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{Stovetop} Banana Bread Bites

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While I was in California brunching and making pie over the fourth, my boyfriend was in Wisconsin. Catching fish.

Stovetop Banana Bread Bites (vegan, gluten-free) // The Pancake Princess

LARGE fish. Like 25 pounders. Large enough fish that their fishing group was able to split three fish between two families of five and Erik returned to Houston bearing four packages of fresh and smoked salmon.

Stovetop Banana Bread Bites (vegan, gluten-free) // The Pancake Princess

It is some of the most delicious fish I’ve ever tasted. The other night, Erik (who decided to learn how to cook this summer), soaked a chunk of fresh salmon in salt water, baked it, and finished it under the broiler with a mixture of parmesan, lemon and a touch of butter. Served up with sautéed zucchini and spinach. A few days later, we ate some of the smoked stuff chunked on bagels with drippy-yolked fried eggs.

It would be safe to say I approve of Erik’s summer goal.

Stovetop Banana Bread Bites (vegan, gluten-free) // The Pancake Princess

I don’t know if it’s something in the air, but some other things that have been tasting magically delicious these days include:

  • Pie (this show is killing my waistline. I now crave pie of all kinds, all the time.)
  • Watermelon (Erik and I took down an entire watermelon last night. The fact that it was labeled “personal watermelon” would have made me feel better had my stomach not felt like the ocean post-consumption.)
  • 2% Fage Greek yogurt (I always buy 0% but a recent foray into the 2% reminded me how incredibly LUSCIOUS this stuff is. Doesn’t even require granola. Perfectly ripe summer fruit + this stuff = heaven.)
  • Grilled corn (#nowords)
  • Melted cheese, in any form (Nachos. Cauliflower pizza. Black bean casseroles. Parmesan scrambled eggs. #addicted)
  • White cheddar popcorn (but when does that ever NOT taste delicious? I mean really.)

And, of course, cookies. And since the heat has just barely relented in recent weeks, I’m still relying on my stovetop to fulfill my baking cravings.

Stovetop Banana Bread Bites (vegan, gluten-free) // The Pancake Princess

These cookies are one of my all-time favorite ways to use up super ripe bananas. My old roommate and I were mildly obsessed with them; I think we made them three times during a two-week time span. They’re lightly sweet, tender, and very bready: basically the quickest vehicle for getting banana bread from your head into your stomach.

But these are even faster, since no oven is required! This batch makes just enough that you can cook them all in about 15 minutes, or two stove batches. Since these are the cookie version of banana bread, you get a maximum amount of those crisp bites of browned edges. They’re vegan and gluten-free, so the batter is a breeze to whip up (no egg division here) and they’re super healthy! Can you say perfect summer cookie?

The secret to non-black-bottomed cookies like the one in this photo? Don't grease the pan.
The secret to non-black-bottomed cookies like the one in this photo? Don’t grease the pan.
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{Stovetop} Banana Bread Bites

These healthy cookies taste like bites of banana bread that can easily be made on the stove top. The vegan and gluten-free batter can easily be whipped up in about 5 minutes!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Calories 71kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 medium banana very ripe
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder GF
  • Tiny pinch salt
  • 1 tablespoon flax seed
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil liquid
  • 1/4 cup oat flour GF
  • 1/4 cup buckwheat flour
  • Heaping 1/3 cup rolled oats GF
  • 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, mash the bananas. Add the baking soda, baking powder, salt, flax seed, vanilla extract, almond butter, maple syrup, oil and stir until well combined.
  • Add the flours and rolled oats and stir. It should be wet and sticky, but will thicken in the refrigerator. Fold in the chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes (I found the texture to be slightly denser and the edges crisper after chilling the batter, but you can skip the chilling if you wish).
  • Preheat a pan over medium heat. Do NOT grease the pan; simply plop rounded teaspoons of chilled dough into the pan (space them about two inches apart; I did about five cookies per batch, but with larger pans can do more), lower heat to low and cover with a lid. Let cook for about 6-8 minutes, or until cookies feel firm to the touch. You will be able to smell them when they’re approaching doneness.
  • Remove from pan and repeat. Future batches may take less time since the pan will already be hot. EAT!

Notes

You can sub spelt or all-purpose flour for all or part of the flours indicated in the recipe.
Adapted from here.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. shannon

    Omgosh cookies on a stovetop!! Finally!! I really wanna try this! But is it possible if I sub the coconut oil for anything ? Vegetable oil? Olive oil?

  4. Courtney @ Neighborfood

    I’ve never seen cookies baked in a stove top like this before! I LOVE it! Now you have me craving salmon and banana bread. Don’t even care that that’s perhaps the most bizarre combo ever.

  5. Lindsey

    I love that these are stovetop cookies! How clever! And the ingredients! They are perfect, I can just imagine how delicious these must taste 🙂

  6. Maggie @ Sunnyside Up Smile

    I am unbelievably happy that I discovered your blog! Clean eating and pancakes are the perfect combo! I was looking for the perfect healthy(ish) pancake recipe for tomorrow and I googled “pancake princess” thinking nothing would come up but you did! YAY! I can’t wait to wake up and make the Vegan Chocolate Cake Pancakes! I might just make these stovetop banana bread bites too 🙂

  7. Brandi

    Looks delicious Erika! I know it’s a scorcher out there but I guess I’m a weirdo because I still turn on my oven daily…it’s never bothered me, lol! I keep my air conditioner real cool, so it doesn’t bother me. I still however love the idea of cookies in a pan! I’ve seen a whole pan cookie before but not just individual cookies….it’s kind of like a mini pancake concept, so I can see how it would work. I’ll need to try that next time! YUM! 🙂

    • erika

      Oh nah, not weird at all! I would honestly totally put up with the heat of turning my oven on if only it didn’t make my A/C bills skyrocket to keep the apartment cool. Yes–it’s EXACTLY like a mini pancake! I tried making muffin tops in the pan the other day and they turned into…pancakes.

    • erika

      Ahh! Yayyy. It’s kind of amazing, but after making these I was like ‘why do I even use an oven again?’ I guess the only downside of solely using a stovetop is that I can’t make pie…

      ..but I hope you like these!!

    • erika

      Yessss! I would be so excited to see you try out some stovetop cookies someday since you are the master of all things cookie!

  11. Jess

    I’m jealous of all that fresh fish – maybe I should start encouraging my husband to pick up that hobby! What a great idea these banana bread bites are – I always need ways to use ripe bananas. Looking forward to try these out! (And so glad to have found your beautiful blog!)

    • erika

      Haha YES! Seriously, that is the best idea. Maybe I can make Erik pick it up in Houston! Although I don’t know how great the pickings would be here…lol well better luck wherever you are!

      And thank you! Looking forward to checking out your blog!

  12. Melissa

    I’m lovin’ your stovetop recipes. Perfect for this Texas heat. Billy & I have also killed a whole personal watermelon in one sitting… more than once this summer. Grilled corn is a must…with cheese of course! And now I feel like watching Pushing Daisies all over again, so there goes my waistline! Thanks, Erika 😉

    • erika

      Thanks Melissa!! Ah! You and me and Erik and Billy should all kill some watermelons together sometime haha. So glad to hear we’re not the only ones!

      Omg. What kind of cheese do you put on your grilled corn? Like the Mexican-style cheese (cojita, I think?) THAT SOUNDS AMAZING. And Pushing Daisies: just do it. My life feels like 38 times happier with pie in it 😉

  14. Kelly

    I love the sound of these stove-top cookies! They look fabulous and I love how healthy they are and don’t require eggs. Pinning, thanks for sharing Erika 🙂

  16. laurasmess

    Oh my gosh. That fish sounds amazing! I need to convince Aaron to go on a fishing trip! 😉
    Love the sound of these stovetop banana bread cookies. It’s the best of both worlds, cookie + banana bready goodness! Gorgeous post Erika. xx

    • erika

      Haha yes! There’s no way I could ever do the type of deep sea fishing he did (hello sea sickness!) but I wish I could! You and Aaron should definitely go!!! And thanks <3

  18. Nancy @ gottagetbaked

    Mmmm….I can just imagine how awesome that fresh caught fish tastes! Way to go, Erik! And thank you for another non-oven recipe. It’s too hot to bake (but I’m a fool who continues to do it). I would’ve never thought to make quick breads or cookies on the stove top. You’re brilliant, girl!

    • erika

      I knowww. Twas amazing. I am a fan of my bf!

      Thanks Nancy 🙂 What I would give to be your neighbor and mooch of your delicious baked goods!

    • erika

      Yay! I’m glad you’re a fan of the idea–it’s saved me soooo much in energy bills this summer! Hope you get to try out some cookies 🙂