INGREDIENTS

•  1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3)
•  3/4 cup sugar
•  1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
•  2 tablespoon canola oil
•  1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
•  2 large eggs, beaten
•  2 cups whole wheat flour
•  1 teaspoon baking soda
•  1/2 teaspoon baking powder
•  1/2 teaspoon salt
•  2/3 cup  http://amzn.to/1jxF1C4 - caramel bits

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350*F. Spray a 9 by 5 loaf pan with nonstick cooking or baking spray, set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mash bananas (I use a potato masher). Add sugar, applesauce, oil, vanilla, and eggs. Stir to combine.
3. On top of the banana mixture, add flour. Make a small well in the flour and add baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir gently to mix the dry ingredients on top of the wet ingredients.
4. Stir everything together until just combined. Fold in caramel bits. Pour into loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes to an hour or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
5. Transfer loaf pan to a wire rack and let cool 5 minutes. Run a knife around edges of bread to loosen from pan. Invert onto rack and turn bread out of pan. Let stand until cooled completely before slicing (if you can wait that long).
6. This freezes well. I almost always double the recipe and wrap one loaf in foil, then put in a freezer zip-top bag and freeze.

NOTES