Banana Bread with Goji Berries

Moist banana bread, speckled with chewy goji berries. The bananas are sweet, the berries are tart, and it's a marriage made in quick bread heaven. Super easy, incredibly healthy, and downright addicting.

So what's the deal with the berries? Here's a quick primer: Bright orangey-red goji berries (also called wolfberries) are native to China and have a sweet/tart flavor similar to dried cranberries. They're jam-packed with nutrients and, rumor is, they prolong life. Studies also suggest that goji berries promote weight loss, improve sleep quality, enhance athletic performance, and improve conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and age-related eye problems. That's pretty hefty list of benefits for one little berry.

Goji berries can be eaten raw, cooked or dried (like raisins - shown above), and they're used in herbal teas, juices, wines, and medicines. When it comes to this bread, their tartness perfectly complements the sweetness of the bananas.

Health note: Goji berries may interact with some drugs, including warfarin (a blood thinner), diabetes medications and blood pressure drugs. If you take any of these drugs, speak to your doctor before eating the berries in any form.

All that nutrition aside, this bread is fabulous! Everything you love about banana bread (moist, sweet) with nuggets of chewy/tart berries coursing throughout. I can't wait for you to try this!

Banana Bread with Goji Berries

Cooking spray
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas, about 3 bananas
1/2 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
4 tablespoons melted butter or vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup dried goji berries

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8- or 9-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix with a fork to combine. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, yogurt, butter, egg, and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and stir with a spatula until just blended (small lumps are OK). Fold in the goji berries.
Transfer the batter into the prepared pan.
Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, until a wooden pick comes out clean or with little moist bits clinging to it. Cool the bread in the pan, on a wire rack. Serve warm or room temperature.
Wrap leftovers tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Makes 1 loaf