How to Make Easy, Fruit-Sweetened Banana Maple Pecan Bread (Diabetic Friendly, No Butter, Air Fryer or Oven)

This simple quick bread is easy to make and a great, tasty way to use up those mushy bananas on your counter! You can mix up the bread in minutes, and it air fries in about 25 minutes or bakes in about 35. The bread is sweetened with bananas and chopped dates, not refined sugar. It's loaded with fiber, whole-grains, and other nutrients, and if you're diabetic or "eating healthy," the bread is a great option (in moderation, as always). We like the bread for breakfast, and slices also make a nice snack with a cup of coffee or tea or, after school, with a glass of milk. Enjoy!

How to Make Easy, Fruit-Sweetened Banana Maple Pecan Bread (Diabetic Friendly, No Butter, Air Fryer or Oven)

Fruit-Sweetened Banana Maple Pecan Bread (Diabetic Friendly) -- Makes 2 Loaves

3-4 very, very ripe (i.e. mushy is fine!) bananas (1 1/2- 1 3/4 cups), mashed

1/2 cup of canola oil

2 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon of maple extract

1/2 cup of buttermilk (or use 1/4 cup milk plus 1/4 cup plain yogurt)

1 cup of pitted, chopped dates

3/4 cup of rolled oats (I use old fashioned)

3/4 cup of white whole-wheat flour

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

1/2 teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg

3/4-1 cup of chopped pecans

Spritz two 8- x 4-inch loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray and set them aside (you can line the bottoms of the pans with baking parchment for easier removal of the breads, if you'd like). In a large bowl whisk together well the bananas, oil, eggs, maple extract, and buttermilk. Stir in the dates and oats until combined. Add to the bowl the white whole-wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg and stir them in until combined. Stir in the pecans. Divide the batter evenly between the two pans.

Air Fryer: Air fry the loaves at 320 degrees for about 25 minutes or until a deep golden brown and a pick inserted in a loaf comes out with no wet batter attached.

Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the loaves for about 35 minutes or until a deep golden brown and a pick inserted in a loaf comes out with no wet batter attached.

Let the loaves cool for 10-15 minutes before removing them from their pans to cool completely.

How to Make Easy, Fruit-Sweetened Banana Maple Pecan Bread (Diabetic Friendly, No Butter, Air Fryer or Oven)