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Monday, September 8, 2014

Vegan Walnut Banana Bread

Vegan (but would never know it!) Walnut Banana Bread  |  Lavende & Lemonade



Flipping through the VB6 Cookbook I was drawn to the photo on page 87 of a nutty breakfast loaf:  Walnut Banana Bread.  Reading the caption, thinking about the browning bananas on my counter and last night's leftover rice...it was clear that this one was meant to be!


...Quoting in italics from page 86 of VB6 (I've added the photos from my kitchen):


Walnut Banana Bread


Makes 12 Servings 
Time About 1 hour

Vegan (but would never know it!) Walnut Banana Bread  |  Lavende & LemonadeWhenever you have leftover brown rice and overripe bananas around, try this whole-grain banana bread packed with fruit, spices, and nuts.  It's a real treat.  As the loaf bakes, it forms a rice-flecked crust for a pleasant crunch and a contrast of textures in every bite.  Serve it with some fresh berry jam (see page 58).

Ingredients:

1/4 cup vegetable oil
4 overripe large bananas
1 1/2 cups cooked long-grain brown rice
3/4 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped walnuts


Directions:

1.  Heat the oven to 375F.  Grease a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with some of the oil.  Mash the bananas in a large bowl.  Add the rice, maple syrup, vanilla, and the remaining oil; stir until thoroughly combined.
Vegan (but would never know it!) Walnut Banana Bread  |  Lavende & Lemonade

2.  Put the flour, baking powder, salt, and spices in a medium bowl; stir until everything is evenly distributed.
Vegan (but would never know it!) Walnut Banana Bread  |  Lavende & Lemonade

3.  Fold the dry ingredients into the rice mixture along with the nuts.  Gently stir until the mixture is just combined.
Vegan (but would never know it!) Walnut Banana Bread  |  Lavende & Lemonade

4.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick poked into the middle comes out clean.  Let sit on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes before inverting, then cool completely before slicing.  (Store loosely wrapped in the refrigerator for up to a day or two, or freeze in an airtight container for up to a couple months.)



Variations:
SWEET POTATO HAZELNUT BREAD:  Swap 3 small sweet potatoes - steamed, peeled, and mashed - for the bananas (you should have about 2 cups).  Use hazelnuts instead of the walnuts.

DOUBLE PUMPKIN BREAD:  Use 2 cups cooked or canned pumpkin and green pumpkin seeds instead of the bananas and nuts.


More ideas:
- Toss in dried raisins or cranberries along with the nuts. 
- Try other leftover cooked whole grains (like quinoa, oatmeal, or millet) instead of the rice
- Cooked and mashed apples, pears, or apricots work well in this bread too.

***

Me again...

So, I ran out of maple syrup so subbed in 1/3 maple syrup, 1/3 Mrs. Butterworths, and 1/3 honey.  Not exactly clean-eating with the Butterworths, but I happened to have a last squirt left in the cupboard from what was probably eons ago.

Vegan (but would never know it!) Walnut Banana Bread  |  Lavende & LemonadeThe results were still delicious, despite my improvisation. My husband and baby, who don't care for brown rice (hence all the leftovers...), have been gobbling this bread right up!

Read more about the VB6 book here, or ORDER VB6 HERE.


Do you have a favorite fruit bread or loaf?

71 comments:

  1. I absolutely love banana bread.. This is a great recipe to follow.

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  2. My MIL and daughter just made banana bread 2 weeks ago. Gotta ask them to add walnuts next time!

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  3. OMG thank you so much for sharing. I need to go get walnuts.

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  4. this is something I should try. making Walnut Banana Bread not overcooking. I'm thankful to see this post.

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  5. Mmm... that looks good! And so timely. I do have some bananas on the counter. Haven't tried this vegan yet. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Love Banana Bread but I don't eat Vegan foods. Looks good!

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  7. This looks so good. I am going to have to try it for a treat this weekend.

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  8. Looks delicious! I always love baking bread, especially now that it's getting towards fall. Thank you for sharing.

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  9. The walnut banana bread looks really tasty. I like to try it out.

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  10. Thank you for this recipe! We're always looking for interesting ways to make bread!

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  11. This sounds so crazy delicious good to me. I love banana bread, add walnuts and I'm over the moon happy. :)

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  12. Yum yum yum! This looks like a delicious recipe! This would be a hit in our home. =)

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  13. This looks so scrumptious, and I ~love~ that it is vegan!

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  14. This looks delicious!!! Plus it's a BIG bonus that it's vegan!

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  15. Oh my, I definitely need to pin this one. I wonder what it would taste like if I add zucchini ? Hmmm NAHHHH Thanks so much for sharing. Looks great!

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  16. That looks so incredibly moist & delicious! Definitely trying this recipe out soon! :-)

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  17. I had no idea you could use rice in banana bread. I'm so glad you posted the recipe!

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  18. That sounds delicious. My SIL is a vegan, so I will pass this on to her :)

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  19. Looks amazing! I'm not vegan, but I love these kinds of recipes. It looks like it would be easy to make.

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  20. I have never used rice in a banana bread. That is an interesting twist and it looks so good

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  21. I adore banana bread! This looks really delicious and healthy x

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  22. I love baking bread and am always looking for delicious, vegan recipes. Thank you for sharing this and for the photos!

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  23. I make banana bread a lot, but I would never think to use rice in it.

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  24. This looks awesome! I may try to make it.

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  25. This banana bread looks yummy! I have a friend who is a vegan and I may have to make this for her!

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  26. That looks so yummy! The pumpkin variation too! Would be great when I'm out of eggs :)

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  27. Oh my god, that looks AMAZING and the fact that it's vegan is a bonus! I'm not vegan but I do like to add vegan friendly things into my diet <3

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  28. Yummm I need to make this ASAP :) Great recipe!!

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  29. I really want to devour this with banana ice cream and whipped cream on top. Just sayin...

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  30. Mmmmm! This sounds delicious and a great recipe to make for all the vegans I work with!

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  31. i never thought of baking with brown rice! will try this yummy recipe! =)

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  32. I love banana bread. Interesting using rice in it. Love it though. It makes it your own. I will have to try it out one day.

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  33. I love banana bread and this sounds divine with the crunch of the walnuts, thanks for sharing the recipe and method :)

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  34. Thanks for linking up to Pin Worthy Wednesday, I have pinned your post to the Pin Worthy Wednesday Pinterest Board and this looks so tasty I love Banana bread :)

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  35. YUUM! I just made homemade banana muffins yesterday morning. I will have to give your recipe a go next time!!!

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  36. I love anything with banana and most especially Banana bread. Your recipe looks delicious and by looking at the photo it's moist the walnut will give every bite a crunch to it.

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  37. I love the idea of putting rice with this - never tried that in a banana bread recipe! Banana bread is one of my favourites too - the bf makes a mean loaf!

    Katie <3

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  38. This is a delicious recipe minus the walnuts. I don't like nut's in baked goods. I'll be trying this without the nuts very soon.

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  39. Looks delicious!! I've been wanting to make banana bread, might have to try this recipe!

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  40. I deathly allergic to walnuts. This looks so good I am cursing my allergy!

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  41. I love banana bread so much thanks for the recipe

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  42. I'm not vegan but this still sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing! Yumm!

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  43. That looks delish! I'm such a weirdo I hate banana's but I love their flavor. I can eat banana bread, banana pudding (save for the actual banana's) and any other thing with banana's but the actual banana by itself? No way!

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  44. Interesting! Looks so good.... never would have thought to put rice in it!

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  45. Looks delicious. I've never used long grain rice in a quick bread. I'll have to try this recipe. Thanks for the share.

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  46. Sounds and looks delicious! Love the idea of the rice in it. Yum!

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  47. I LOVE banana bread, and this looks like a great healthy version! Thanks so much for sharing this awesome giveaway!

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  48. We love banana bread! Thanks for the recipe!

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  49. Oooo - that Banana and Walnut Bread looks very tasty - I wish the ingredients fell into my current dietary restrictions. The thought of SWEET POTATO HAZELNUT BREAD also sounds very tasty.

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  50. Mr. Mashed Up loved banana bread. Thank you for the recipe. I honestly don't know how to make it well!

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  51. Wow this looks so good! If only I had an oven :'(

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  52. I love the idea of adding raisins in there too. This looks wonderful!

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  53. I would have never thought to use rice in a bread recipe! Awesome :-)

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  54. TASTY!!!! banana nut is my JAM!!!

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  55. Oh yum! I need to make this recipe! I have bananas in the freezer for this particular purpose. I better get on it :)

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    1. We do that too, its so convenient! Between that and smoothies sometimes it feels like we can't freeze them fast enough :)

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  56. This looks so delicious! I have definitely not seen rice in a bread recipe but why not. LOVE it.

    Thrifting Diva
    www.thriftingdiva.com

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  57. I love finding ways to sneak in healthier options for the family. This is an excellent post and I'll be trying out this recipe this weekend! Thank you!! :D

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    1. Exciting! Let me know how it goes, I hope they love it (their bodies will, its so much healthier than the typical banana bread) :)

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  58. YUUUM! I love banana bread and this is a recipe I haven't tried, so thanks!

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  59. I've actually never tried banana bread but it sounds really nice. sweet potato bread sounds interesting too!

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    1. I'm excited to try that one too, especially with all the fall veggies coming into season now!

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  60. Does this taste as good as it looks? I bet it does! Pinning!

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