Vegan Banana Bread!

     This weekend I had the chance to do a lot of cooking in my new kitchen, and one thing I got to make was vegan banana bread! I've been making banana bread since I was 10 (it's a great way to get rid of really brown bananas), but this is the first time I've veganized the recipe and it came out tasting delicious, so I just wanted to share. This is a great option for those of you trying to use fewer animal products if you are concerned about the way industrially farmed animals are treated (for more info on this, read up here). 

Madeleine's Most Favorite Vegan Banana Bread:

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup vegan butter, softened (such as Earth Balance)
1/2 cup applesauce (I use Trader Joe's Organic Unsweetened)
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (usually takes between 2 and 4 bananas, depending on size)
1/3 cup water
1 2/3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder


Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit and grease bottom only of a loaf pan, about 9x5x3 inches.
2. Mix sugar and butter in a large bowl.
3. Stir in applesauce until blended.
4. Add bananas and water and beat for 30 seconds.
5. Stir in remaining ingredients except for nuts until moistened.
6. Pour into the pan and bake for 1 hour, or until a knife inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
7. Cool completely before loosening the sides of the loaf with a knife and slicing.
8. Enjoy!

Notes: 

- Try to source as many ingredients organically as you can! I use organic sugar and applesauce, and you can also use organic bananas! If you'd like to know why organic is better, you can read the first part of my food article series, here. 

- Speaking of the food series, Part 4, the final article in the series, debuts on Thursday. Don't miss it :)