Desserts to Die For: A Healthy Spin on Banana Bread & Peach Cobbler!

Several sweet treats come with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, some people look forward to these desserts more than any other part of the meal. As you might expect, these desserts are more about being tasty than healthy. In the case of banana bread and peach cobbler, you could be looking at almost 350 calories per slice of each. Given how easy it is to snag more than one slice after dinner, it makes sense to keep things as healthy as you can! 

Your Healthy Banana Bread Recipe

Servings: 10

Calories: 230

Ingredients

⅓ cup melted coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil or high-quality vegetable oil

½ cup honey or maple syrup

2 eggs

1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 ½ medium or 2 large bananas)

¼ cup milk of choice or water

1 tsp baking soda 

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp salt

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½ tsp ground cinnamon, plus more to swirl on top

1 ¾ cups white whole wheat flour or regular whole wheat flour

½ cup mix-ins like chopped walnuts or pecans, chocolate chips, raisins, chopped dried fruit, fresh banana slices (optional)

RELATED: Recipe Remix: Southern Peach Cobbler (Even Your Mother Would Be Proud Of)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, beat the oil and honey together with a whisk. Add the eggs and beat well, then whisk in the mashed bananas and milk. (If your coconut oil solidifies on contact with cold ingredients, simply let the bowl rest in a warm place for a few minutes, like on top of your stove, or warm it for about 10 seconds in the microwave.)
3. Add the baking soda, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon, and whisk to blend. Lastly, switch to a big spoon and stir in the flour, just until combined. If you’re adding any additional mix-ins, gently fold them in now.
4. Pour the batter into your greased loaf pan and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. If you’d like a pretty swirled effect, run the tip of a knife across the batter in a zig-zag pattern.
5. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean Let the bread cool in the loaf pan for at least 10 minutes. You may need to run a butter knife around the edges to loosen the bread from the pan. Carefully transfer the loaf to a wire rack to cool before slicing.

Your Healthy Peach Cobbler Recipe

Servings: 6

Calories: 180

Ingredients

Peach Filling:

4 cups sliced and mostly thawed frozen peaches or fresh peaches

¼ cup pure maple syrup

1 tbsp cornstarch

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½ tsp cinnamon

Gluten-Free Topping:

1 cup all-purpose gluten-free flour 

¾  cup almond flour

1 tsp baking powder

¼ cup coconut palm sugar

A pinch of salt

1 whole egg (or flax egg for vegan)

¼  cup vegan butter

¼  cup non-dairy milk

Method

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In an 8 x 8-inch baking dish add thawed peach slices, maple syrup, cornstarch, and cinnamon and toss well to combine.
3. In another bowl add the two types of flour with baking powder, coconut sugar, salt, and egg (or flax egg) and mix well to combine.
4. Add in the vegan butter and cut with a pastry cutter or knife to make the mixture crumbly.
5. Lastly, pour in non-dairy milk and mix until just combined.
6. Form 3-inch “patties” with the biscuit dough and layer them over the peach filling.
7. Bake cobbler in the oven for 25 minutes or until cobbler biscuits are browned and the filling is bubbling.
8. Divide among bowls while warm and serve with a small dollop of your favorite non-dairy ice cream.