Recipe Redux: Chocolate Love is in the Air!
I’m not sure how chocolate and love became a pair but whenever I think of Valentines Day or February, I think of chocolate.
I’m not going to ask any questions.
Although Valentines Day has come and gone, there is no excuse not to include chocolate in your diet! Especially when there are a lot of health benefits of dark chocolate!
Adapted from How Sweet It Is
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 large bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup skim milk
4 ounces dark chocolate, melted
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a loaf pan or bundt pan liberally with non-stick spray.
2. In a bowl, mix together flour, cocoa, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and baking powder, then set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk egg and sugar together until smooth. Whisk in vanilla extract, then add bananas and milk and mix until combined.
Add in dry ingredients slowly, mixing with a spoon until batter comes together. Add in applesauce and mix until incorporated, then stir in melt chocolate.
4. Fold chocolate chips into batter and pour batter into pan. Set pan on a baking sheet, then bake for 55-60 minutes, or until center is set and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
5. Remove bread from oven and sprinkle with additional chocolate chips if desired. Let cool completely (1-2 hours) before cutting. Serves 12.
Nutrition Notes: True dark chocolate is anything containing 65% or more cocoa. Dark chocolate contains a ton of heart healthy antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries) that have been shown to fight free radicals, which are linked to more than 100 conditions ranging from heart disease and arthritis to dementia and diabetes. Dark chocolate has also been shown to decrease blood pressure, and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. It also contains serotonin, a natural mood-boosting anti-depressant.
This cake incorporates dark chocolate and is also low in sugar since bananas are naturally very sweet. Subbing applesauce for butter also decreases the fat and adds more moisture.
Taste Test: Bananas and chocolate are a winning combination! This bread is very chocolatey, moist and delicious!
Check out the other Recipe Redux submissions!!
