Broccoli Banana Bread?!
Yes, broccoli banana bread is great when you have a one year old and an almost 3 year old who both won’t touch broccoli but you’ve gotta somehow get broccoli into them. So, I switched out chocolate chips or raisins in favour of broccoli. I should really call this lazy banana bread because all you need is a wooden spoon, two bowls and a food processor to puree the broccoli.
When you have ripe bananas, it usually either calls for smoothies (freeze the banana after peeling it), ice cream, banana bread, or meatloaf. (Yes, meatloaf! It’s a great savoury option; the bananas add moisture.) This time, it was banana bread.
It is frustrating when your children don’t eat vegetables, but I will keep trying. Pasta sauce is a great way to hide vegetables; I have made pasta sauce in the Vitamix or in the Instant Pot. Smoothies are also great.
I’ve tried dip or Greek yogurt and broccoli with the toddler, only to have him comically close his mouth very firmly in protest. We have also tried sneaking bits of vegetables in soup, hidden underneath copious amounts of crackers; that worked when he was younger.
My hubby said he couldn’t smell the broccoli. Both children ate it, thinking it was cake. Even though they aren’t really interacting with a broccoli and eating one as such, I’d call this a win. To add more protein, I would slather some peanut butter (or peanut butter substitutes such as Wow Butter or Sunflower Butter for nut-free options) on one side.
Breakfast of champions, anyone? Try this Broccoli Banana bread recipe out and leave me a comment what you think! It’d be great as a preschool snack when you have got ripe bananas to use up or feel less guilty about having banana bread with coffee or tea.
Try other banana recipes here:
Fruity Banana Bread
Banana Bread
Banana Doughnuts
Banana Butterscotch Icecream (ice cream maker required)
- 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 2 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil Canola oil is also fine
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs large
- 3 bananas ripe, mashed
- 1/2 cup broccoli puree
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a loaf pan with vegetable oil.
- In a Vitamix or a food processor, puree the broccoli until fine. The approximate number of broccoli florets is 2 to 3 medium sized florets. If using the Vitamix, start at 1 and gradually increase speed to 3 or 4. Use the tamper if needed.
- In a bowl, sift together the group of dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon. Set aside.
- Grab a large bowl and mix the brown sugar and vegetable oil with a wooden spoon until well combined. If there are any lumpy sugar bits, use the spoon to further break it down. Mix in the eggs, banana, broccoli puree, and vanilla. Add the flour mixture gently with the same wooden spoon until combined.
- Pour the batter into the loaf pan. Bake until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean for 60 minutes. Let the loaf cool in the pan on a rack for 5 minutes before turning the loaf out of the pan to cool, before cutting.
Wow, this is pure genius! I love adding sneaky veggies to baked goods but never thought about broccoli! And adding bananas to meatloaf is genius too! Can’t wait to check that one out too!
I’ve never heard of broccoli in banana bread. I think I need to try it next time we have leftover broccoli!
Wow – would never think to use broccoli, although I’ve hid my share of pureed veggies in everything from brownies to cookies! I feel your toddler anit- veggie pain – been there 🙂 This is a great idea!
Genius way to hide broccoli but also to healthy up a sweet bread recipe. Great recipe, thank you!