Sweet Surprise Vegan Banana Bread

Fall is for baking all kinds of sweet, yummy treats. This easy banana bread with a sweet surprise middle is no exception. Makes a great quick snack or perfect with a cup of hot coffee or tea to get your day going on a chili November morning. It is semi-dense, moist and not too sweet. I pureed the bananas to give the bread a consistent banana flavor throughout. A hint of sweetness is welcomed in each pleasant bite from the cinnamon sugared walnuts that make up the center of this divine banana bread.

Banana Bread
DRY Ingredients:

1 ½ cup all purpose unbleached flour

1/3 cup milled rolled oats

2 tablespoons vegan sugar

2 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon cinnamon powder

WET Ingredients:

3 medium ripe bananas

1/3 cup almond milk (other non-dairy milk is ok)

1/3 cup light olive oil (or melted coconut oil)

2 tablespoons molasses

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

coconut or olive oil spray

Sweet Walnut Center

½ cup (heaping full cup) chopped walnuts

1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoon maple syrup

½ teaspoon cinnamon

Cinnamon Sugar Topping

1 teaspoon sugar and 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon powder mixed

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°.

Spray a 9x5” loaf pan with oil spray, set aside.

Place all sweet walnut center ingredients into a bowl and mix well, set aside.

Mill the oats in a food processor (or any blender/mixer machine).

Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.

Place bananas into a blender (or any blender/mixer machine) with milk and puree. Place the pureed bananas into a bowl with all wet ingredients, mix well. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and blend well.

Place half the banana bread batter into the pan.

Add the sweet walnut center mix on top of the batter, keeping it in the center away from the sides.

Place the remaining batter on top of the sweet walnut mixture and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

Bake for approximately 40-45 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Remove from pan and let cool. It should come out of the pan very easily.

Brew some coffee or make a cup of tea and enjoy this delicious, easy to make Sweet Surprise Banana Bread.