Paleo Fruit and Nut Bread

paleo fruit and nut bread is literally jam packed with nutrition

Made entirely without flour, added sugar, or dairy, this bread is almost too good to believe. It’s made with a base of almond meal, mashed banana, a couple of eggs and a touch of coconut oil — the rest is a boatload of chopped dried fruits, nuts, and seeds. And guess what? It’s really good!

The whole family loves this one. It’s dense and moist, with a subtle sweetness which comes naturally from the fruit. The coconut oil adds great flavor, too. Keep in mind this is not like any bread you’ve had before, the only thing I can liken it to is a very dense moist date nut bread, but without the extra sweetness. It makes amazing breakfast toast.

Dried fruits, nuts, and seeds are nutritional powerhouses

I turn to fruit and nut breads like this when I’m tired of my regular breakfast, and when I have lots of extra dried fruit and nuts cluttering up my cabinets. Nuts in particular can spoil if kept too long, so I like to keep them moving in my pantry. One loaf of paleo fruit and nut bread goes a long way towards clearing out my stash.

Dried fruit (fruit dried without added sugar) nuts, and seeds provide fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats as well as a great source of energy. This is a super healthy way to start the day, and I guarantee you won’t be hungry again for a long while.

You can use almost any kind of fruit, nut, and seed for this quick bread recipe. One of my favorite sources for all three is Trader Joe’s. A good assortment of add-ins results in a beautiful mosaic of fruits and nuts when you slice into this loaf. Each piece is unique!

suggested dried fruit ingredients

Use any combination, but look for fruit that has been dried without the addition of extra sugar. 

• apricots
• figs
• cranberries
• dates
• cherries
• pineapple
• blueberries
• strawberries
• citron
• mango
• plums
• raisins

suggested nuts and seeds

use any combination, I prefer raw to roasted.

• almonds
• pecans
• pistachios
• walnuts
• hazelnuts
• cashews
• macadamia
• pine nuts
• flaxseeds
• pepitas

Toasting enhances this paleo bread

Definitely toast your bread, it makes such a difference ~ toasting makes the fruit jammy and brings out amazing flavor in the nuts. I also like to add a pat of butter, or a smear of cream cheese, which isn’t strictly Paleo*, but delicious. This is not a breakfast you will gobble down quickly; each bite begs to be savored!

*PALEO refers to an approach to eating that relies on the foods our Paleolithic ancestors had available to them, before the era of farming. The thinking is that our bodies and metabolisms weren’t meant to cope with grains, legumes, dairy, or modern processed foods and sugars. A paleo diet includes lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds ~ all things that our hunter gatherer ancestors would be able to forage.

tips for making paleo fruit and nut bread:

• Use fine almond flour in this recipe if you can find it. Rough almond meal will make the bread more crumbly.
• Remember all the fruits (except the banana) in this bread are dried, fresh fruit won’t work in this recipe. Just about any dried fruit will work.
• Raw nuts work best, but if you can only find roasted, that ok, but preferably unsalted.
• As for seeds, I used flax seeds and pepitas (pumpkin seeds,) but there are so many other choices out there, feel free to use what you like.
• I pureed my bananas in my food processor to get a smooth result. If you choose to hand mash yours, make sure they get really well mashed. You want the mashed banana to be a thick liquid.
• The bread is delicate, and I find that it works best to cool the bread, then wrap it in plastic and refrigerate overnight before slicing.
• The more finely you chop your fruit and nuts, the easier the bread will be to slice, but I like some chunkiness to the texture.
• A good sharp serrated bread knife works well for slicing without crumbling the bread.
• If you are toasting, be careful not to over do it, the bread will scorch quickly in a regular toaster. A toaster oven works well too.
• This bread freezes nicely, just be sure to wrap it well. First in plastic, then in foil.

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Featured comment:

“This is the healthiest, tastiest and the best fruit and nut bread I have ever made (or had). It’s easy to make and the texture is excellent, varying the dried fruit/nut mix is an added bonus. We have it with a dollop of organic coconut yoghurt. It’s delicious warm or cold. I have never commented on any recipe sites, but in this instance it deserved a big round of wholesome applause. Thank you”  ~Tesia