Chocolate Peanut Butter Healthy Ribbon Loaf

Chocolate Peanut Butter Healthy Ribbon Loaf

From Taste of Home's Healthy Cooking Magazine. Submitted by Sharon Giljum of San Diego, CA.

"With chocolate, bananas, and peanut butter, this bread has it all. At less than 275 calories per slice, it's perfect for breakfast, dessert, or an afternoon snack."

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 2 medium)
1/3 cup plain fat-free yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup peanut butter chip
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted

Directions

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the bananas, yogurt, and vanilla. Combine the flours, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; gradually beat into the butter mixture. Stir in peanut butter chips.

Remove 1 cup batter to a small bowl; stir in chocolate until well blended. Pour half of remaining batter into a 9x5 inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray; top with half of the chocolate batter. Repeat layers. Cut through batter with a knife to swirl.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

**** NOTE: I like to change these up a bit. Sometimes I don't make them "ribboned" at all. Sometimes I will add chocolate chips instead of melted chocolate, and pour the batter in mini muffin pans. Very often, I will cut the banana amount in half, and substitute pureed carrot for the rest! The kids have no idea, and EVERYONE loves them!****