I love banana bread. And let's be real, who doesn't? I am always on the lookout for another new recipe to try, I don't think I've ever used the same one twice! So here is my attempt at my own banana bread recipe.

For my banana bread I wanted something that was healthy. And not just 'healthy' with air-quotes, meaning little sugar. I mean (in addition to little sugar) NO butter, NO oil, and still jam-packed with hearty ingredients, so a slice of this bread will make you feel full for a while.

This was quite a high demand, but I was determined to do it. And so I did!

This banana bread uses apple sauce to replace butter and oil, and oats to replace most of the flour. I also added chia seeds, almonds, and walnuts to up the healthy factor. And sure enough, when I'm craving the munchies, one slice of this gets me through the afternoon!

This bread is great for breakfast, a snack, or even dessert. Try it out for yourself!

Step 1: Gather Ingredients

For this recipe you will need:

3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cup oats
2 tbsp chia seeds (optional)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2-3 mashed bananas
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup apple sauce
1/2 cup mix-ins (walnuts, chocolate chips, raisins)

Step 2: Dry Ingredients

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a medium bowl, sift the flour, oats, chia seeds, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and baking powder together.

Set aside.

Step 3: Wet Ingredients

In a small bowl mash the bananas together. Press in the lemon juice. (I've found that lemon juice enriches the banana flavour, and preserves the bread for longer)

In a medium bowl, beat vanilla extract, eggs, sugar, and apple sauce together.

When well mixed, add bananas and stir well.

Carefully fold the dry ingredients into the wet ones, being careful not to over mix.

Step 4: Add Mix-ins and Bake

Fold in whatever mix-ins you desire (I recommend nuts, raisins, or for a sweeter bread: chocolate chips).

Pour batter into a greased loaf pan and bake for 50 min (or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean).

Step 5: All Done!

Allow the bread to cool for 10 minutes before indulging!

Step 6: Tip: Eating the Bread As Dessert

This bread doesn't really need sweetening, it is filled with flavour! But if you are serving as dessert, and feel the need to kick it up a notch, I have an extremely simple tip for you.

Add butter.

That's it! That's all this bread needs to turn it from a healthy breakfast bread to an ideal dessert, perfect companion for a cup of tea. Heat the bread in the microwave and apply a thin layer of butter as soon as it comes out. The butter will melt right into the bread leaving a beautiful shiny layer on top. And of course adding the butter to the warm bread will induce a mouth-watering aroma that will persuade even the pickiest of eaters to indulge. And with a bread this healthy, you don't even need to feel guilty about the extra bit of calories!