A few weeks ago, I encouraged everyone to bake bread because what else can we do while stuck inside with the COVID-19 pandemic around us? I guess the whole world took my advice because people are having a hard time finding flour nowadays! Today, a friend mentioned that she couldn’t find flour to bake banana bread. My ears perked up. Banana bread is one of my family’s weekly staples. I asked if she had oats and she did…so Dummy in the Kitchen sweeps in for a rescue! I sent her the recipe and decided to post it here too so that all you lucky people can bake this simple Five Ingredient Banana Bread, even if you don’t have flour!
This recipe only requires 5 ingredients. But I do like to sneak in bits of nutrients for the family. Both flaxseed meal and chia seeds provide good amounts of protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids. They are also a rich source of vitamins and minerals. The family won’t even know that it’s there. I won’t tell if you don’t! And then there’s the chocolate chips. When I’m feeling generous, the family may find some in their muffins. And I get hugs and kisses all around.
Bananas and dates are not only natural sweeteners, but they are also a major source of fiber! Use overripe, dark spotted bananas – the riper a banana is, the sweeter it is. If you have an overripe banana, but aren’t ready to bake, you can peel it and freeze it! Frozen bananas work just as well in this recipe. I usually get my dates from Costco (Desert Valley Organic Deglet Noor Dates). After opening the packaging, I refrigerate the dates. The next time I use the dates to make this Five Ingredient Banana Bread, it can be a little hard. So I just soak the dates in water for a few minutes before blending it with all the other ingredients. Dates aren’t one of those ingredients that everyone has on hand. We’ve also made this with plain ole sugar, and it tastes just as good!
You might be like me… unable to resist taking a bite… before serving to the family 🙂
Five Ingredient Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 2 C oats
- 1 C pitted dates can substitute with 1/3C sugar
- 3 bananas
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon optional
- 2 tbsp flaxseed meal optional
- 2 tbsp chia seeds optional
- 2 tbsp chocolate chips optional, wait to add after all other ingredients are blended
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Grease a muffin or loaf pan.
- Mix all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.
- Pour batter into muffin or loaf pan.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes for muffins, 45-50 minutes for loaves.
Adapted from Pinch of Yum Amazingly Wholesome 5 Ingredient Banana Bread Muffins
