It’s lovely to be back home for Christmas and there’s nothing better to get me into the Christmas spirit than doing a bit of baking while listening to some cheesy Christmassy music.

I don’t have a massive sweet tooth, but I do love the occasional wedge of banana bread!

So I decided to make a Spiced Banana and walnut Loaf. This loaf is so easy to make, has a great texture and I made it gluten free (because my dad’s a coeliac) and free from refined sugars. It makes a perfect pre workout snack or a moreish treat. I love it, especially toasted!

Ingredients

1 cup Oats (Blitzed into oatmeal flour)

¾ cup buckwheat flour (can substitute for whole meal flour)

3 overripe bananas

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 cardamom pod

¾ tbsp baking powder

50g chopped walnuts

2 eggs

2 tbsp maple syrup

¾ tsp vanilla extract

1tbsp flaked almonds

Preheat the oven to 170oc

Blitz the oats and cardamom pod in a food processor until resembling flour like texture. Then tip into a mixing bowl and add all the other dry ingredients.

Next peel and place the bananas into a food processor and blitz with the eggs, vanilla extract and maple syrup until smooth.

Then fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until all mixed in and then tip into a lined loaf tin and sprinkle the flaked almond on top.

Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until golden on top and cooked in the middle.