Walnut-Crusted Whole Banana Bread

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 4 very ripe DOLE® Bananas, ends trimmed
• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup natural buttery spread with olive oil, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F; spray 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Peel bananas; cut banana peels lengthwise in half, then thinly slice crosswise. Mash bananas with the back of a fork in a large bowl; whisk in eggs, syrup, buttery spread and vanilla extract. Whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon and baking soda in a medium bowl. Whisk flour mixture into banana mixture; fold in banana peels. Pour batter into prepared pan; sprinkle with walnuts and bake 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean; cool completely in pan on wire rack.
3. Cut bread into 12 (¾-inch-thick) slices.