High Protein Gluten-Free Banana Bread
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups oat flour (blend rolled oats into a fine flour if needed) – I like the One Degree Organic Oats (sprouted and gluten-free, so more digestible, available from Costco)
- 1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat or low-fat, blended smooth)
- 3 ripe bananas (mashed, about 1 ¼ cups)
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup honey or maple syrup (adjust for sweetness)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp cinnamon (optional, for flavor)
- ¼ tsp salt
- Optional: ¼ cup protein powder (unflavored or vanilla, whey, casein, egg white or a whey/collagen blend)
- Optional: 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips (I like Enjoy Life Brand – because it’s soy free)
Instructions:
- Set to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line with parchment paper.
- Blend cottage cheese until smooth (use a blender or food processor). Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mash bananas until smooth.
- Add blended cottage cheese, eggs, honey/maple syrup, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Stir until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, mix oat flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and protein powder (if using).
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan. Smooth the top. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Servings – 10 slices
Prep Time – 10 minutes
Cook Time – 45-50 minutes
Total Time ~1 hour
Notes:
Protein Content – Cottage cheese and optional protein powder boost protein. Each slice (without protein powder) has ~6-8g protein; adding protein powder can increase it to ~10-12g per slice.
– Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
– Substitutions: If avoiding honey/maple syrup, use a sugar-free sweetener like stevia (adjust to taste).
– Texture Tip: For a smoother texture, blend the wet ingredients together before combining with dry.