Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9 inch by 5 inch loaf pan (standard size) with butter or nonstick baking spray and a sprinkling of flour, tapping out any excess flour. Set aside the prepared pan. I prefer a metal loaf pan vs a glass loaf pan- keep in mind that if you use glass your bake time will be longer.

In a large bowl mash the bananas until “liquid-y”- there will be a few lumps and that’s okay. Whisk in the brown sugar and oil. Add the eggs, cottage cheese, hemp hearts and vanilla extract and whisk until well combined.

To that same bowl add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Use a silicone spatula to fold the dry ingredients into the wet- mix until JUST combined. Overmixing results in a more dense, tougher loaf. Fold in any mix-ins.

Pour the batter in the prepared pan. To the top of the loaf you can add a handful of chocolate chunks or slice a banana lengthwise and gently press it in. Bake for 60-65 minutes until a toothpick entered into the middle of the loaf comes out clean.

Let cool for 15 minutes in the pan and then run a knife along the perimeter of the loaf to loosen it from the pan. Remove loaf and let it cool a few more minutes on a cooling rack (impossible, I know).

Slice and serve! My favorite is slathered in peanut butter but butter, almond butter, a drizzle of honey or just STRAIGHT UP are all amazing.