Have you tried our sugar-free banana bread recipe?

People are always pleasantly surprised at how good it is, so I thought it would make a sweet kid-made gift, especially if we packaged it up in as a mason jar gift!

Of course, this would make a gorgeous present no matter who makes it, but I love that it is a kid-made present with real style and use. I love giving homemade crafts or drawings, but sometimes it’s nice to send something that has a practical purpose (eating!) and doesn’t clutter up the house.

(The doily can be saved if the receiver chooses, and the mason jar can be returned or repurposed.)

The kids worked together to make a double batch of our sugar-free banana bread, which made enough to fill 15 half-pint (500mL) mason jars. Beyond the fact that our banana bread recipe is tasty and full of fiber, it also does not need a mixer to mix the ingredients, so we can do everything with a simple wooden spoon, at the kids’ level. This makes it much easier when there’s more than one little body involved!

After whipping up the batter, the kids greased their mason jars using a silicone brush. I added a teaspoon of oil to each mason jar before handing them out, which worked out perfectly.

Next, they spooned out the batter into their jars, and wiped off any drips (which are also easy to remove after baking if necessary – but they will burn in the oven).

While the banana bread was baking, they each decorated a doily.

I was worried that the doilies would rip when added in between the lid and the screw-ring of the mason jar, but everything fit perfectly and nothing ripped! Just center the doily on the mason jar lid, gently position the ring and push down gently while screwing it on.

These were such a sweet gift and the children were all so proud to show off their finished mason jar gifts after everything was

Banana Bread Mason Jar Gift

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Ingredients

• 3 bananas, overripe and mashed
• 1.5 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup flax meal
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 cup milk
• 2 Tablespoons cinnamon, optional or to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350F.
2. Peel and mash your bananas until all fibers appear to be broken down.
3. Stir in your egg, vanilla, honey, and milk, and set aside.
4. In a separate bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients together.
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients, 1 cup at a time, to the wet ingredients, being careful to fully incorporate so that you don't get chunks of uncooked banana mixture in your final banana bread.
6. Spoon the batter into your mason jars, filling them 2/3 of the way up.
7. Bake the mason jars on a cookie sheet for 18-22 minutes, until dark brown and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
8. Allow the banana bread mason jars to cool completely before screwing on their lids.

What are your kids’ favourite homemade gifts to make and give?