Yes, the following is better than peanut butter.
I know, you’re all rolling your eyes right now, saying, “How can anything (besides chocolate) be better than peanut butter?” Hear me out; this spread has the one-up on regular pb because it:
- is easier to spread
- is lower in calories (more about this at the end of the post)
- tastes sweeter, without any added sugar, and has a serving of fruit
Above, spread on top of Banana Bread for One.
Another bonus: This recipe doesn’t make as much of a mess as trying to smush sliced banana into a sandwich. As usual, the recipe is so simple that I feel a little silly writing it down.
Banana Butter
- 1 medium banana
- 2 to 4 tablespoons peanut butter, depending on how pb-y you like it (or almond, cashew, walnut butter, etc.)
- optional: I like to add a little cinnamon
My favorite ratio is 4 tablespoons peanut butter to 80 grams (without peel) banana (about 1/2 a large banana). And I often use a frozen banana, which makes this spread taste like peanut butter ice cream!
Procedure: Whir the two ingredients in your food processor or blender until smooth. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge. (If possible, it’s best to let the mixture sit for a few hours before enjoying, as the taste becomes more robust with time.)
Above, spread over a Breakfast Pizza Cake.
Other Ideas for Use:
This creation can be used anywhere you’d use regular peanut butter—warmed up and drizzled over oatmeal, as a sandwich spread, dip, or pudding, as a smooth-and-velvety topping for waffles or pancakes, on vegan ice cream, or simply eaten plain off a spoon (or out of the blender, depending on your level of self-restraint!).
As for calories… Ok, so I’m having a bit of a dilemma: Recently I’ve been getting quite a few requests from readers asking if I can add calorie counts to my recipes. I don’t count calories, but I know that a lot of you (readers and fellow bloggers) do count. So, since I really try hard to make my recipes—and my blog in general—suitable for everyone, and since it’s not hard for me to figure out the calorie counts anyway, I thought I’d ask: Do you want me to add calorie info to my recipes? Please vote; either way, I’m interested in hearing your opinion. And until I figure this dilemma out, here are the nutritional stats for the banana butter:
Banana Butter Calories:
Serving Size: 1 tablespoon (based on my favorite combination)
Calories per serving: about 40 calories
(As a reference, regular peanut butter has about 100 calories per tablespoon.)
Variations:
Yes, there is a chocolate version.
🙂
What a great idea!
I don’t mind that you don’t post calories – it’s pretty easy to estimate if one is really concerned with how many calories are in a dish, and I think it’s great to promote a less calorie-centric relationship with food. So rock on! 🙂
I swear you and I are on some weird psychic wavelength. I made this just last night, except I wasn’t fancy enough to put it in the blender. I added chocolate chips to my banana butter. Because chocolate and peanut butter, well you know….
TOTALLY think that you shouldn’t complicate your own life if it’s not what you normally do! If someone wants to find out the calorie count on something, they can 220% always do it on their own!! Don’t worry so much about it Katie! Your loyal readers will always be loyal readers, and I’m sure whoever requests the calorie count will still be a reader despite not having stats. THey just gotta get off their butt and work on their math a little more. 🙂 hehehe
OH and I love the fact that your spread is smoother!!!! and i’m sure it’s more fragrant, and naturally sweeter too!
Just stumbled on your blog. That PB spread is too cute. I used to actually make something very similar to that, except I added in vanilla protein powder and a bit of soymilk. Then poured it into a bowl and topped it with granola ^.^ Best snack ever, albeit a bit time consuming to make. Good stuff though!
BTW – In reference to your anon. commenter – I do the SAME thing when I make food for some reason. I know that everyone else in my house doesn’t quite have the same caloric requirements as me, so when I make food for the family, I tend to set aside a bit for myself that I’ll stir-fry up with extra olive oil or add some coconut milk into my rice, add an extra handful of almonds to my side salad etc. The beauty of food is that it’s adaptable to everyone’s needs, and you can even do it up with the same basic ingredients.
I say no to the calories. If people care that much, can’t they just figure it out from how much of each item you put in the recipes? Personally, counting carlories (and pounds!) just leads me to obsessing.
ya i agree, calorie counting is just not a good thing in general. too much work for the brain and can lead to obsession. this recipe looks delicious though! and simple 🙂 aka i can recreate it in my dorm
Girl, it’s your blog. You don’t count calories. So why, take the extra time to do it for others? I know you are super sweet and want to cater to the greater majority of people. But, in my humble opinion, if those people are counting calories, they can do it themselves. You are busy enough! It’s sweet of you to consider but I say keep your blog as real and fabulous as you are and post what YOU are excited about/want to talk about. That’s why I love you. 🙂
I don’t count calories either because I’m afraid of becoming obsessed. I used to do it, and I just got too tied up on numbers. Besides, its pretty easy for someone to look up nutritional info online if they really want to know.
I bet your banana butter would be AMAZING with my dark chocolate PB! A match made in heaven, perhaps?!? I wish I had a magic bullet, but my food processor might get the job done. Do you use a really ripe banana?
I say no to the calories because this is your blog, and you don’t count calories anyways. If the reader wants the calorie count he(?)/she can calculate it–less work for you 😉 You are so sweet to consider all your readers though, Katie. We really appreciate it!!!
Hmm, I’ve got to figure out a way to ship some chocolate mousse to you…5000 entries is a lot ya know 😉 But it seems as though you’ll be having plenty of chocolatey goodness on your birthday, but you can never have too much, no?
Brilliant Banana Butter by (whoa look at that alliteration) the way! Sounds AMAZING!!!
Calories schmalories…if it tastes good, is nutritious, and satisfies hunger, why bother? I feel like calories really take the joy out of eating. You know?
Anyways…I.MUST.MAKE.THIS.ASAP.
You’re a culinary Queen, Katie!
I think it’d be great as a topper for your banana brulee oatmeal, which I love, by the way 😉
Love ya!
Meg
Looks smooth and tasty. If only I liked bananas…
My vote is NO TO CALORIE counts. I don’t think you should have to figure out nutritional facts for other people, especially since they can figure it out on their own. One reason I love your blog (and there are many) is because you don’t harp on calories, weight loss, body image…. In such a diet obsessed world, your blog is truly a breath of fresh air. No need to change- keep it real girl!
Anonymous,
You obviously don’t read CCV’s blog, do you? Just take a look at her Morning Routine post that she just did, which was brilliant, and you’ll see that she doesn’t shy away from the healthy fats or carbs:
https://lett-trim.today/2009/08/18/my-morning-routine/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
So stop attacking someone and assuming they don’t eat healthily, especially under the cowardly cloak of anonymity. Those of us who follow CCV’s blog regularly can see that she eats what’s probably the healthiest diet out there.
I vote no for the calories, because they really don’t matter that much. Who cares about calories as long as the food is healthy and delicious? You should do what YOU want to do, and people can figure out the calories by themselves if they really want to. And that peanut butter and banana spread sounds delicious, I really want to try it as ice cream 🙂 And that anonymous person doesn’t sound very nice, I don’t think you should listen to them, especially since you already addressed the issue they brought up in a different post. You eat foods because they’re healthy, not because you have to get a certain number of calories. You already know what works for you, and that person is just being inconsiderate and rude.
yay! i will have to try this 🙂 when i did count calories it really wasn’t that hard to figure out the calories for a recipe so i think that your readers should be able to do that themselves.
mikey
No to the calorie counts! I was an obsessive calorie-counter for a long time and I think it is an unhealthy road to travel down. Just listen to your body (speaking to myself too lol)! btw, i love banana butter. Usually I don’t even use the blender and just mash the banana up w/ a fork and mix it with heated pb (microwave). It’s really good if you scoop some of the excess bread from a bagel and use it as a filling…mmm!!!