Bring festive cheer to your kitchen with this healthy, delicious, and fun-to-make banana bread! Packed with nutritious ingredients like organic shelled hemp seeds from Sevenhills Wholefoods and warming raw organic ginger powder, this loaf is as good for you as it is beautiful.

The twist? A hidden layer of matcha “Christmas trees” peeks out when you slice it, making it the perfect centerpiece for holiday breakfasts, brunches, or dessert.

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🌿 Ingredients

Gingerbread Banana Bread Batter:

- 2 cups oat flour

- 1 cup oats

- ½ cup organic coconut flour

- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

- 1 tsp baking powder

- ½ cup Sevenhills Wholefoods organic shelled hemp seeds

- 2 tsp cinnamon

- 1 tbsp Sevenhills Wholefoods raw organic ginger powder

- 3 large bananas, mashed

- ½ cup maple syrup

- 2 eggs (or flax eggs)

- ¼ cup melted coconut oil

- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste

Matcha Tree Sponge:

- 1¾ cups self-raising flour

- ¾ cup Sevenhills Wholefoods classic matcha powder

- 1 cup granulated sugar

- ½ cup vegetable oil

- 3 eggs (or flax eggs)

- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste

- 1 cup soya milk + 2 tbsp lemon juice

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🥄 Method

1. Bake the Matcha Tree Sponge

- Preheat the oven to 175°C.

- Combine all matcha sponge ingredients in a bowl until smooth.

- Pour into a lined loaf tin and bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

- Let cool completely, then slice and cut tree shapes from the slices using a cookie cutter.

2. Prepare the Gingerbread Banana Bread Batter

- Mix wet ingredients: mashed bananas, maple syrup, eggs, coconut oil, and vanilla.

- In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients: oat flour, oats, coconut flour, bicarbonate, baking powder, hemp seeds, cinnamon, and ginger.

- Gently fold dry ingredients into wet until fully combined.

3. Assemble the Loaf

- Spread a thin layer of gingerbread batter on the bottom of a lined loaf tin.

- Stand the matcha trees in a line across the loaf.

- Carefully spoon the remaining gingerbread batter around the trees and smooth the top.

4. Bake

- Bake at 175°C for 40–50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

- Let cool completely before removing from the tin.

5. Decorate

- Once cooled, decorate as you like! Yogurt frosting, mini gingerbread men, or even a dusting of powdered sugar make it festive and fun.

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✨ Why You’ll Love It

- Packed with hemp seeds for protein and essential fatty acids

- Warm, comforting ginger and cinnamon flavors

- Fun hidden matcha tree layer for a festive surprise

- Perfect for gifting, brunch, or a holiday treat