Orange spice banana bread. It’s like regular banana bread, but sexier. The kind of sexy that wears an old wool sweater and glasses. The nerdy kind.
Despite all this, it’s also delicious.
My internet is also still quite unreliable, so this’ll be a short one.
Orange Spice Banana Bread
- 2 ridiculously ripe bananas
- 2 eggs
- 1 T canola oil
- 1/2 C plain or vanilla fat-free yogurt (keep in mind that vanilla yogurt will be sweeter, and adjust accordingly! I used vanilla.)
- 1/4 C skim milk
- 1/2 C brown sugar
- 1 T orange zest
- 1 t orange extract (optional)
- 3 T ground flaxseed
- 1 1/2 C all-purpose flour
- 1/2 C almond flour (or use two cups total all-purpose flour)
- 1/4 t salt
- 1 t baking powder
- 1/2 t baking soda
- 1 t each cinnamon and nutmeg
Like most quick breads, this recipe couldn’t be easier. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, mix the wet ingredients, add the dry, and pour into a greased/parchment papered loaf pan.
Here, I decided to top the loaf with whole walnuts. That’s up to you, though I must say it made a really nice crunchy top crust.
Bake on the middle rack until an inserted skewer comes out with a few crumbs clinging to it, about an hour.
Yum! I’m by no means an expert at creating breads, but this one came out perfectly–dense and moist like any banana bread, but still light enough to eat two slices at once (or three, if you are Fritz).
The orange flavor is pretty subtle, and you could ramp it up a bit with more orange zest (or sub OJ for the skim milk? More sugar there, though).
Perfect with a pat o’ butter, and I know exactly what my breakfast will consist of early tomorrow morning.
Actually, I’m not really sure. Steel-cut oats have been calling my name for a couple of days, too. But if I have those for breakfast, than a slice of this bread will definitely be a part of second breakfast (movie/book, anyone?).
Tomorrow morning Fritz and I are heading to go to one of my top fall destinations, Westchester County (in NY), to go apple picking/pumpkin picking/hay riding/hot apple cider drinking/apple cider donut eating with some friends–and I can’t wait! I’m confident I will return with at least a thousand photos (just kidding! Maybe…), and that the 67 degree weather tomorrow calls for boots.
Hallelujah.
Henry’s plans for tomorrow largly consist of this:
14 comments
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selina
September 17, 2011 at 6:49 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
oh wow! you read my mind i have a huuge bunch of over ripe bananas on my counter begging to be banana breaded but i wanted a healthier version and this is definitely it! thanks you always give me such great ideas!
Lauren Zietsman
September 17, 2011 at 7:41 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I think our kitchens must be pretty similarly stocked!
Tes
September 17, 2011 at 9:18 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
What a gorgeous banana bread
I would really love to try baking this for breakfast 
Brett Elizabeth Denoux
September 17, 2011 at 11:15 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love a good banana bread recipe! And is the “second breakfast” from Lord of the Rings?
Lauren Zietsman
September 17, 2011 at 12:51 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Ding ding ding! I believe it starts in The Hobbit but Merry and Pippin definitely talk about second breakfast in LOTR
Ashley
September 17, 2011 at 11:20 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Omg, where do you go apple-picking up there? I’ve been dying to go, I found a place, FishKill Farms that looks good, they’ve got all kinds of goodies there. Bread looks delicious too, love banana bread
Lauren Zietsman
September 17, 2011 at 12:53 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
We are going to a place up in North Salem called Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard…they have live music and stuff in the weekends during the fall–I’ll let you know how it is
Jessy (squeezetheday)
September 19, 2011 at 4:13 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Gorgeous photos!!
sara
September 19, 2011 at 5:48 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yum, I love banana bread but it’s so fun to try it with different flavors…orange sounds like a great contribution!
busyhandsandasweettooth
September 23, 2011 at 6:41 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I seriously love your reference to nerdy sexy. yes.
I’m glad to have stumbled upon your blog. It’s adorable, like your tiger-cat.
Kathleen
October 1, 2011 at 11:26 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This is absolutely GORGEOUS!!!!
martha
October 4, 2011 at 7:45 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
am baking this right now
Lauren Zietsman
October 4, 2011 at 5:01 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
yay!
Victoria
December 24, 2012 at 2:12 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Just made it for my family Christmas party… Gorgeous! And so quick and easy! <3