Coconut Banana Bread

Coconut Banana Bread

Last week while I was browsing Pinterest before bed, I came across this picture:


http://www.fitsugar.com/Coconut-Banana-Bread-Recipe-18806194

And I thought to myself, I HAVE to make this!  I love banana bread, I love toasted coconut, and I just so happened to have 3 overly ripe bananas chilling on my kitchen counter.

So that was that...and this is what I concocted in my kitchen tonight...

 ...pretty close right?

Here's the recipe (because I know you're going to want to save it, or try it right now!)  I added in a little bit of honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the recipe as well.  Next time, I will definitely be adding chopped walnuts as well...per my dad's request :)

Healthy Coconut Banana Bread

Ingredients

1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1¼ teaspoon baking soda
3 Large ripe bananas, mashed
½ cup + 2 tablespoons sweetened flaked coconut
½ tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup of brown sugar
3 egg whites
2 tablespoons skim milk
¼ cup fat free plain Greek yogurt
¼ cup orange juice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda together in mixing bowl.
3. In separate large mixing bowl combine mashed bananas, brown sugar, and vanilla. Add egg whites and mix together until smooth. Next add oil. Then, slowly add in flour and combine until moist. Next add Greek yogurt and orange juice. (Depending on the consistency you can add two tablespoons of skim milk. If you like your bread more dense —omit the milk — but if you like it more airy or lighter you can add it.) Lastly add ½ cup of coconut and mix together.
4. Pour into greased 9×5 inch loaf pan. Sprinkle two tablespoons of coconut on top.
5. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean and the bread is golden brown.

Optional: throw in ½ cup of walnuts to batter to help keep you satisfied all morning. Another option: substitute ½ cup of regular flour with whole wheat flour
Make 16 slices. About 115 calories per slice.

Okay, here's one more picture of my creation - mmm, so good! :)

 -Nichole :)