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๐คทโโ๏ธ What is Einkorn Flour?
Einkorn is the most ancient form of the cultivated wheat we know today. But over the decades, this grain has changed, for among other reasons, increased productivity. The result is that modern wheat flour has increased gluten, and isn't as easily digested as its earliest form.
When using einkorn flour for a yeasted bread dough, adjustments are required, as it doesn't absorb liquids in the same way as modern wheat. However, when baking a quick bread such as this banana bread, pancakes, and muffins, no adjustments are required.
Note: make sure the baking soda / baking powder you use in a quick bread recipe using einkorn wheat flour has not expired. Einkorn wheat is less forgiving than modern wheat flour, and you may not get a good rise if the chemical leavening has expired.
๐ง Main Ingredients + Notes
The secret to faster and easier meals often lies in the ingredients. For example, store-bought items and ingredients you make ahead and store in the refrigerator (or freezer) can turn a 60-minute recipe into a 30-minutes meal or less.
For the all of the ingredients, measurements and directions, go to the Recipe Card at the bottom of this post.
- Extra virgin coconut oil - If you substitute olive oil for coconut oil, check out this post on baking with olive oil.
- Maple syrup
- Bananas - They should be very ripe. Not with a ton of bruising, but soft and ripe.
- Apple sauce - either store-bought or make your own easy homemade applesauce.
- Vanilla extract
- Einkorn flour - I used whole wheat einkorn flour, but the more refined version is fine. See the section on Einkorn flour for more information on this flour.
- Baking soda
- Kosher salt
- Ground cinnamon
- Eggs
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to products and foods I use in my kitchen. This means that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. To view my entire storefront of recommended kitchen tools and equipment, check out my shop on Amazon.
๐ช Recommended Equipment
๐ Instructions Overview
Detailed instructions for making this Einkorn banana bread are in the recipe card below, but here's a quick overview!
Step 1
Caramelize and purรฉe. Simmer the bananas in coconut oil and maple syrup until lightly caramelized. Purรฉe in a food processor with apple sauce and vanilla extract. Cool.
Add the eggs, and whirl like crazy.
Step 2
Whisk. Whisk together the dry ingredients.
Step 3
Fold and bake . Fold the banana purรฉe into the dry ingredients, and transfer into a loaf pan, and bake until done.
๐พ Gluten-Free Banana Bread
If you follow a gluten-free diet, try this Banana Millet Bread that's made with whole millet seeds or this Oat Flour Banana Bread! They're both dairy-free and vegan.
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Healthy Caramelized Banana Bread
Equipment
- Food Processor or blender
Ingredients
- โ cup extra-virgin coconut oil, melted
- ยฝ cup pure maple syrup (stir in an additional 1 tablespoon for high altitude baking)
- 3 very ripe bananas cut into 1" slices
- ยผ cup apple sauce (use ยฝ cup apple sauce for high altitude baking)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ยพ cup (8.5 ounces or 240 grams) whole wheat einkorn flour (minus 1 tablespoon for high altitude baking)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda use ยพ teaspoon for high altitude baking
- ยพ teaspoon kosher salt or ยฝ teaspoon table salt
- ยฝ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 large eggs
Instructions
- Butter a loaf pan. Preheat the oven to 350ห F.
- Pour the melted coconut oil and maple syrup in a skillet over medium heat. Add the bananas and simmer for 10 minutes, until the bananas soften and slightly caramelize. Transfer everything into the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, and add the apple sauce and vanilla extract. Whirl like crazy until the bananas are completely pureed.
- Cool for a few minutes and add the eggs. Whirl until frothy.Pro tip: It's important to allow the mixture to cool down before adding the eggs, or you risk scrambled eggs in your banana bread.
- In a medium bowl, whisk togetherย the einkorn flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Fold the banana puree unto the flour mixture, using a spatula. Pro tip: Only mix the batter until the flour mixture is completely incorporated into the puree, and no more than that. This helps keep the finished bread more tender.
- Pour the batterย into the buttered loaf pan, and bake for 40 - 45 minutes, or until a toothpick or wooden skewer comes away clean when slid into the center of the bread.ย High altitude note: If baking this at sea level, 40 minutes baking time should suffice. In the mountains, you'll need closer to 45 minutes, depending on your altitude.
- Cool for at least 10 minutes on a cooling rack. Ran a sharp knife around the edges of the bread, and flip the loaf pan upside down. The banana bread should slide out onto the cooling rack.
- Store at room temperature, covered with plastic wrap, for up to 3 days. It also freezes well for up to 6 months.
Bevi
Brilliant advice, along with keeping table flowers well below eye level!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
YES! Table flowers must be below eye level! Good pointer!!
Eileen Kelly
This is a fabulous bread! I am pinning and getting the flour tomorrow too!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I'm excited you're going to try this!! PLEASE let me know how it goes for you!!
Rosemary Mark
Susan -- May I just skip from #1-#12? hee-hee Love your organization and I'll likely reference it for our annual holiday party. I've been meaning to do more experimenting with einkorn, glad to know its more available now. I brought Dinkel flour which is spelt home from Germany. Have you worked with spelt flour too?
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I have spelt four, but Iโve only worked with it a bit. Now that my baking time of year is here, Iโd like to work with it and my other specialty flours more. Iโll bet your daughter has some fabulous recipes with spelt!
Rita
I'm a quick bread devotee. For a non-baker like me, it's an easy route to go (just as muffins are. I've always loved banana bread, and might try this with toasted walnuts. I like some crunch in quick breads.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I hope you like it!! I just saw another recipe that looks interesting that incorporates cream cheese that I'd love to try. Except I'm pretty sure the calories on it will dramatically change. #notsohealthy
Diego Lopes
Sounds so delicious!! I'm not a big fan of banana bread, but I loved this recipe! Wanna try it!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks so much!!
mjskitchen
Caramelizing the bananas in coconut oil and maple syrup sounds pretty awesome! I've never worked with Einkorn flour before but I'm starting to see it used more and more. Need to check into it. Great bread!
Thanks for the list for party planning. We're hosting Thanksgiving this year to a bigger than normal group, so this is very helpful!
Diane
This recipe is absolutely amazing! Pinned. I'm def gonna try to make this for the kids tommorrow.
Sheila
These are brilliant tips. The first one is my favorite. I also would like to keep it simple. I have always believed that there is beauty in simplicity. Also, dropping by to say that this banana bread is so yummy.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks so much!!
Bob Totans
Just made this morning with my 4 year old granddaughter. My daughter said it was incredible and I agree. Made similar Einkorn recipe but it called for sugar...Iโm definitely sticking with your recipe.
Thank you
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I'm so happy both you and your family liked it so well!!! Thanks for letting me know!
Emma
Itโs in the oven baking now, I used 2 ripe bananas. A great smell dills our houseโฆ canโt wait and tea ready!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Fabulous!!!! I hope you like it!!!
MomsaBasketCase
I made this recipe today, and it turned out fantastic!! I found it a bit too sweet but loved it, regardless. I'm wondering if the syrup could be cut down a bit without affecting the texture.
I will add that I baked the bread in my Nesco Roaster, outside since it's too hot to use my oven inside; temp set at 350*. It took about 50 minutes to bake. The bread rose nicely, and according to my son, was the best banana bread on the planet! lol
I will definitely be baking more!
Dorothy Reinhold
Caramlizing the maple syrup and bananas sounds amazing! I can't wait to enjoy a big slice!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I think you would love this!
Hadia
The bread sounds out of the world good, and the stress-free entertaining tips you provided are priceless!
Toni
Everyone at my house will surely love this!
Kedra
How do you think honey would sub for the maple syrup? It sounds delicious! I may just try to make one of each!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I haven't made it with honey, but it should work well I would think. I'd love to hear how honey works if you try it!
Keisha
I just made the banana caramelized portion alone and put it on my butter toast. It was yummy. Will try the whole recipe another day. Thank you for sharing. Love it.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
What a great idea! I have some bananas right now in the refrigerator, and think I'll do that with one of them !
Denise
Could you add chocolate chips or pecans? Thanks!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Absolutely! No other changes would be required. I would wait until the bread is cooled before slicing it with chocolate chips - otherwise they smear all over the knife, and you lose some of the yummy chocolate. But that might only be important to me since I photograph it, and love chocolate, LOL.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I'm allergic to pecans, so haven't tried it, but it should work great with no other changes. (Just wanted to make sure you didn't think I was only responding to the chocolate idea in my above comment. ๐