Healthier Carrot Cake Banana Bread with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour (or white whole wheat flour)*
1/2 cup quick oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet ingredients
2 medium very ripe banana, mashed (¾ cup mashed banana)
1/2 cup coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons melted and cooled coconut oil
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 heaping cup shredded carrots (about 2 large carrots)
1/3 cup almond or coconut milk
1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, plus 2 tablespoons for topping
Optional add-ins:
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
For the frosting:
4 oz cream cheese, softened (reduced fat if you’d like)
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together whole wheat pastry flour, quick oats, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix together together mashed banana, coconut sugar, egg, and vanilla until well combined and creamy. Add in applesauce and almond milk, then fold in carrots. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined — DO NOT OVERMIX. Gently fold in melted coconut oil and 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans.
Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake for 45-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean with a few crumbs attached. Mine took about 55 minutes in an 8×4 inch loaf pan. If you use a 9×5 inch pan, you may need to check the bread at 40 minutes.
Remove from oven and place pan on wire rack to cool for 15 minutes. Remove bread from pan and place on wire rack to finish cooling completely.
To make cinnamon cream cheese frosting: Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and cinnamon together on medium speed for a minute or until smooth. Spread over cooled bread. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans. Cut into 10-12 slices and enjoy!