There are many recipes for Banana Bread and they all are very good. I tried to make a delectable and healthy version using spelt flour, sweetening it with honey and sprinkling walnuts on top.
I am quite intransigent on what I like to buy, eat, cook and bake and -as a consequence- on what I like to post on the foodblog. What we share, both savory and sweet, are recipes that we prepare with love and care for the family consumption and that follow our belief, disposition and personal taste. Sometimes these recipes might be "trendy" and popular, sometimes not, but always tried and true. Rest assured that everything we made, photographed and shared, has been gobbled and gone 😉 . Like this Spelt Flour Banana Bread With Walnuts And Honey
I love sweets and I love to bake. I mostly bake breakfast items that can also be good as dessert. And sometimes desserts, that are good to eat at breakfast. My personal preference being for simple, unsophisticated flavors, made with wholesome, organic products in their most natural form. It is perhaps for my own safety, since I consume a good quantity of sweets, that I've always tried to combine deliciousness and healthiness in most of my baked goods. And when we indulge in something less beneficial for our wellness but more appealing to the tastebuds (and we need that, too), we try to compensate in our meal planning for the week. Balance is the key for everything. And libra is my zodiacal sign, so the scales are a constant in my life 🙂 .
And that takes me to today's baking: Spelt Flour Banana Bread With Walnuts And Honey.
Spelt flour has become a staple in my pantry. I find it more digestible and easy on my stomach than processed refined flour. I don't know if I developed an intolerance to wheat, during the years, but lately I've been drawn to ancient grains and gluten-free flours more than before. And since carbs (and sweets) have always been my favorites, I am adding goods made with gluten-free flours or with spelt and kamut to my everyday diet. And I feel better.
This loaf is a play on the classic Banana Bread, but with the addition of spelt flour, honey and walnuts, each ingredient blending and melding to create a moist, light and flavorful loaf. The bananas, together with extra virgin olive oil and oat milk provide the moisture, the honey and spelt flour a mild sweetness, the walnuts the crunch and additional nuttiness. Just a note on honey: consider it a great swap to refined sugars, being a natural antibacterial, antimicrobial, immunity system builder and a source of antioxidants.
This Spelt Flour Banana Bread With Walnuts And Honey is perfect for breakfast, or as a snack when the sweet craving hits. Half a slice would suffice, since the bread is quite filling. After all, spelt flour is highly nutritious (it contains more protein, fats and crude fibre than wheat), honey is nature's energy booster and a handful of walnuts will get you enough of the recommended levels of minerals, vitamins, and protein.
I really enjoyed this banana bread. I froze half of the loaf cut into slices, and took it out of the freezer in the morning to have it as my breakfast. I toasted it, added a little honey on top, or some jam, and it was a delicious, nutritious start to my day. I also brought it to work and shared it with my coworker. She is really appreciating my baking and she already said she is going to miss me deeply when I'm gone.
I don't know if I am going to miss anybody, really, as I am going back to my other half 🙂 .
Song of the day: "7 Years", Lukas Graham.
Recipe adapted from: Apples Under my Bed.
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Spelt Flour Banana Bread With Walnuts And Honey
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf bread 1x
Description
There are many recipes for Banana Bread and they all are very good. I tried to make a delectable and healthy version using spelt flour, sweetening it with honey and sprinkling walnuts on top.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups organic whole spelt flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup raw, organic honey
- 2 organic free range eggs
- 1 cup mashed bananas (about 2 medium bananas)
- ¼ cup milk (I used oat milk)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup walnuts, chopped and toasted
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350° F) and line a 20 cm x 5 cm loaf tin, with baking paper hanging over the edges so you can lift it out easily.
- Chop the walnuts and toast for about 5 minutes. Set aside.
- Sift the spelt flour, baking soda and salt into a large mixing bowl and stir to combine.
- Beat the olive oil and honey together in a separate bowl. Add the eggs and beat well. Mash the bananas into the mixture, then add in the milk and vanilla and stir to combine.
- Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Add ¾ of the chopped and toasted walnuts and combine. Leave some to sprinkle on top.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and smooth the surface with the moistened back of a spoon or spatula. Top with the rest of the walnuts.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before lifting out and cooling on a wire rack for a further 30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
It is important not to over-mix spelt or you may risk having a crumbly texture.
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
Ricetta in Italiano:
Print Plum Cake di Farro con Banane, Miele e Noci
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 tazza e ½ di farina integrale di farro
- 1 cucchiaino di bicarbonato
- ½ cucchiaino si sale
- ⅓ di tazza di olio extra vergine d'oliva
- ½ tazza di miele
- 2 uova biologiche da allevamento a terra
- 2 banane medie, mature, schiacciate
- ¼ tazza di latte (io ho usato il latte d'avena)
- 1 cucchiaino di estratto di vaniglia
- ½ tazza di noci, tritate e leggermente tostate
Instructions
- Preriscaldate il forno a 180°C e foderate uno stampo da plum cake con carta da forno.
- Tritate le noci e tostatele per cica 5 minuti in forno. Mettete da parte.
- Passate al setaccio la farina di farro, il sale e il bicarbonato di soda in una ciotola grande.
- A parte battete l'olio e il miele, poi unite le uova e battete il tutto.
- Versate gli ingredienti liquidi in quelli secchi e amalgamate velocemente, non troppo.
- Aggiungete buona parte delle noci tritate e tostate. Lasciatene un po' da spolverare sulla superficie.
- Versate l'impasto nello stampo preparato, livellate la superficie e cospargete di noci tritate.
- Cuocete nel forno preriscaldato per circa 50 minuti, o finché uno stuzzicadenti inserito nel centro non esca pulito.
- Sfornate, lasciate raffreddare 5 minuti nello stampo, poi su una gratella per una trentina di minuti prima di affettare.
This is the version I've made with walnuts in the batter and dark (70%) chocolate chunks on top. Amazing!
I'm on a big kick of buying half-price bananas at the grocery store right now, usually for smoothies. Problem is they fester faster than I can use them so I know banana bread is inevitable. Thanks for the inspiration, especially to buy a bag of spelt flour. I love whole and heritage grains but have to admit, sometimes the price scares me off a bit. I think it'll be worth the splurge.
Thank you Tiffany, I know, gluten-free flours and ancient grains can be a little pricey, but I think they're worth it. And yes, to use up bananas, banana bread is inevitable 🙂 .
I 'inherited' half a bag of spelt flour from someone recently and I've been trying to decide just what to do with it. I have to say, this looks wonderful. I have a soft spot for recipes that look sweet, but not TOO sweet, and loaves like this really speak to me. I'm imagining the honey and the walnuts must be just perfect additions.
Spelt flour and baking go so well together 🙂 . I eat a lot of sweets, but not if they are overly sweet. This loaf cake is nutty, soft, crunchy from the walnuts and not too sweet thanks to the honey. Thanks Sean for stopping by!
I have a bunch of overripe bananas and I've been pondering what to make with them. This might be it! I love honey-sweetened bread and muffins.
Oh thanks, Laura! It was such a great loaf cake, nutritious and delicious 😉 .
Ohhh I love the sound of this banana bread! It would be amazing with a hot cup of coffee 🙂
It was actually amazing with a cup of cappuccino every morning until it was finished 😉 . Thank you so much for your nice comment!
Great article:-). Best regrads for Author!
Thank you 🙂 .
Very good post:-). Best regards!
Thank you Mark, for stopping by, glad you liked the post.
I am on a low carb diet and I have to say that when my colleagues bring cup cakes to work with lots of icing, or birthday treats I feel left out. This is such an amazing recipe, thank you for posing it. I have made it 4 times and it works. Today I added chia seeds and oats which made it even healthier. I love it, love it, love it!!!
I am so happy to receive this kind of comments! And so so glad you're liking the recipe! I love your additions! Chia seeds and oats are so good for you. I like it when people give the recipes their own touch. Thank you!
I love banana bread! This is great:)
Thanks! And this is so good and "healthier" 🙂 .
I love a good banana bread, and I love that you used spelt flour in this one to up the protein + fiber content. Excited to try it!
Thank you Rebecca! I was really pleased with this banana bread. Hope you like it as much as we did.
It really is interesting to see all the different ways that you can cook banana bread, isn't it? I love your use of spelt flour and raw honey as a way to make this bread healthier.
You're right, endless ways. I love spelt flour, such a great nutty flavor, and awesome texture.
I've never used spelt flour - This looks like the perfect recipe to try it out! Love the addition of honey as well.
Thanks Christine! Spelt flour is so great, and honey/maple syrup are among my favorite natural sweeteners.
Wow! This is a delicious banana bread. Love it! My new favorite banana bread recipe! Thank You!
So happy you love it as much as wed do! Thanks so much for giving us your feedback!
Made this tonight and it was fabulous—thank you so much for the great recipe! I added a tea spoon of cinnamon to the dry ingredients and some vegan chocolate chips along with the nuts and it was devine!
I can just imagine how good it was!! Thanks so much for the feedback. I want to bake it again now 🙂 !
In the oven right now. I like the idea of planning ahead and freezing. How do you freeze your loaf and slices and still enjoy?
Happy to hear that 🙂 . I usually use half and freeze the other half when it's more than myself in the house and I know that we can finish it in no more than 2 days. If I am by myself, I freeze 1 or 2 slices at a time, wrapped in plastic, take it out at night and enjoy it at breakfast warmed up in the toaster oven or toaster.
This is my first time baking with spelt flour, and I am a fan now! Awesome recipe, I just substituted milk with buttermilk as that’s what I had, turned out amazing. Thank you!????
Thank you so much for your feedback! I am glad you are now a spelt flour fan 🙂 . I also have recipes for muffins made with spelt flour and they're great.
This recipe turned out so well! I've had a lot of spelt flour baking failures but this is a keeper. My family loves it! Thank you.
So happy! Thank you for the feedback. I have many recipes with spelt flour, it is my favorite ????.
I look forward to making this, as I’m collecting new recipes to to support a more alkaline diet. Any recommendations on an egg substitute?
Thank you! It is a great banana bread recipe to have in the collection. Unfortunately I have never tried an egg substitute, but I guess it is made with chia seeds and water. You can find it online on many vegan websites.
I made this with a little ground nutmeg and substituted walnut oil for the olive. It was the best banana bread I've ever made, and I've made lots:-). Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for your feedback. I love this banana bread and I am so happy you love it too! Great addition the nutmeg and walnut oil, by the way!
I'm excited to try this recipe. I have a cast iron loaf pan, so will the bake time need to be adjusted?
Hi! Thank you for wanting to try our recipe! I hardly use cast iron pots and pans so I'm not very familiar with cooking times. I think it might cook faster, so maybe reduce the time, I would check it after 30-35 minutes with a cake tester inside. And I'm also thinking that it would make a crispier crust. Maybe 🙂 . You'll have to bake and see.
Does this work as muffins, reducing the cooking time?
Hi! I have not tried it, but I would say yes. Actually this is a great idea! I would go for half the cooking time, 20-25 minutes and I would add chocolate chips on tops 😉 . Let me know how it goes! Thanks!
The cake looks lovely and healthy. I will attempt to bake it for my wife although I will need to substitute the eggs (will try ground flaxseed + water) and the hazelnuts (for cacao nibs). Fingers crossed it turns out ok
Thank you! This is such a great banana bread! Never made it without eggs, but hopefully it will turn out good with your substitutions. You can omit walnuts and add cacao nibs or dark chocolate. Let me know how it goes.
I bought some sprouted spelt flour for the first time. I'm excited to try some new recipes with it. Should I use all sprouted spelt flour, or should I mix in some all purpose white flour? I don't want my bread to turn out dense. Thank you.
So happy you are going to try spelt flour! I have so many recipes using it. I would suggest, for now, to mix some all purpose flour so you are not going to have too dense a texture. In the future you can adjust.