Vegan Chocolate Banana Bread (oil-free)

This plant-based, oil-free chocolate banana bread recipe will not only satisfy your sweet tooth, but there is minimal clean up, which is always a bonus.  It leaves you more time to have a slice with a friend and a cup of coffee.  No mixers, food processors, or fancy kitchen-work, either.  Whether it's for an dessert or breakfast or even a mid-day snack, this super easy and delicious bread is the way to go!

Ingredients:
3 medium, overripe bananas (sliced)

1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup Demerara sugar, organic brown sugar, or granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp cinnamon 
1/8 tsp nutmeg
pinch of pink Himalayan sea salt
1  1/2 cups spelt flour (or brown rice flour for a gluten-free recipe)
1  1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup organic cocoa powder

Directions: 
1. In a large bowl, mash up the bananas with a fork. Using the same fork, stir in the applesauce, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well blended. 
2. In a smaller bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cocoa powder together with a spoon, and then sift it into the wet mixture.
3. Pour the entire mixture into a parchment paper-lined bread pan (8" x 4"), and bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Wet and Dry Ingredients

Mixture Before Baking