Sunday, March 09, 2014

Banana Apple Bread (Gluten Free) and Rachel’s Chocolate Chip Cookies—Secret Recipe Club

Apple Banana Bread

I was SO happy to find this banana bread recipe on my Secret Recipe Club blog assignment for this month.  I’ve been dying to find a banana bread recipe that looked like it would be easy to make gluten free and refined sugar free and decided this was it.  Thank you Chris and Rachel from The Keenan Cookbook (my secret blog).  This is perfect.  NO ONE would ever know this is gluten free.  I also made it with coconut sugar and you can’t tell.  Perfect for me.  My silly boys, who love banana bread, turned up their noses and wouldn’t even try it when I told them it was gluten free.  This is my way of hoarding the loaf for myself.  I savored it for days.  Because of the bananas and the apple and some applesauce, this bread is nice and moist and the walnuts I added were a perfect crunch. 

Banana Apple Bread 2

Banana Apple Bread (Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free), adapted by Katrina, Baking and Boys! from The Keenan Cookbook (Check out the link for their “unadapted” recipe.)

1  3/4 cup gluten free flour blend (I used Premium Gold ancient grains blend, found at Costco)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1  1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 cup coconut sugar

1 teaspoon unsulphured molasses

1/3 cup coconut oil

2 large eggs

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

3 tablespoons almond milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large bananas, mashed

1 medium apple, peeled and finely grated

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped and lightly toasted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Spread some coconut oil evenly in a 9x5 bread pan (I also love putting nonstick foil in the pan first, but still usually coat it with coconut oil, you can spray with cooking spray, too).  You can also make this batter in to muffins, spread oil in each muffin cup.  Set aside.  In a bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.  Whisk together.  In another bowl, combine the sugar, molasses and coconut oil.  Stir together until well combined.  Add the eggs and applesauce and stir to combine.  Stir (or whisk) in the almond milk and vanilla.  In a another bowl with a fork, or small food processor, add the bananas and pulse until mashed into a puree.  Add the bananas to the wet ingredients and grate the apple into the bowl.  Stir to combine.  Fold in the walnuts.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.  Bake for 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.   Let bread sit on a wire rack for about 10 minutes, then carefully turn the bread out onto the wire rack to cool completely. 

Banana Apple Bread 3 (Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free)

I love banana anything.

Apple Banana Bread March SRC

Instead of bread, I usually make muffins because they bake so much faster, which means you can be eating banana bread sooner.  So I tried that with this recipe.  Great muffins!

Apple Banana Muffins

I made the bread weeks ago and the muffins just last week.  I have more bananas on the counter, ready and waiting to make this bread again soon!

Apple Banana Muffin

Mmmm!  THEN just because I like looking at cookies on blogs and because my family is “suffering” with my new health changes with my baking less (poor, poor family), I saw the Keenan’s also posted their favorite chocolate chip cookies recipe and I had to make that—for my family and because it was chocolate chip cookies.

Rachel's Chocolate Chip Cookies

I didn’t even taste them, but they were gone in a day or two.  They are definitely simple to make.  Rachel has taken the original Nestle Tollhouse chocolate chip cookie recipe and added an extra cup of flour, which is think is brilliant because I’ve never cared for the Nestle recipe (still love the company and Ruth Wakefield and her invention of the chocolate chip cookie).  I’ve always thought the cookies turn out too flat and a bit greasy.  I know many like their chocolate chip cookies that way, and that’s fine.  But what a simple idea and an easy way to make a thicker, soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie—just add a little more flour.

Rachel's Chocolate Chip Cookies March SRC

Thank you, Rachel, for that idea.  I didn’t change a thing from her adapted Nestle recipe, so get it at The Keenan Cookbook.  I really enjoyed their blog.  They both share in the cooking and baking, she photographs the recipes and he writes up the posts, sharing their yummy recipes and their thoughts about being parents to two little boys.  Hey, I know a thing or two about that times two.  ;  )

I love being a part of the Secret Recipe Club.  Check out all the yummy stuff below!

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9 comments:

Lisa said...

Those cookies look so good, thick and soft, just the way I like them. And that banana bread looks like something I'd enjoy too. Next time don't tell them it's gluten-free, wait till they eat it and enjoy it, then spill the secret.

Sawsan@chef indisguise said...

I love banana bread and yours looks heavenly!! I am with Lisa, next time don't tell anyone it is gluten free and see if anyone can find out, I doubt it

The Heritage Cook said...

Fantastic choices Katrina! Now I want both of them, LOL!

Shelby said...

This is the second time in the last two days I have have seen mention of coconut sugar. I am now going to go on the search for this ingredient! Your banana bread looks perfect. I need to pick up on my gluten free baking/cooking because in just a couple short months my dad and mom will be here for a visit and dad is gluten free!

Renee Paj said...

those cookies look PERFECT!! I'm always on the hunt for the next best chocolate chip cookie recipe! (I usually add extra flour to tollhouse cookies too...not a fan of flat cookies!)

angela@spinachtiger said...

That gluten free banana bread looks sensational. Healthy can be good. You've done it again.

Unknown said...

I'm a big fan of banana bread too and love your gluten free twist.

Veronica Miller said...

I think banana bread is a wonderful thing to healthify! I've got a sugar-free loaf baking right now (but not loaded with chemicals - I'm a stevia fan). Your version looks really amazeballs - good call on telling the kids it was gf BEFORE they tore into it. Smart mama! haha

bcmomtoo said...

The banana bread looks really good, and especially the muffins. Smart idea telling the kids it's gluten free so you can keep it all to yourself!