Whole Wheat Reduced-Fat Chocolate Banana Bread

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
3 ripe bananas, mashed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9- by 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick baking spray. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, flax seed, and cocoa powder until well combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together sugar, applesauce, oil, vanilla, and eggs until combined. Stir in banana to wet ingredients. Gradually stir in dry ingredients until everything is combined. Do not overmix. Pour into loaf pan.
2. Bake until toothpick or knife inserted into the middle of the loaf comes out almost clean, or about 1 hour. Let cool in pan for about 10 minutes before removing from pan and cooling on a wire rack. Cool completely before slicing and storing in an airtight container.

Adapted From: Rachel Cooks