Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins
Total Time: 1 hr
Servings: 8 slices
Ingredients
1 cup (100g) rolled oats or oatmeal
3 medium apples, peeled and grated
1 ripe banana, thoroughly mashed
1/2 cup (120ml) water
100g (3.5oz) dried blueberries (or dried cranberries)
100g (3.5oz) raisins
1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional, for warmth)
1 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup chopped almonds or walnuts (for topping)
Instructions
1. Preheat & Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a standard loaf pan or silicone loaf mold with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
2. Soak the Oats: In a large bowl, mix the oatmeal with 1/2 cup of warm water and let it sit for 5–10 minutes to soften.
3. Combine Wet Ingredients: Add the mashed banana and grated apples to the soaked oats, stirring well to combine the natural sweetness.
4. Fold in Dried Fruit: Add the dried blueberries, raisins, baking powder, and ground cinnamon (if using). Stir until all ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
5. Transfer to Pan: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf mold and smooth the top evenly with a spatula.
6. Top with Nuts: Generously sprinkle the chopped almonds or walnuts over the surface of the batter and press down lightly so they adhere.
7. Bake: Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Cool & Slice: Allow the loaf to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Chef’s Pro Tips
Natural Binding: Letting the oats soak with the wet ingredients allows them to release starches that hold the bread together without needing added eggs or refined flour.
Sweetness Boost: Use very ripe, spotted bananas and sweet apple varieties (like Gala or Fuji) to maximize natural sweetness without adding sugar.