)
Steps:
1. Preheat oven 375 degrees F
2. Mash bananas
3. Mix bananas with applesauce and egg in large bowl
4. Stir in flour, sugar, baking soda and salt
5. Pour in greased pan
6. Bake 45-60 minutes
Tips:
When trying to speed up the ripening process for bananas, put them in a paper bag with one apple for about a day. Exposing the banana to the ethylene gas from the apple.
Use a knife to check if the bread has been baked through. Insert the knife into the bread until it comes out clean.
