Love First Banana Bread Recipe

It’s gluten-free and dairy-free, and delicious as can be!

Love First recipes have two requirements: first, they have to make something delicious. The other first is that they must be created from a place of love, given to you by someone you love and who loves you, or co-created with someone(s) you love.

This banana bread recipe started as a gift from a friend that I love, who got it from her grandmother. I adjusted it for other people I love, such as making it gluten-free and learning that it’s important for eggs to be at room temperature when baking with gluten-free flour. Lastly, I added my own ingredients, Love being the not-so-secret one 😉💖

Equipment you’ll need:

• Hand mixer with whisk attachment (beaters work in a pinch)

• A big mixing bowl for making the batter, and a smaller one for smashing bananas

• Measuring cups & spoons, a spatula, and a zest peeler

Ingredients (in order of need):

• 3 Very ripe bananas 🍌 🍌 🍌

• 1 Cup sugar

• 1/2 Cup shortening (packed tight to ensure it’s 1/2 cup)

• 2 Eggs at room temperature 🥚 🥚 (important!)

• 1 1/4 Cup gluten free flour (if it doesn’t contain Xanthan gum, add 1/4 tsp)

• 1/2 teaspoon salt 🧂

• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

• 1/2 Tablespoon of chia seeds

• 1/3 Cup walnuts

• 3/4 tablespoon of orange zest 🍊

Preparation steps:

Smash the bananas in the smaller mixing bowl. If you’re baking in an oven, pre-heat it to 350° F.

Whisk the shortening and sugar together until very fluffy.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating very well after each addition. Keep it fluffy!

Blend in the flour, bananas, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract, and continue to beat well.

Blend in the chia seeds, walnuts and orange zest at the end with a spatula.

In an oven (preheated to 350°F):

Bake in a greased and floured loaf pan until a toothpick comes out clean.

In a bread machine:

Bake on Light or Medium color setting.

Enjoy! 🍌🍞

Send me your photos when you make this 💖