Banana bread is known for its moist texture and sweet flavor; it's also one of the very few ways to use overripe bananas. However, if you suffer from celiac disease, most bakery items are off-limits. But you can use gluten-free flour to make gluten-free banana bread. Pair this sweet bread with gluten-free cream cheese for a tasty snack or breakfast item.
Gluten-Free Baking
People with celiac disease must avoid gluten, a substance found primarily in wheat, barley and rye. You can buy commercial or make homemade gluten-free mixes for baking. These mixes may contain one or more flours without gluten, such as white rice, brown rice, garbanzo, tapioca, sorghum or quinoa flour.
Most gluten-free baking mixes contain guar gum or another binder for batter cohesion. For quick breads, however, it is not always necessary to use a binding agent.
Modifications
By making your homemade banana bread, you can pick which ingredients to use. Many gluten-free banana bread recipes may be dairy-free or vegan; check the ingredients to be sure.
Vary the taste of gluten-free banana bread by adding nuts, like chopped almonds or cashews, to the batter. Some people also add dried fruit like raisins. You can usually make muffins with the same batter, but you may need to shorten the cooking time.
Taste of Home Recipe
A two-loaf banana bread recipe from Taste of Home can be made with any gluten-free baking flour mix. Applesauce and vanilla extract add an extra-sweet element to the mashed bananas. Chopped walnuts provide extra crunch.
Book of Yum Recipe
On the Book of Yum website, you can find a banana bread recipe that is both gluten- and dairy-free. You can white rice flour or proprietary gluten-free baking mix; the batter uses canola oil for moistness. Vanilla-infused sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg add a touch of spicy sweetness. Although dairy-free, this banana bread recipe does contain eggs.
BBC UK Recipe
A recipe from BBC for gluten-free banana bread uses a combination of corn and rice flours. In addition to raisins, the batter includes chopped candied cherries for a fruitcake-like flavor. Because the recipe includes butter, the resulting banana bread tend to have a more cake-like texture.
Gluten-Free Cream Cheese
Since cream cheese is a dairy product, it is usually gluten-free. However, always check the label before buying. If you get tired of plain cream cheese, try different flavors like strawberry or pineapple. A bit of cream cheese on top of a warm slice of gluten-free banana bread is a delicious treat.
References
- "North County Times"; Gluten-Free Cookbook Helps Those With Celiac Disease; Laura Gouch; June 2011
- "New York Times"; Eating Out Gets Easier for Celiac Patients; Tammy La Gorce; May 2011
- Taste of Home: Gluten-Free Banana Bread Recipe
- Book of Yum: Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Banana Bread Recipe
- BBC UK: Gluten-Free Banana Bread
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