Vegan Chocolate {Chocolate Chip} Banana Bread

A few weeks ago I was having a pretty mean chocolate craving and I wanted something baked.  I also happened to have a bunch of very ripe bananas and some cocoa we picked up while in Mexico earlier this year... This all led me to a delicious experiment.

I've been tweaking this recipe over the last month, trying to figure out the best way to keep it moist and yummy, without all the fat and cholesterol that come with adding eggs and butter.

In truth, it's really difficult to mess this up.  I've made it 3 or 4 times now and made little changes each time with good results.  This most recent time I decided to add the Almond Butter IN the recipe, but it can easily be left out and added AFTER the recipe on a slice to enjoy.  Peanut butter also works too for a good Choco-Peanut-Butter combo. YUM!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
• 1 1/2 Cup Ripe Bananas    {Around 3 Bananas}
• 1 Cup Raw Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Cashew Meal     {Check the tips for more info}
• 1/3 Cup Applesauce
• 1/3 Cup Cocoa Powder
• 1/4 Cup Almond Butter*
• 1/2 Cup Vegan Chocolate Chips     {Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Mini Chocolate Chips}
• 2 Tbsp Egg Replacer*      {Bob's Red Mill Vegetarian Egg Replacer}
• 1/3 Cup Apple Juice*
• 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 Tsp Salt
• 3/4 Tsp Baking Soda

Directions:

Combine bananas, sugar, cashew meal, applesauce, almond butter, vegan eggs, and vanilla in mixer until even consistency.

Stir in dry ingredients mix until evenly combined.  I usually combine these ahead of time in a separate bowl and then slowly mix into the wet ingredients. 

Add chocolate chips last.

Then pour into a 9" Bread Pan lined with Parchment Paper. 

Bake at 350°F for 1 hour, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Tips:

For Vegan Eggs: 

2 Tbsp of Flax Meal mixed with 1/3 cup Apple Juice (water can be used instead)

OR

2 Tbsp Egg Replacer mixed with 1/3 cup Apple Juice or Water

To make Cashew Meal from scratch: Grind up a little less than 1/2 cup raw cashews. 

* For nut free alternative, just increase the Whole Wheat flour to 2 cups and omit the Almond butter by increasing applesauce to 1/2 cup.

Based on the recipe serving 18 {roughly 1/2" slices}, there are 151 calories in each serving.

If you substitute the almond butter with applesauce you will reduce the fat and calorie content further.

I have not experimented with reducing the sugar, because I was looking for a sweet recipe, but if you come up with a good sugar swap let me know! :)

5 Dreamy & Romantic Places to Relax & Play

Jackson Hole, Wyoming - Fireside Resort Glamping
This resort brings our DIY glamping experience to a whole other level.

Velassaru Maldives - Velassaru Resort
Soak up the sun as a beach bum or go explore under the sea.  Either way this resort in the Maldives looks like a complete escape.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany - Hotel Gotisches Haus

Honestly, every place we visited in Bavaria was magical.  Christmas in Europe is extremely cozy and makes you want to snuggle.  This hotel and sweet little town was like being in a fairytale.

Kakslauttanen, Finland - Kakslauttanen Glass Igloos
Speaking of cozy places to snuggle... this place is a must if gazing at the Aurora is on your bucket list.




Oia Santorini, Greece -Andronis Luxury Suites
This beautiful place to stay has some gorgeous views.

Mindful {Monday} | Time

Both this week and last, I've been thinking quite a bit about time.  Not necessarily how little of it I seem to have, about the past, or about the future, but about how I experience it.  It amazes me how time can seem to drag one week and then simply fly by the next.  Time is behaving the same, but it is how time is experienced that is different.

The best days are the ones that seem like they've been fully experienced.  The days where time seemed to move the exact speed that you expected.  The days where you were able to fit in everything that you wanted and you enjoyed your time fully.  

For me, I find that these days happen when I don't overwhelm myself with tasks, errands, or try to cram too much in.  Right now, it can seem difficult to not feel overwhelmed by a lack of time.  I try to remind myself to take it easy.  The biggest thing I need to remember is to realistically plan out my days and not over commit.  I often feel terrible saying "no" to events, favors, and last minute plans, BUT I've learned that the stress I feel is much worse when I say "yes".

Another thing I've learned is that saying "no" to my own ideas or ambitions is sometimes also necessary.  That's where the "being realistic" comes in.  There are only 24 hours in a day and most of them are already occupied with pre-existing commitments... you know, like sleep.   If I am too ambitious with my planning,  something has to give; when it's sleep that gives, I get terribly miserable.  {I'm already operating on a deficit most of the time... take away a couple more hours... well let's just say no one wants to see that.}

I'm making it a goal to experience more enjoyable and "full" days. That doesn't mean dropping all my DIY goals, projects, and adventure ambitions...or quitting my job, doing yoga, and eating pizza all day {bye college}.  It means that I schedule in "buffers" for my down time.  It means I consciously choose to make time to enjoy my day.  Ten minutes of a hot cup of tea in silence,  five minutes of reflection before bed,  three mindless minutes of facebook or instagram when I wake up in the morning... these are just small examples of "breaks" to breathe.  I'd love to take longer breaks, but sometimes I find it less overwhelming and more sustainable to start small and scale up.

Notice, reflect, and adjust. :)  JUST keep it simple.

I love it when my tea tag speaks to me. ❤