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.
🙂
hey girl! Just made this->> I LOVE ITTTT <3
xo Em
http://www.pureglowsixteen.blogspot.com
That looks pretty damn tasty… I would think it would be perfect to add in a chocolate protein smoothie as well. I have put it on waffles and pancakes, while it may not be the healthiest calorie wise, it tastes mighty delicious, thanks!
Katie,
I always eat my bananas with pb and I love the combination. I am definitely going to try your recipe, but I got to say the color doesn’t look the most appetizing! Lol!
Doug
Eh, taste is what matters, right? 😉
Definitely! I am going to put it to the test today and will report back. The magic bullet has been sitting around too long!
loved this idea! i like a little crunch in my food
so instead putting it in the blender i simply took
half a banana and two tablespoons of peanut butter
and mashed them together a fork. It was too easy
and if your in the mood, put chocolate chips in!
That sounds awesome to me, too! 🙂
Just found your blog and just made this and yu-HUM! Am currently eating it with a dollop (okay a bit *more* than a dollop) of maple syrup and it’s oh so good. And I wonder why my post partum weight loss has stalled. Hmmmmm. Anyway, love the blog and have told all my friends about it.
Oh wow, Elyse, thank you SO much! That really means a ton to me!
Also, I adore the pb-maple combo! It makes really good sandwiches. Pb+maple > pb&j! 🙂
i just made this banana butter and it was ah-mazing!! thanks for the idea!!
I’m so excited you made it!! 🙂
I vote yes for calorie count. I know its not the most important thing when evaluating foods to eat ( but when you are on a diet like me) it is an important consideration.
this recipe is amazing. i made it this morning and had it on a sandwich at lunch.. SOOO GOOD! for dessert i took a frozen banana and a spoonful of peanut butter and it really was like peanut butter banana ice cream. AHH. this is my new addiction.
It’s crazy how just two ingredients can taste so much like pb-banana ice cream, right?! 😉
Holy this is brilliant! Quick question – how long do you think it would keep in the fridge? 😀 Thanks!
At least three days 🙂
I LOVE THIS RECIPE! I ate it in my oatmeal this morning.
Oh and I think you should give calorie counts when specific people ask…. otherwise its not a big deal. Some people care, others don’t.