Health-Nut Banana Bread

I've had a couple of bananas lying around for ages, and finally decided it was time to make banana bread... not just any banana bread... healthy and delicious banana bread (ie: without lots of sugar or oil).

I followed this recipe:

Combine in a large bowl:
2 c whole spelt flour

1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp soda
1 tsp baking powder
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Combine separately:
3 lg very ripe bananas (about 1&1/2c) - mashed
2 eggs
*1/2 c brown sugar or sucanat
1/2 c milk or substitute
zest of a lemon or orange

2 tsp vanilla or 1 Tbsp dark rum
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Mix wet and dry until just incorporated.
-
Optional: Fold in approximately:
1/2 c chopped walnuts or pecans
1/3 - 1/2 c dark chocolate pieces
1/2 c chopped dates

Pour into a generously greased and dusted loaf pan - any smallish pan will work.
Bake at 350 for about 50 min - a toothpick inserted in center should come out clean.
Wait 10 minutes before removing from pan and placing on a rack to cool.
Enjoy :-)
* For sugar-free or a lower-sugar banana bread, replace the sugar with 1/3c of unsweetened fruit juice concentrate (apple, orange, white grape), agave syrup, maple syrup or honey.

Instead of brown sugar, I used 1/3 cup of honey. Substituted a ground clove for the vanilla, used orange zest, and opted for 1/3 cup each of chopped dates and walnuts. I also grated in a dash of nutmeg for fun.

It took about an hour to bake, and puffed up quite nicely - nearly doubling in volume.

This recipe surpassed my expectations, and wasn't even dry without oil or butter. I'm surprised at how neutral spelt flour tastes... very similar to wheat flour (they're closely related, after all). Next time I'll definitely add dark chocolate chunks as it suggests.