I heard the other day that banana bread has become a bit of rock star during quarantine. Apparently everyone is baking banana bread!
My question is…why should bananas have all the fun? I mean, we like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas, right (don’t tell me you don’t remember that song!)?! To honor this and the aforementioned quarantine staple, I whipped up this Paleo Apple Banana Bread.
One of the best parts about this Paleo Apple Banana Bread is it is lower in the carbohydrate department than traditional banana bread. For this, we can thank almond flour. Almond flour is a low carb, high protein alternative to wheat flour. However, it will not behave like wheat flour in recipes as it has no gluten, so it is not always a perfect substitute. But I’m not mad about it and it is a must-have in my pantry! If you’ve been hanging around Dishing Up Grace very long, you might know that my oldest daughter has type 1 diabetes. That means carbs are not always her friend. And since they’re not her friend, they certainly aren’t mine. Carbohydrates, especially of the refined variety, cause massive blood sugar spikes (and crashes), so we try to avoid them when possible.
Aside from being lower in carbs than wheat flour, almond flour also rich in other nutrients such as vitamin E and magnesium. These are essential for good health–let’s see why:
- Vitamin E is an antioxidant that has been shown to help lower the risk of heart disease and delay the progression of Alzheimers.1,2 And I’m sure you’ve heard it’s also great for skin!
- Magnesium can help control blood sugar, may alleviate some anxiety and depression symptoms, and can improve sleep.3
And that’s only scratching the surface of the benefits of these nutrients!
Want to jump on the banana bread bandwagon? Maybe take the road a little less traveled and try our Paleo Apple Banana Bread! Keep in mind, it will be a little flatter and denser than a banana bread made with wheat flour. But never fear, the texture and taste are delightful! Enjoy!
References:
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/almond-flour#section3
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-e/art-20364144
- https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-magnesium/
Apple Banana Bread (Paleo)
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp dairy-free butter or coconut oil
- 2 cups almond flour
- 1/4 cup tapioca flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp cinnamon
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 small apples peeled and diced
- 3 bananas smashed
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease the inside of a loaf pan with cooking spray and line with a cut piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
- Melt butter/coconut oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced apples and cook until softened. In a medium mixing bowl, add all dry ingredients. In separate large mixing bowl, add all wet ingredients. Slowly add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and combine well. Add diced apples and mix. Pour batter into prepared pan. Cover with foil and bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes or until done (will be firm in the center when pressed lightly).