Remember, I am a normal, average mom. Three kids (fourth on the way), busy working husband, no family help or nanny, volunteer for too much. I have zero culinary training and I am not some fancy blogger that gets paid. My kids do not beg me for kale…they generally beg for ice cream. I say all that because most of the time when I see recipes on FB or Pinterest, they are marked as “easy” or “for kids” and they have 20+ ingredients or require three bowls or involve ingredients that are way too healthy for me (i.e. I don’t know what they are or where to buy them). It’s bullshit. That is not easy or kid friendly. Lets be real here. And while tree bark may be healthy, I bet it tastes like crap and I’m not battling my kids to eat it.

All that is to say, here is a recipe for banana bread that is actually easy! I basically always buy a big bunch of bananas and if we don’t eat them all, I make this. Everyone loves it and it does freeze (in muffin form) really well! I imagine you have all of these ingredients on hand, I promise your kids will love it, and it really is quick and a slightly healthier muffin or snack. I don’t know where my original banana bread recipe came from, but this one has been tweaked quite a bit through the years…this is the version I now make at least once or twice a month! Enjoy!

Easier, Healthier Banana Bread

• 3 ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup flour
• 3/4 cup oats
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• cinnamon and nutmeg as preferred (I like a lot, I suggest starting with 2-3 shakes of cinnamon and 1 shake of nutmeg)
• chocolate chips or nuts, if desired

Preheat oven to 350º.

Mash bananas and butter together with fork. Continuing to use fork, beat in eggs, applesauce, and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and stir into wet. Add chocolate chips or nuts, if desired.

Pour into greased loaf pan or lined muffin tins.

Bake loaf pan about 1 hour, muffins about 20 min. They are done with toothpick inserted into middle comes out clean.

That’s it! Seriously, try it and let me know what you think. It’s also a great way to round out a lunchbox bento box….my silly kids are still convinced this is a dessert! 🙂