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We just got back from a beautiful family vacation to the smoky mountains. I was about to go grocery shopping, so I was taking inventory of everything and I found 6 perfectly yellow-brown bananas that we had forgotten about, whoopsies. Either way, if you’ve been following along for awhile you’ll know I don’t let anything go to waste around here. I seized the opportunity to make our go-to fresh milled banana bread, and I realized I haven’t shared the recipe here!
I really like simplified recipes, although my recipes may not seem simple to most people, I strive to have a recipe with real, basic ingredients. And I realize not everyone will have access to a grain mill, but fresh milled flour is 100% worth it. So if you can, search your local market wagon, farmers market, farm stores, azure or ask your friends with mills (we love to share fresh milled grains!) for some freshly milled flour and it will change your life!
First off, we’re going to mash the bananas. I really like using my stand mixer, which is always available on my counter to make making food from scratch easier. I add the ballon/whisk or paddle attachment, and mash mash mash. While it’s mashing I usually get the butter in a saucepan to melt.
After the banana is mashed, I add the melted butter and mix. Usually the banana cools down the butter, but if you need to let it cool down before adding the eggs.
Then I add the milk, sugar and vanilla.
Now, we mill the grains. The thing I like about milling grains is, if you weigh 220 grams of wheat berries, you will get 220 grams of flour. So you don’t need to guess how many wheat berries to grind, it always works out!
To the freshly milled wheat bowl we will add our dry ingredients, and whisk.
We then add our dry ingredients into our wet mixture, and mix just until combined. No more.
Lastly, fold in your chocolate chips (I mix with the mixer just slightly).
Finally, add your batter into your prepared loaf pan (I really like these ones), bake, cool, and enjoy! You will know it’s done if it’s no longer jiggly, and toothpick inserted comes out clean. We sometimes slice an end piece off while it’s still warm. But try not to mess too much with it because it will continue baking the middle while it’s cooling.
Fresh Milled Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 3 bananas
- 6 Tbsp melted butter
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 Cup sugar
- 1 Tbsp molasses
- 1/3 Cup milk (kefir or buttermilk also work)
- 1 Tbsp vanilla
- 220 Grams fresh milled soft white wheat (or literally anything else, spelt, kamut, einkorn, hard white, hard red)
- 1 Tsp baking soda
- 1/2 Tsp salt
- 1/2 Tsp cinnamon
- 2/3 Cup chocolate chips (you could use whatever mix in you prefer: pecans, walnuts, etc,)
Instructions
- preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Spray or spread butter in a bread loaf pan (we like these for all our bread making)
- I use my stand mixer with balloon attachment to mash the banana, that way you just keep adding to it.
- Add mashed banana, butter and eggs to the bowl, mix.
- Add sugar, milk and vanilla, mix.
- Into your wheat grinding bowl (or a separate bowl add pre-ground flour), add baking soda, cinnamon and salt, and mix.
- Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix to combine, no more.
- Fold in chocolate chips (or other mix ins)
- Pour batter into prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 55-65 mins. (Mine is usually done at 60 mins)
Notes
As always, if you enjoyed this recipe, or have any questions, feel free to comment below, or tag me on Instagram (@slowlivingrealist).
