T.J. Watt's Go-To Dessert: A Comfort Food Mashup
If you know T.J. Watt, the star linebacker of the Pittsburgh Steelers, you’re already familiar with his record-breaking tackles and unwavering dedication on the field. But off the field, Watt’s life is refreshingly down-to-earth.Whether he’s vacationing with his wife, Dani, and his football-star siblings J.J. and Derek, grilling steaks, or cleaning his own pool (even if that involves the occasional tumble), Watt embraces the simple joys. That simplicity even carries over into his eating habits. His breakfast of choice? The same oatmeal every morning. His favorite fast food order? A double deluxe burger with ketchup and cheese curds from Culver’s.However, when it’s time for dessert, T.J. Watt steps out of his "boring" comfort zone and dives into a unique treat: Carrot Cake Banana Bread with White Chocolate Chips, a recipe by Dani.The Story Behind the Dessert
Dani Watt, who’s expecting her first child with the NFL star, shared her recipe in the Cooking with the Starrs cookbook. This collection of recipes, created by Bart Starr’s family foundation, features contributions from famous football families, including Derek Watt’s wife, Gabriella, and Donna Kelce, mother to Travis and Jason Kelce. Proceeds from the cookbook benefit pediatric cancer research, making every purchase a meaningful one.The bread combines the comforting spices of carrot cake with the moist sweetness of banana bread, rounded out by the creamy richness of white chocolate chips. While the recipe features some health-conscious ingredients like coconut sugar, gluten-free oats, and optional protein powder, it’s easily adaptable for traditional baking staples.How to Make Carrot Cake Banana Bread with White Chocolate Chips
Ingredients:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a loaf pan, 9x9 baking dish, or muffin tin with oil.
In a large bowl, mix the mashed bananas, coconut sugar, maple syrup, milk, egg, and vanilla extract.
2. Add oat flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the wet ingredients. Mix until combined.
3. Fold in shredded carrots, white chocolate chips, and optional add-ins like nuts or protein powder.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared dish or muffin tin.
5. Bake for 40–45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Let cool for 15 minutes. Serve warm or refrigerate in an airtight container for a chilled treat the next day.
If you know T.J. Watt, the star linebacker of the Pittsburgh Steelers, you’re already familiar with his record-breaking tackles and unwavering dedication on the field. But off the field, Watt’s life is refreshingly down-to-earth.Whether he’s vacationing with his wife, Dani, and his football-star siblings J.J. and Derek, grilling steaks, or cleaning his own pool (even if that involves the occasional tumble), Watt embraces the simple joys. That simplicity even carries over into his eating habits. His breakfast of choice? The same oatmeal every morning. His favorite fast food order? A double deluxe burger with ketchup and cheese curds from Culver’s.However, when it’s time for dessert, T.J. Watt steps out of his "boring" comfort zone and dives into a unique treat: Carrot Cake Banana Bread with White Chocolate Chips, a recipe by Dani.The Story Behind the Dessert
Dani Watt, who’s expecting her first child with the NFL star, shared her recipe in the Cooking with the Starrs cookbook. This collection of recipes, created by Bart Starr’s family foundation, features contributions from famous football families, including Derek Watt’s wife, Gabriella, and Donna Kelce, mother to Travis and Jason Kelce. Proceeds from the cookbook benefit pediatric cancer research, making every purchase a meaningful one.The bread combines the comforting spices of carrot cake with the moist sweetness of banana bread, rounded out by the creamy richness of white chocolate chips. While the recipe features some health-conscious ingredients like coconut sugar, gluten-free oats, and optional protein powder, it’s easily adaptable for traditional baking staples.How to Make Carrot Cake Banana Bread with White Chocolate Chips
Ingredients:
- 2-3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup milk of choice
- 1 egg (or flax egg)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups gluten-free oat flour
- 3/4 cup gluten-free oats
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 3/4 cup organic shredded carrots (lightly packed)
- 1/2–1 cup white chocolate chips
- Optional: 4–6 scoops unflavored collagen peptides
- Optional: 1 scoop vanilla protein powder + 1/2 cup milk
- Walnuts or pecans (optional)
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a loaf pan, 9x9 baking dish, or muffin tin with oil.
In a large bowl, mix the mashed bananas, coconut sugar, maple syrup, milk, egg, and vanilla extract.
2. Add oat flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the wet ingredients. Mix until combined.
3. Fold in shredded carrots, white chocolate chips, and optional add-ins like nuts or protein powder.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared dish or muffin tin.
5. Bake for 40–45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Let cool for 15 minutes. Serve warm or refrigerate in an airtight container for a chilled treat the next day.
