Looking for a healthy baking project for your kids this weekend? We love to bake together as a family. Everyone gets to add an ingredient, has a turn at mixing, pouring, stirring and, of course, eating. Enjoy!

Banana coconut cake (makes one loaf)

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup apple sauce
3 eggs
1 cup (about 2) mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup buttermilk or plain yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
a pinch of salt
1/2 cup coconut flakes
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon, ground
1/2 tsp ginger, ground
a pinch of nutmeg

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix the butter with the applesauce and add the eggs, one by one. Next, add the bananas, buttermilk and vanilla essence and mix until well combined. Add the flour, baking powder and salt and again mix well. Set aside.
In a small bowl, stir together the coconut, sugar, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.
Pour half of the dough in a loaf tin lined with parchment paper, top with a layer of the half coconut mixture, cover with the remaining dough and then sprinkle the rest of the coconut mixture on top. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until an inserted wooden toothpick comes out clean.