There is always a healthier version of your favourite treat! This cinnamon banana bread is one of my faves. It’s incredibly simple to make and tastes amazing. Try a piece smeared with almond butter, alongside a cup of chai tea. The perfect mindful indulgence!

Cinnamon banana bread ingredients

Dry ingredients

• Ground almonds: AKA almond flour. Almonds are naturally sweet so ground almonds help to sweeten the loaf.
• Milled flaxseed: I use Linwoods milled flaxseeds. They also do seed blends you could try instead.
• Baking powder: Check that it’s gluten-free and aluminium-free.
• Ground cinnamon: Cinnamon is the star ingredient, sweet and warming, it makes this loaf utterly delish!
• Sea salt: Don’t leave this out, salt enhances the flavour of the other ingredients.
• Walnuts: I add chopped walnuts to bring a little contrasting crunch to this bread.
• Medjool dates: For a little extra sweetness.

Wet ingredients

• Pure maple syrup: To sweeten. Use pure maple syrup, not maple flavoured syrup. You can use honey instead if you like.
• Pure vanilla extract: To add sweetness.
• Eggs: To bind and for protein. Choose free-range.
• Ripe bananas: Because, banana bread!
• Almond butter: Nut butter adds richness as well as sweetness. You can try other nut butters like cashew or peanut, or if you don’t eat nuts try light tahini instead.
• Yoghurt of your choice: I use coconut yoghurt because it’s thick and creamy. If you opt for dairy, go for full fat organic or Greek for a similar texture.

To decorate

• Banana: I slice the banana into rounds and press them into the top of the banana bread before baking. You could also slice a banana in half lengthways and press that into the top of the bread for a different presentation.
• Walnuts: I like to sprinkle extra chopped walnuts on top of the loaf before baking to add extra crunch.

How to make cinnamon banana bread

This cinnamon banana bread is incredibly easy to make. First, preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and grease and line a 900g/2lb loaf tine with plastic-free baking parchment. Then follow these three simple steps:

1. Mix the dry ingredients: Place the ground walnuts, flaxseeds, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl and mix to combine.
2. Make the batter: Place the banana, maple syrup, vanilla, eggs, almond butter and yoghurt in a food processor and process until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and process again. Remove the blade, add the chopped walnuts and dates and mix to combine.
3. Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared tin, top with the banana rounds and chopped walnuts. Bake for 50-60 minutes until a metal skewer inserted comes out clean. You may need to cover the top of your loaf with parchment if it is getting too dark.

That’s it! When you remove the banana bread from the oven, cool for 10 minutes in the tin and then turn out to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

More sweet recipes to try

• Raspberry and almond loaf
• Salted almond butter blondies
• Chewy cranberry cookies
• Coconut energy balls
• Mixed berry muffins

I hope you enjoy this cinnamon banana bread recipe. If you make it, let me know how it turned out. I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below, or post in The Fertility Kitchen Community.