There we go again with the fake gingerbread. Spoiler alert: it traditionally shouldn't have any ginger in it — in the Czech Republic, anyway. I know, right?! It boggles my mind too! It has loads of amazing spiced, though, and it always makes the house smell like Christmas. I know I don't eat sugar or gluten, or dairy — or anything you'd normally put in gingerbread cookies for that matter — but I might just make a batch to put them on my presents as decoration or something just to be able to bake them and enjoy the process. I'd have to but all the ingredients, though! I have no wheat flour, no milk, no butter, no eggs, or regular oil in the house (I kind of forgot what you put in gingerbread dough???). OR better yet, I may try to make gluten-free, healthy, vegan gingerbread cookies because the thought of eating all those ingredients together topped with powdered sugar and egg whites doesn't sound too delicious to my stomach. I'll keep you updated how those turn out if I end up making them.
If you're in the mood for even more weird unique gingerbread flavored recipes, you can check out this Gingerbread Quinoa Porridge with Toasted Coconut I posted the other day or these Gingerbread Pancakes and Gingerbread Granola from last year. The two from last year have some different spices in them but they're equally as delicious. There are actually many variations of gingerbread here, it just depends on personal taste and family tradition.
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It's such a nice day today. It's a bummer that the sun sets so early these days but that makes us appreciate it even more. Gazing into the sunset is one of my favorite activities (I know, I'm so basic) and it was such a beautiful sunset the other day, it was literally breathtaking. I was at work that day and I was staring at the sun setting from the inside of our shop and it was the best thing ever. I work in retail and the sun sets literally in front of our eyes — it's perfectly visible — and I love to stare at it through the glass windows. I was just going to the stock room when the sun was setting and then when I came back out only minutes later, the sun was already lower and it was that perfect moment when the golden hue illuminates the sky while it's actually already dark blue. It wasn't the golden hour anymore, I don't think, but the sky was such a beautiful shade of yellow and pink and blue it was incredible.
I love sitting at the computer and writing my blog this time of the day when the sun starts to set and it illuminates the whole room. Can we take a moment though to think about the fact that it's 2:30pm and the sun is already setting?? Everything is golden and I love it. I wish you could see it!
I've been pretty much just relaxing today as I'm actually sick at the moment with a cold. On one hand, it sucks to be sick but on the other, I finally have time for my blog so I'm not really complaining. I have time to try out new recipes and maybe even shoot some for next month! To be honest, I've been seriously contemplating going part time. I miss working only part time because I had so much more time for the blog and everything around it that way. Testing recipes, taking pictures, editing them, writing posts, social media, planning, getting inspired, etc. I've been starting to get almost burned out lately. I felt really uninspired, I had no idea what to write in my posts except 'look this recipe is amazing! make it!' so that's why I'm sort of happy about my sick leave. I'm still weighing out all the pros and cons of going part time so we'll see but I hate not being able to work on my blog so might just happen.
5 reasons you need this Gingerbread Banana Bread in your life
- It's both gluten-free AND vegan yet it has great texture, it's soft, sweet, and delicious and you'd never guess it's healthy!
- it's not your average gingerbread banana bread as it has more spices than just ground ginger and cinnamon
- it's always great to have a delicious loaf of banana bread on hand for an afternoon snack attack (I can't tell you how many times I've been happy I had banana bread on hand to help me get through a busy day!)
- it's full of protein thanks to the hemp seeds so it'll keep you going
- and well, it's the Christmas season so a gingerbread-spiced everything is a necessity.
📖 Recipe
Gingerbread Banana Bread
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 60 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (10-12 slices) 1x
- Category: Baked Goods
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This festive Gingerbread Banana Bread is soft, moist, perfectly sweet, and full of warming spices. You can serve it for breakfast, brunch, or as a snack. Freezer-friendly!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour (I use Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free 1:1 blend)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tbsp cacao powder
- 2 tsp gingerbread spice (or Christmas spice mix)
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup melted unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp honey (or sub maple syrup or molasses)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp dark rum (or sub 1 tsp vanilla extract)
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup mashed bananas (3-4 ripe bananas)
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- A knob of butter and 1 tablespoon flour (for loaf pan, optional)
- 2 tbsp turbinado sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F (175C).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, cacao powder, and gingerbread spice. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together brown sugar and melted unsalted butter.
- Add honey, vanilla extract, dark rum, and sea salt. Whisk again.
- Add eggs and whisk again until well mixed.
- Add mashed bananas and Greek yogurt and whisk again well.
- Add the dry ingredients in two batches until just mixed. Don’t overmix, it’s okay if there are a few clumps. If you need to mix it more, fold it instead gently.
- Use a knob of butter to grease your loaf pan and dust it with flour. This is optional but recommended to make sure the bread doesn’t stick. Remove excess flour by holding the pan upside down over the sink and tapping the sides.
- Pour the batter into the loaf pan and sprinkle with turbinado sugar if desired.
- Bake the loaf in the preheated oven for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Notes
Loaf pan: The loaf pan I use is 4.5x8.5 inches
Storing: Store the banana bread in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in a freezer bag or a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 3-5 months. Always freeze the banana bread sliced, not whole, for easier defrosting.
Defrosting and warming up: Preheat your oven to 300F and warm up the bread on a small pan for about 10 minutes or longer if frozen. You can heat it up from frozen, no need to defrost it first.
Amanda | Maple Alps
This looks divine! Can't wait to try this out!!
thehealthfulideas
YAY I'm glad you like it Amanda! :)
Francesca
Love this combination! It looks like the perfect holiday treat!
thehealthfulideas
Thanks, Francesca! It really is! :)
Sarah | Well and Full
Oooh I love that you made a gingerbread banana bread! That's such a genius idea!!
thehealthfulideas
Thanks, Sarah! The smell of gingerbread is the smell of Christmas for me<3
Rebecca
Your photos are always so beautiful, and now all I want is a slice of that gingerbread banana bread! I've pinned the recipe so I can try it out while on Christmas break next week. Can't wait to see how it turns out!
thehealthfulideas
Thank you so much Rebecca! Hope you love it if you end up making it! It's my favorite<3
Amy Scott
I'm going to attempt this on Saturday! It looks DELISH! Here's hoping I can pull it off :)
thehealthfulideas
Yay that's exciting! I'm kind of jealous of you because your house is gonna smell like Christmas<3
Shannon
Sounds yummy, cant wait to try! you pictures look delicious!
thehealthfulideas
Thanks for the kind words, Shannon! :)
Dominique
This looks totally delicious! I'm sure the banana complements the ginger so well!
thehealthfulideas
Totally! And with all the other spices, it's hard to only eat one slice haha
Caitlyn
This looks sooooo good. I love sweet breads as desserts!! And your pictures look so high quality.
Caitlyn | http://www.collegewithcaitlyn.com
thehealthfulideas
Me too! Thank you so much, Caitlyn, it means a lot! :)
chrissy
I don't even know where to begin with this! All I know is I'm heading to the store now to pick up what I need to make this!
thehealthfulideas
Yay I hope you love it Chrissy! :)
Anonymous
Girl!! This sounds amazing! I must make this. :)
thehealthfulideas
You totally do, I love this bread<3
Amanda
I can't wait to try this. I have to stay gluten free, so I'm cheering for this recipe! Yum. It looks so beautiful against the brown paper.
thehealthfulideas
That makes two of us! I was always so afraid of gluten-free baking but turns out it's not that hard after all. Thank you so much!
Kate
These flavor combinations sound incredible! I love ANYTHING gingerbread, so I can't wait to try this recipe! Kate
thehealthfulideas
Me too!<3 Let me know how it was if you do :)
Miri
I LOVE the way you photographed those spices.
thehealthfulideas
Thank you so much, Miri! :)
amy
This sounds really good. I definitely need to try it.
thehealthfulideas
Yes! You'll love it :)
Anne
what a great combination of breads!
thehealthfulideas
Right? Thanks Anne! :)
Erin
My son loves gingerbread. I like that this is healthy, will have to make this for him.
thehealthfulideas
I'm sure he'll love it! :)
Sasha @ Eat Love Eat
Love this! The spices you've chosen sound absolutely delicious! And your styling and photography is great - I hope you choose to spend more time working on your blog :)
thehealthfulideas
Thank you so much, Sasha! You're too sweet! <3
Nikita
tried it! I mixed it up a bit but was still really yummy!! however, I'd love to try it with applesauce next time as i think it would taste even better !! thanks for the recipe xx
Veronika | thehealthfulideas
Ouu that sounds amazing! Let me know if you do try that :) And thank you for the feedback, I'm glad you liked it. <3
Ann
Is there a substitute for hemp seeds?
Veronika | thehealthfulideas
Hemp seeds have a different texture than any other nuts or seeds but you could probably use chopped sunflower seeds, or really well chopped cashews.
Anne Wiles
Super delicious. I used molasses in place of maple syrup. The spice is perfect. The crumb is perfect. Thank you for the recipe!!
Veronika | thehealthfulideas
Yum! That sounds delicious, I'm glad you enjoeyd it!