Pumpkin Spice Orange Banana Bread Bar Recipe

Here is a pretty interesting pumpkin spice orange banana bread bar recipe that goes well with tea and coffee.

PREP TIME: 25 Min

COOK TIME: 20 Min

READY IN: 45 Min

SERVINGS: 12 squares

INGREDIENTS

* 2 cups spelt flour

* 1 cup white flour

* 3 extra-ripe bananas, mashed

* 2 Tbsp baking powder

* 1 tsp vanilla extract

* 1/2 cup canned pumpkin (or applesauce)

* 1 tsp cinnamon

* dash cayenne

* 2 tsp orange zest

* 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds

* 1 tsp salt (omit if using salted nuts/seeds)

* 1 large orange, juiced (about 1/4 cup)

* 2-3 Tbsp canola oil

* 1/2 cup coconut milk (or preferred ‘plant milk’ for lower fat)

* 1/3 cup agave or maple syrup

* 1/2 cup crushed pecans/nuts (optional)

* 1/4 cup dried cranberries (optional)

* 2 tbsp crushed/whole flax seeds (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375-400 degrees*

2. Add flour, dry spices, salt and baking powder to a large mixing bowl. Stir well.

3. Add in the soy or coconut milk, oil, vanilla extract, bananas, pumpkin or applesauce, orange juice and maple syrup. Stir well.

4. Fold in pumpkin seeds, 1 tsp of the orange zest, and additional nuts and/or dried fruit like cranberries. If you add in lots of dried extras, you may want to increase the liquid by a few Tbsp. I added coconut milk to mine. You may also want a few more dashes of flour if the chunky batter seems ‘heavy and thin’ to you.

5. Lay a sheet of parchment paper over a shallow 8 x 14″ baking pan/dish (for bars) or line muffin tin. Pour batter into baking dish. Smooth out for bars.

6. Over top the batter sprinkle pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, the other tsp of orange zest and an extra drizzle or agave or maple syrup.

7. Bake for 15-20 minutes depending on how thick your bars/muffins are. Should be lightly browned on edges.

Modified and image taken from a recipe at health happy life