I whipped up 2 loaves of this easy sweet bread today: One is for a gift and the other for my humble abode.

Using whole wheat pastry flour, less oil, coconut sugar, apple sauce, banana, and zucchini, this dairy free bread is healthier without compromising taste and texture. It’s comparable to a light cake.

I thought it was suitable for the holidays to give it specks of red and green with cranberries and zucchini. However, you could easily skip folding in any additional toppings.

The second one had walnuts. The bread is moist, soft, fresh but slices easily and can hold up to a spread of butter, jam, or nut butters.

Try this bread for breakfast, a mid afternoon snack, as pre or post workout fuel, or dessert.

Healthy Holiday {Cranberry Nut} Zucchini Bread

DF, NF if you omit walnuts

Makes 1 loaf

 

Ingredients:

1 cup shredded zucchini

1 mashed ripe banana

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup apple sauce

1/4 cup olive, unrefined coconut, or nonGMO canola oil

1/2 cup coconut sugar

1.5 cups whole wheat pastry flour

3/4 baking soda

*you can skip any spices you don’t have or even use pumpkin pie spice*

1/2 cinnamon

*1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

*1/4 tsp ground cloves

*1/4 tsp ground cardamom

1/3 cup dried cranberries and or 1/3 cup walnut pieces

*you can skip any spices you don’t have or even use pumpkin pie spice*

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly grease a loaf pan.

Combine mashed banana, shredded zucchini, apple sauce, oil, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl.

Sift in flour, baking soda, and spices.

Stir until everything is moistened and then fold in dried fruit and/or nuts.

Bake for 50 minutes.

Other posts that may interest you:

Breakfast recipes including cookies, scones, and more

Marbled Banana Bread 

Coconut sugar and the glycemic index

All about coconut oil