5 Ingredient Carrot Cake Bread

So here's the deal: I've finally figured out why I don't necessarily like to cook or bake. I have cornered the market on minimal ingredient recipes, therefore anything that requires more than 5 ingredients is dead to me. Entirely too much effort. Can anyone else relate?

The thought of baking makes me think of my mom baking us chocolate chip cookies when we were little. She literally had to pull 12 different items out of the pantry before she could even start putting them together. Baking soda, baking powder, eggs, flour, sugar, etc.

I don't know about you, but I'm busy. I am all about making things quick and easy. That's why it's become my goal to serve you in a way that allows you to serve the people you love, with minimal ingredients and effort!

That being said, banana bread and carrot cake are both my favorite things. But they both require a lot of ingredients, which is why I never make either one. Even my own banana bread recipe that I love so much, is a lot of effort.

After having so much success with cake mix cookies, and cake mix mugcakes, I decided I would try to combine the two in bread form, why not!? Alas, this recipe was created. I literally threw five ingredients together and hoped for the best, and this is what came of it.

Taylor has deemed it his new favorite recipe, and I couldn't agree more. It is THICK, moist (I know, I'm sorry), and perfectly sweet without tasting too dessert-y. It would be the perfect compliment to warm cup of coffee tomorrow morning.

And did I mention, it couldn't be easier?! To all my non bakers out there, this is the perfect recipe for you!

All in all, I think I nailed it, but I'll let you be the judge!

Recipe Notes:

• Any cake mix you use will work. You could literally do funfetti banana bread and it would work ... and now I'm actually thinking that might be the greatest combo ever. Experiment, use what you have, and have fun with it! I just think banana and carrot cake makes the best bread!
• Before you ask, no you cannot taste the pumpkin, no matter what cake mix flavor you use! I promise, and you can hold me to it! It's there to give the bread moisture and to bind it together, not for flavor purposes!
• You could easily make these into muffins or a sheet cake. Make them in whatever form is easier for you! The bake time will need to be adjusted, so you'll just have to keep an eye on them!

Ingredients:

• 1 large banana/1 cup banana, mashed
• 1 box carrot cake, cake mix
• 1 cup pumpkin
• 1 egg
• 1 cup chocolate chips, optional (but not really)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Whisk together egg, banana, and pumpkin in a stand mixer.
3. Slowly pour in the cake mix.
4. Once combined, pour batter into a greased bread pan.
5. Top with chocolate chips!
6. Bake at 350 for around 50-60 minutes.
   • Note: every oven is different, I would start checking on it when you reach 45 minutes! It should be golden and the top should be spongy! It's a fine line, be careful.
7. Let it cool COMPLETELY before cutting, at least 30 minutes, but I like to refrigerate overnight!