2large bananaswell mashed, 1 cup; three bananas or 1.5 cups for a paleo version
1tablespoonvanilla extract
2tablespoonssugar-free sweetener or honey for a paleo version
8ouncesalmond flour2 cups; please measure by weight
1tablespoonground cinnamonreduce to 1-2 teaspoons for milder flavor
Pinchkosher salt
1teaspoonbaking sodaor a tablespoon of baking powder, gluten-free if needed
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a small loaf pan (8.5 X 4.5 inches) with parchment paper strips, leaving an overhang on each side of the pan. Lightly spray the lined pan with oil.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, mashed bananas, vanilla, and sweetener.
Gradually whisk in the almond flour, cinnamon, kosher salt, and baking soda. Whisk until smooth.
Using a rubber spatula, transfer the batter to the prepared pan. Gently tap the pan on the countertop to distribute the batter evenly.
Bake the bread until browned and set, and a toothpick inserted in its center comes out dry, 30-40 minutes (40-50 minutes if using three bananas and honey).
Using the excess parchment paper as handles, carefully remove the bread from the pan and transfer it to a wire rack. Carefully remove the parchment to allow air to circulate.
Cool the bread completely on the cooling rack for about 2 hours. Slice it into 12 slices and serve.
Video
Notes
Use ripe but not spoiled bananas. You want deep yellow bananas that have plenty of black spots on the outside and are very soft on the inside. Just make sure there are no white spots on the inside and that the inside is not runny - this means the banana is spoiled.
I use Bob's Red Mill Super-Fine Almond Flour. One cup of this flour weighs 4 ounces, so two cups weigh 8 ounces. It's best to measure almond flour by weight rather than by volume.
Occasionally, baking soda can cause a reaction in baked goods, resulting in an ammonia smell. If you're concerned about it happening, use 3-4 teaspoons of gluten-free baking powder instead of baking soda.
The bread emerges from the oven with a gorgeous dark crust. It smells heavenly. You will want to dig in immediately. Please don't! This bread is too soft and gooey when it comes out of the oven. It really needs to cool completely. I cool it for two hours on a cooling rack, and only then do I slice it - and it's perfect.
An 8.5 X 4.5-inch loaf pan holds 6 cups, while a standard 9 X 5-inch loaf pan holds 8 cups. If you'd like to use a standard loaf pan, you will need to increase the ingredients by about a third. So, use 4 eggs, 2.5 large bananas, 2.5 tablespoons of sweetener, 10.5 ounces of almond flour, and 1 ⅓ teaspoons of baking soda (or 4 teaspoons of baking powder). The vanilla, cinnamon, and salt can stay the same.
Storage: Once the bread is completely cool, slice it. Then, place the slices in an airtight container, separating layers with wax paper. You can keep them this way in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the slices in freezer bags. Again, if layering, separate the layers with wax paper.
If using three bananas and two tablespoons of honey for a paleo version, each slice has about 160 calories, 14 grams of carbs, 6 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of fiber.
If you need a lower-carb bread, I highly recommend this keto zucchini bread.