No Sugar Vegan "Salted Date Caramel" Banana Bread

Who doesn't love butterflies? Throughout the last couple years I've collect quit a few vintage butterfly items. I ran across this 1970's butterfly skirt, and remembered that months prior I collected a vintage nature butterfly book and handmade butterfly doilies. 

While looking at the beauty of the skirt, decorated with butterflies, pink flowers and Lilly pad-like plants, this inspired to bring some lightness and culinary inspiration during this coronavirus time. 

Spring is so beautiful and the abundance of flowers is inspirational in itself. Something as simple as a vase of flowers brings such light and love into the home. Thinking in solitude about butterflies, I began to ponder about butterflies. 

What do they like to eat? How do they transform? 

Most butterflies feed off of nectar, which is their food for the soul. A minority of butterflies
never visit flowers and get their energy from tree sap and organic matter. In human life, dates are the miracle sweetener, and maple syrup too. The butterflies inspired me to make something sweet, but only sweetened by natural foods. 

“A season of loneliness and isolation is when the caterpillar gets its wings. Remember that next time you feel alone.” – Mandy Hale

It is no doubt people are mentally struggling at this point in time. Isolation. Loneliness. Covid19 has gotten the best of us, and we continue to see the struggle of people trying to survive and businesses hoping to one day thrive. 

In the midst of all this chaos is beauty. Beauty of being alone. Beauty of the natural world that still surrounds us. This is a time to invite change and growth, straight from the comfort of your own home. 

I don't know what the future holds, but I hope it is something beautiful and transformative to a better life. Let's find the light in this time of the unknown, not only to transform ourselves, but the way we socialize and connect with others. 

Butterflies are beautiful, but their patterns are also complex. The symbolism ignites the feelings, or thoughts, that no matter how complex humans or the world is, there is still much beauty to focus on. And that inner beauty can come from within. Take this time to transform your inner world and let the butterfly spirit work on you. 

Stay safe and healthy my friends! 

PS: I've made this recipe several times with and without the almonds on top - so you choose if you'd like to top your bread with almonds and/or salt! 

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” – Maya Angelou

The skirt and other vintage items are available on my Etsy shop, The Elizabethan Closet. 

No Sugar Vegan "Salted Date Caramel" Banana Bread
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Bake Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:
WET
3 ripe bananas, mashed with a fork
1 cup packed dates (9 large dates)
1/2 cup nondairy milk (used unsweetened almond milk)
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup canola oil
DRY
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1.5 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
OPTIONAL TOPPING
3 tbsp chopped or sliced almonds
fleur de sol or flaky sea salt

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

​In a blender, puree the dates, vanilla, maple syrup and milk until smooth like caramel. 

In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients together.

In a separate bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Next, pour the date caramel into the bananas and mix well. Next, add the canola oil and mix until well combined. Pour the dry mixture into the wet ingredients and fold until a dough forms. 

Grease a bread pan and pour the dough evenly into the pan. Sprinkle optional toppings and bake for 50 minutes. Bread is done when fragrant and a poked knife comes out clean. 

Let's Connect! Enjoy my other banana recipes below! 

Vegan Tropical Peach Smoothie

Vegan & Raw Tropical Fruit Ice "Cream" Cake

Vegan Banana Date Cake/Bread

Yum

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