Enter, bait:
Cherry, Banana, Coconut Butter Bread.
Now we’re talking.
I think I should add FOOD to my list of inspiring workout tips. Some days, it’s just about the food, isn’t it?
Today you could slice the air with a knife. We get all kinds of sickening humidity in Southern Ontario. However, I say, when life gives you brown bananas, make banana bread.
I had a scheduled long run planned for today and as the clocked ticked it got hot, hot, hot. Morning workouts are really hard for me now because I am in the bakery around 6:30am and I am rushing to get out orders by noon. Getting up before 6 is not really an option since I am up until around 11pm most nights, so most of my workouts have been over lunchtime or in the evening! This makes for some sticky workouts in the summer I am finding.
As I went on my run tonight, this cooked in the oven…while I cooked outside.
Visions of sugarplums cherries danced in my head.
Some days, food just equals motivation. Wait, make that all days. VOO parfaits are what get me up in the morning!
The run:
- Distance: 3.5 miles
- Time: 30:06
- Avg Pace: 8:35 min/mile
- Avg heart rate: 161 bpm
- Max Heart rate: 178 bpm
Mile Splits:
- Mile 1: 8:48
- Mile 2: 5:20
- Mile 3: 9:01
- Mile 3-3.5: 4:01 (GET HOME TO BANANA BREAD!)
PS- Mile 2 is a joke! I am just checking if you are reading this and not glazed over at the eyes in a heaping puddle of drool right now. :tongue: Mile 2 was actually 8:14!
I also have to ask you, Does it count as a long run if the run FELT really long? I say yes!!!!
All that mattered was this…
I was pretty much the happiest girl alive during the moment this bread touched my lips.
Not only is this bread everything I hoped it would be, but it was also the perfect post run snack and it didn’t need any Earth Balance spread. It was moist and dense but not overwhelmingly sweet.
Summertime Cherry, Banana, Coconut Butter Bread
I wanted to make a tropical and moist healthy vegan banana bread that would be perfect for summer. I adapted this recipe from my Tropical Balmy Bliss Spelt Muffins. If you are a fan of dense sweet breads you will love this recipe. This is not a light and fluffy bread!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup + 3/4 cup of whole grain spelt flour
- 1.5 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder (I use aluminum-free)
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon + 1/4 tsp ground ginger + 1/4 tsp nutmeg OR 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tbsp Chia seeds
- 4 small bananas or 3.5 medium ones
- 2 tbsp coconut butter (Warmed slightly)
- 3 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1/2 cup pure Canadian maple syrup (I use Medium/#2 grade)
- 6-8 Cherries, pitted and chopped, for garnish
- unsweetened coconut, for garnish
Directions: Preheat the oven to 350F. Take the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, sea salt, spices, chia seeds) and whisk in a large bowl. In a small cup, place 2 tbsp of coconut butter in the microwave for just 10-15 seconds to warm. In a medium sized bowl, add the wet ingredients (banana, coconut butter, maple syrup, sunflower oil), reserving 1 small banana or 1/2 a medium banana for later, and mix very well, making sure to break up the clumps of coconut butter. Now take the banana you set aside and chop into 1 inch chunks. Stir into the wet ingredients. Now add the wet to the dry ingredients and stir until the flour is incorporated. Try not to overmix as spelt flour can become tough with too much mixing. Pour the batter into a pre-greased loaf pan. Take your pitted and chopped cherries and add them on top. Sprinkle with shredded coconut. Bake for approx. 45 minutes or until golden brown. Note: My loaf fell a bit in the centre and wasn’t cooked in the centre, so next time I might cook it longer at a lower temp (perhaps 325F for 60-70 minutes). Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 15 minutes before serving.
Possible substitution ideas:
- Sub Extra Virgin Olive Oil for Sunflower Oil
- Sub whole wheat or white flour for spelt flour
- Sub ground flax for chia seeds
- You could also add in pecans or walnuts! I made it without, but they would add a nice crunch!
I think the coconut butter was the WOW factor in this bread. While the bread did not have a distinct coconut flavour, it was moist, buttery, and luxurious! I am in LOVE! :heart:
I will be making this again and again and again. Possibly for the market on Saturday!?
So what did the man of the house have to say?
“I think this is the best sweet bread you have ever made, but I’m not positive I remember all of them.”
Can you handle him?
He also said, “If you ever made a banana bread with chocolate chips then that was probably my favourite, but if not, then this is my favourite.”
He kills me, he really kills me.
In conclusion: Make this bread. Stuff your face with a slice of it after a very hard, sweaty run. If you love moist, delicious, dense, and super healthy sweet bread you will love this summertime snack!
Tonight’s question: Does food ever inspire you during a workout? What food could inspire you to workout on those days when nothing else could?
Have a great night! I’m off to go freeze half of this loaf before I eat it all. :biggrin:
That looks FABULOUS!
Since I work out in the morning, big smoothies or oatmeal always gets me through those workouts. :)
Funny thing is, I totally wasn’t paying attention to your split times. I really WAS drooling over this magical sweet bread of yours. I need to make this asap. I have no doubt that it tastes incredible, but it just LOOKS so beautiful, too!
hahaha that’s hilarious
oh DAAAAAAANNNGG… that looks amazing.
I totally work out for food. :) usually pizza.
Eric is awesome. I want to hang out with you guys and have some great conversation.
I never thought to add coconut to banana bread… brilliant! I always have to freeze any bread of muffins that I make too to help me with portion control! Otherwise, things would be gone within two days!
Wow, wow, wow! YUM!!!!!!!!
Oh, my God. I just had a mouthgasm.
looks delish!
And food doesn’t really inspire me to workout…. It’s more like a guilt trip thing. When I’m running I think about all the carbs I ate earlier and think where did at all that energy go? You gotta burn it now! Probably not the healthiest mentality… but I’m just being honest. :)
That looks so good! I would go for a run if that was at the end ;-)
I do that all time! I remember one particular humid run last summer, the pomegranate chobani waiting for me in the fridge definitely made me speed up!
mmm yummy, that looks incredible! That’s moving right to the top of my “to bake” list.
Wow Angela, this bread looks incredible! You and your cherries and bananas have me thinking of all the ways I can use the same combo! Brilliant ideas!
Food can inspire…anything! So yeah, I think a workout could fit into that ;) I like thinking of dinners on my runs. Different combos, wine pairings, etc. That’s motivation!
***
I’m always substitutin’ recipes up – so I appreciate the suggestions in your delicious looking recipe here. Can’t wait to try!
that bread looks amazing!!
why are you so awesome? I am definately making this for someone i am smitten about, is that lame? Haha, well i know I will love this bread. Can’t wait to make it!
I love dense, moist slightly sweet breads so much that I’m not entirely sure I should make this. I don’t think I could control myself! seriously, though:)
As good as the bread looks, I actually did still notice your freakishly low mile time…haha. I was like “what?!”
muahuha
I run for peanut butter! Almost everytime I get home from a long run I indulge in some yummy peanut butter and a bagel with a banana. Yum! Otherwise is a delicious smoothie..together would be double yum and a 1/2!!
WILL RUN FOR PB!
Really…all I can say is WOW!! That looks so delish! Yeppers, that would surely motivate me during a workout, for sure! I will be making that soon!
WOW, thats some serious bread. I would totally sprint for that! Do you think buckwheat flour or amaranth flour would work?
Im not sure, I have never baked with those flours before!
Well I guess it doesnt hurt to try. I’ll let you know how it turns out. Thanks!
WOW! That bread looks REALLY GOOD! I can almost taste it!
Scrumptious! :)
My workouts are often a place where I create meals, think of new wardrobe ideas or even new makeup styles. Sometimes I need LOTS of distraction to get me through the entire workout- other days I don’t think of anything but the workout itself.
mmm, that bread looks amazing!
I love a dense loaf, and banana bread is a favourite! Sounds even better with coconut and cherries!
I’ve been on such a baking kick lately, and it’s made my 1000 degree top-floor apartment even hotter.
And here you go again, Angela, providing me more fuel for the baking fire that burns within me! Now, I HAVE to make this…and my apartment will consequently have to remain at 1000 degrees a little while longer. Just when I thought I could stop the madness….:)
No really, I can’t wait to make this! Baked goods always ease the pain of summer heat. Lol. Thanks for putting up this amazing-looking recipe.
Sometimes I bring a fan into the kitchen lol
this looks soooo good! i think i will take eric’s little hint and add chocolate chips if i make this haha – i love chocolate chips in my banana bread too. thanks for sharing the recipe! (i love a dense loaf =) )
I love that recipe and Eric’s right about the choc. chips. I love baking with coconut butter, it makes everything better.
the bread looks delicious and I do not like bananas, cherries or coconuts ahahaha :)..And by the way Sunflower seed butter is GLORIOUS in green monsters, you need to try it asap!!
Droooooooling!
You’re a lil’ speed demon – awesome run!
I shall do as ye ask and make that bread! Oh my good lord!
That bread looks amazing, I’m drooling just looking at it. :)
I bookmark special recipes to make on days when I am dreading a run (aka long and hard). Usually the recipes are something that would be too heavy for me on a normal day, but with a jacked appetite I would enjoy it more.
The bread looks amazing. Good thing I just bought super ripe bananas yesterday :)
Incredible. ‘Nuff said :)
When I saw you tweet this, I was amazed & now I’m seeing it. WOAH!
Girl this is incredible, out of this world incredible. I can’t believe how perfect this sounds.
I’ve bookmarked this beauty & will try it soon.
Let me know what you think :)
I did notice the split time . . but I just thought maybe you REALLY wanted the bread bad!! Can’t believe I have logged onto read this right before I am thinking about bed. I love banana bread and many of it’s variations – this looks SO good!!
I just started reading (and loving!) this blog last week and I’ve been so intrigued by the Green Monsters. I finally got all the ingredients in, and decided that I’d make my first green guy after a long run this evening. Funny as it is, thinking of my impending smoothie adventure actually kept me motivated during the run. I got home and whipped it up almost as soon as I got in the door and it was amazing!!! I packed four cups of farmers’ market fresh spinach into it and it was the most beautiful color and so good. So yes–happy green food thoughts got me through my run today! Love, The Newest Green Monster Fan
Glad you enjoy them!!
That bread looks great!
On those days when I (stupidly) run before I eat breakfast, the only reason I don’t stop to walk is because I keep telling myself: “The quicker you get home, the faster you get to eat oats… the quicker your get home, the fast you get to eat oats.”
Works like a charm. :)
haha yup that is so me some days!
What a lovely twist on banana bread! Running for food is great motivation, for sure! Do you think agave nectar would be a good substitute for maple syrup?
Hmmm not sure. I am not huge on the taste of agave, but it might be worth a shot? You might have to use less as I think it is sweeter per tbsp than maple syrup isnt it?
Wow, I was hooked bofore I even read the blog! I love coconut…I’m thinking applesauce may work for a sub for the oil as well…more dense in the end, but you could use a larger pan and do more of a dense flat bread, or nearly a pudding braed. Oh boy I’m getting excited ;)
Wow I love the idea of a flat pan! Or even a PIE pan. Or muffins.
That sounds delicious! Does it top VOO with Banana Soft Serve? Who knew something that killer good could also be good for you! VOO gets my vote for best post-run food (just in case you ever held a contest on such a thing!). You keep giving us inspirational thoughts and food! Love it!
That would be like choosing between two children!
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! It sounds so good, I really want to make it. Now all I have to do is get me (or make me) some Coconut butter. I’m excited too, because this is totally my kind of sweet bread :)
Oh YUM this bread looks AMAZING!!!!! But is there anything you could use in place of cherries? I love moist, dense breads like this but I’m not a huge fan of cherries.
You could use any type of berry…blueberry, strawberry would work well.
Um, Do you suppose I could skip the traditional wedding cake and serve that baby? Drool.
haha umm yes!
YUM! I love all things coconut.
I spend at least 75% of my long runs contemplating how I’ll refuel. It usually involves peanut butter!
OMG I read your splits like 3 times and was trying to figure it out haha!
Angela – this is brilliant! A batch will be making an appearance at our house very soon I suspect!!!!
haha. I’m with Eric! Banana chocolate chip bread is the best. This looks pretty amazing though.
Ahhh, coconut bread SO reminds me of summer! Yum!
That bread looks AMAZING!!! Can’t wait to make it!
And is it awful to say that some of my runs are motivated by a beer at the end? (after some water, of course ;) )
WILL RUN FOR BEER! Come to think of it I think Eric had a beer after our run last week, lol.
Girl, I think that is the best looking bread I have ever seen in my life!
Delicious summer bread for the Farmer’s Market, yes please, yes please, yes PLEASE!!! :)
Can’t wait for the Market – going to stock up on Empower bars (they are absolutely, 100%, the best bar: coffee and chocolate = heaven!!!)