Can't Believe It's Gluten Free Banana Bread

Don't laugh, but I got this banana bread recipe from a Banana Nut scented jar candle that I picked up at Woodman's!  The recipe wasn't gluten free, so I changed it a bit, but it turned out super moist and delicious!  You'd never know it was gluten free!

Enjoy!
Kirsten

CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S GLUTEN FREE BANANA BREAD

1 3/4 cups gluten-free flour blend
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup shortening
2/3 cups sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 small ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

1)  Cream the sugar and shortening.  Add the vanilla, eggs, mashed bananas and applesauce.

2)  In a separate bowl, combine the flour blend, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum and salt.

3)  Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture and blend well.  Stir in the nuts (optional).

4)  Bake in greased 9x5 inch load pan at 350F for about an hour.

5)  Cool on wire rack before slicing.

NOTES:

 ~The gluten-free flour mix that I used is from the cookbook "Recipes for Gluten Free Kids", it's on my blog under Gluten Free Flour Mixes and it's titled "Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour Blend" - just make sure you don't use the one that says "For Bread".  Also, for the flour blend, it says to use either Almond Flour or Coconut Flour; I use Coconut Flour in mine, but I'm sure either would be just fine.

~Chocolate chips would be awesome in this recipe too!