Coconut Banana Bread

Here is a “tropicalized” version of the classic banana bread, with a touch of coconut that immediately catapults us into an exotic atmosphere.

Ingredients

• 3 ripe bananas (better if they are quite soft)
• 200 gr of all-purpose flour
• 100 gr of coconut flour
• 100 gr of brown sugar
• 80 ml of coconut oil (or vegetable oil, if you prefer)
• 2 eggs
• 1 packet of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (or vanillin)
• 1 pinch of salt
• 50 gr of grated coconut for garnishing (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and prepare a loaf pan by lining it with parchment paper or greasing and lightly flouring it.
2. In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until you get a smooth mixture.
3. Add the coconut oil and brown sugar to the bananas and mix.
4. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, then mix again until the batter is smooth and even.
5. In another bowl, mix together the flours, baking powder, and pinch of salt.
6. Combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients and mix carefully to avoid lumps, but without overworking the batter.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and, if you want, sprinkle the surface with grated coconut.
8. Bake for about 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the banana bread comes out clean.
9. Let the banana bread cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Curiosity

Banana bread is a dessert that originated in the United States and has become popular around the world. It is said that its creation is linked to the Great Depression, when there was a desire not to waste leftover bananas that started to blacken. Adding coconut is a modern variation that draws inspiration from tropical flavors, combining the natural sweetness of bananas with the exotic and crunchy note of coconut.