Remember when you were a kid and Mom made the best after-school snacks? Get your Star Wars figurines and My Little Ponies ready to play at the table — this Banana and Almond Butter Quesadilla recipe is about to take your taste buds on a trip down memory lane. It makes for a healthy snack or an easy healthy dessert that’s perfect for when you’re craving something sweet, and it’s reminiscent of your favorite childhood flavors.
Nothing says “after-school pick-me-up snack” like a banana. Mom was smart to add that yellow fellow to your lunch box or dessert plate. Bananas are the most consumed fresh fruit in the United States, and they’re a good choice, too, given that they are a good source of potassium, and have about 3 g of fiber in a medium banana.
But the secret to this grown-up version of a classic sweet treat is the cinnamon. It takes this from a basic recipe to an exquisite dessert quesadilla. All you need is half a teaspoon to amplify the flavor profile of this dish and turn it from average to amazing.
And of course, there’s the eternal debate between peanut butter and almond butter. Peanut butter has been a staple in Mom-made lunches for generations, but as of late, almond butter has enjoyed the spotlight. Nutritionally, both peanut butter and almond butter are pretty similar. Almond butter packs in 9.5 g of healthy unsaturated fats in one tablespoon, compared to peanut butter’s 8 g. Almond butter has slightly less protein (2.4 g versus 3.8 g), and for calories, there’s less than a 10-calorie difference between the two. To each their own, but we love how the almond butter plays into this recipe.
And to really solidify this as your new favorite dessert or snack, we’ll let you in on a little secret: It’s healthy enough to fit into a clean-eating diet. Whether you’re trying to lose weight or you’re training for an obstacle course race, this dish will fuel you up without weighing you down. Mom will be so proud.
Banana and Almond Butter Quesadilla
Ingredients
- 1 6-inch whole wheat tortilla cut in half
- 1 Tbsp. smooth almond butter all-natural
- ½ large banana thinly sliced
- ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
Instructions
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Spread half of tortilla with almond butter.
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Top with banana, cinnamon, and second tortilla half; cook in medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until tortilla is golden brown.
Recipe Notes
The Nutrition Facts box below provides estimated nutritional information for this recipe.
Openfit Blocks:
1 Fruit & Vegetable
2 Fats
1 Other Carbohydrate
Photography by Anguel Dimov, AB Creative
