Wheat Banana Bread

A moist "healthy" banana bread.

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 1 loaf

Ingredients

• 1⁄4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1⁄4 cup butter
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 2  eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄3 cup water
• 3  medium  ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
• 1  cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1  cup whole wheat flour
•  raw sugar, to sprinkle on top (optional)
• 1⁄3 cup  chopped walnuts or 1⁄3 cup pecans, toasted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Whisk together melted butter, sugar and applesauce. Stir in eggs, bananas, vanilla extract and water.
3. In a separate bowl, mix flours, salt and baking soda. Add flour mixture to banana mixture and stir only until combined. Don't beat the mixture. Gently stir in nuts.
4. Pour into a greased 9x5 loaf pan. If desired, sprinkle with "raw" sugar.
5. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes. Start checking the doneness with a toothpick after 50 minutes. If not done, check every 5 minutes after. The toothpick should come out without any batter on it when it is done. Rest in the pan for 10 minutes. Turn out onto a cooling rack.
6. Just try to keep everyone away from it. The smell is intoxicating!