Healthy Banana Bread is made with just a few simple, nutritious ingredients. Easy to make + full of flavor – it’s perfect for breakfast or snacking!
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This Healthy Banana Bread is seriously THE BEST. I know that is a very bold statement, but it’s true.
It’s naturally sweetened with only bananas, honey and applesauce (no refined sugar!), packed with whole grains, and perfectly moist!
Easy to make with basic pantry staples, this Healthy Banana Bread will definitely be a favorite in your house!
Now.. you might be thinking.. healthy banana bread? How could this be?! But I promise you would NEVER even know that this banana bread is made with good-for-you ingredients. Just in case you’re wondering…
Why is this banana bread healthy?
- Whole wheat flour – I used whole wheat flour in this recipe rather than bleached white flour. Whole wheat flour is a great source of whole grains and so much better for you than regular white flour! This is the whole wheat flour I like
- Low in sugar – This recipe is sweetened only by ripe bananas, a touch of honey and applesauce. (and some chocolate chips for good measure) Many banana bread recipes are loaded with sugar, but this has only 19g of all natural sugar per slice.
- Heart healthy fats – Instead of using butter or canola oil, this recipe uses coconut oil to keep it moist, and it also has some walnuts in it for healthy fats!
Now, let’s get into baking this banana bread.
How to make healthy banana bread:
- Step 1: Mash your bananas. I like to use a fork and usually pop the bananas in a microwave for about 20 seconds before mashing so they’re easier to work with.
- Step 2: Whisk in your wet ingredients until smooth: honey, applesauce, egg white + coconut oil.
- Step 3: Add in your dry ingredients: wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices.
- Step 4: Add in chocolate chips and walnuts (the best part!!) You can omit walnuts if you have a nut allergy or don’t like them. Pecans also work.
- Step 6: Pour batter in a greased 8×4 loaf pan. See below for tips on how to not get your bread to stick to the pan. Bake per instructions.
To me, banana bread is not only delicious, but brings back such great memories. Growing my grandma would often make mini banana loaf cakes for me, and I can remember enjoying it before I went to school in the mornings.
She still makes these cakes for us, and they’re still just as delicious, but I love my own twist on her recipe with this Healthy Banana Bread recipe!
Whether you enjoy this healthy banana bread for a breakfast treat or with a cup of coffee as an afternoon snack – I think you’ll find that it’s tasty and comforting. The warm gooey chocolate chips + crunchy walnuts add even more flavor and fun to it!
Substitutions for this Healthy Banana Bread Recipe:
- To make gluten free: replace whole wheat flour with Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free Flour
- To make vegan: replace 1 egg white with 1 flax egg. Sub honey with maple syrup
- To make nut free: simply omit walnuts.
My bananas aren’t ripe.. can I still make this Healthy Banana Bread?
Yes you can. For best results, your bananas should be brown and spotty like in the photos. As bananas ripen they get sweeter and softer, making them perfect for banana bread! However, as long as your bananas aren’t green, you can make this recipe. Yellow bananas will work just fine. I recommend microwaving them for about 20-30 seconds so they are easier to mash!
How to store banana bread:
You can store this bread covered on your counter for a few days, but I recommend keeping it in the refrigerator for maximum freshness!
My banana bread is sticking to the pan..help!
I typically grease my pan liberally with coconut oil. You can also line a pan with parchment paper . Allow the bread to cool completely for about one hour before trying to take it out of the pan. You can also run a butter knife along the edges of the pan to help loosen the bread before taking it out.
More Healthy Bread Recipes:
Healthy Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups ripe bananas mashed
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/3 cup applesauce (unsweetened)
- 1 egg white
- 1/4 cup coconut oil melted + cooled to room temp
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger
- 1/2 cup walnuts chopped (plus extra for sprinkling on top)
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (plus extra for sprinkling on top)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a greased 8x4 loaf pan.
- In a bowl, mash bananas with a fork until slightly clumpy. You can microwave them for 20 seconds prior to mashing to make it easier.
- Stir in honey, applesauce, egg white, and oil to banana mixture.
- Add in whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda and spices
- Fold in walnuts and chocolate chips.
- Pour batter into greased 8x4 loaf pan. Optional: sprinkle with a handful of chips and walnuts on top. Bake for 40 -45 minutes until a toothpick or cake tester comes out completely clean when inserted in the center of the bread.
- Allow the bread to cool for 30 minutes. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Facts
run100run
February 15, 2014 at 6:40 pmI have enjoyed reading your blog. I would love for you to follow my running challenge run100run.wordpress.com
Clean Eating & Focused Training
February 15, 2014 at 7:32 pmWe’ll definitely check it out!
Elegant2TheEnd
February 15, 2014 at 7:19 pmOoh looks so good! Definitely want to try and adapt to gluten free
Clean Eating & Focused Training
February 15, 2014 at 7:32 pmYou could probably try it with almond meal but I’m not sure how good it would come out!
Elegant2TheEnd
February 15, 2014 at 7:35 pmNever tried that! Trial and error sure, and I will be sure to put up how it goes! Thanks
Clean Eating & Focused Training
February 15, 2014 at 7:39 pmYes definitely!! We would love to see how it comes out! 🙂
Ben Naosopha Kouvas
February 16, 2014 at 4:50 amThank you for receipe..I will try this one as it not so many ingredients… 🙂
Madison | A Joyfully Mad Kitchen
October 18, 2018 at 9:31 amWe’ve made this banana bread a handful of times! It is such a yummy recipe and I love that it’s low in sugars!
The Clean Eating Couple
October 18, 2018 at 2:12 pmI’m so glad you like it!! 🙂
Jenn
October 24, 2018 at 10:36 amI’ve made this almost once a week since the first time I tried it! I nanny for 2 VERY picky eaters and they request this banana bread all the time. It’s so easy to make and absolutely delicious!
The Clean Eating Couple
October 24, 2018 at 3:28 pmSo glad you like it, Jenn!! Love that your picky eaters love it too 🙂
Madison
October 31, 2018 at 10:25 amCan’t wait to make this recipe again! This healthy banana bread is so good and easy to make!
The Clean Eating Couple
October 31, 2018 at 11:05 amIt’s one of my favorites too! I’m so glad you like it 🙂
Anonymous
November 8, 2018 at 6:51 amit cannot be 280 calories. it maybe yummy, but so are other high calorie cakes. good way to make money referring products (doesnt matter if you have mentioned that you have affilite links in bold or not) and misleading people
The Clean Eating Couple
November 8, 2018 at 7:26 amHi There! I think you’re misunderstanding. Regarding the nutrition facts, I’m not misleading anyone. Here’s a link to the nutrition fact calculation on myfitness pal where you can see ALL the ingredients are clearly measured and calculated to give accurate nutrition information. The bread is 280 calories per serving, and you will get 8 servings per loaf (which is also clearly stated) https://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/view/98285959147261
It’s linked within the blog post, and I would never ‘mislead’ someone by posting a false nutrition label. That would be ridiculous
As for the affiliate links – I’m sorry they bothered you, but quite frankly – this is my job and if I want to make a small commission by linking products on my website where I’m providing you with FREE content, I’m going to continue to do so. I clearly disclaim that there are affiliate links, as you noticed.
Lastly, I just wanted to remind you that when you type out nasty comments behind your computer screen that there is a REAL person that reads them. Have you ever heard the saying if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all? If not – maybe you consider putting that into practice.
Have an awesome day!
Varnica
March 31, 2019 at 10:33 pmI LOVE your banana bread recipe! have basically been making the same thing, but adding the applesauce was a game changer! Also, got to say, I love your response to the nasty comment above. Your site is awesome!
The Clean Eating Couple
April 1, 2019 at 7:47 amI’m so glad you like it, Varnica!! And thank you LOL! Mean people are the worst!
Tina Marie
November 12, 2018 at 8:22 amThese turned out great as mini muffins! I used a chia egg and pure maple syrup, and left out the nuts and chocolate. The tops get a nice crispy texture and they are so moist!!! My toddler loves them and I’m happy because there’s no refined sugar. I will definitely be checking out some more of your recipes! Thank you!
The Clean Eating Couple
November 12, 2018 at 8:36 amI’m so glad you and your little one like them, Tina! I’m going to have to try it with a chia egg and in mini muffin form! Such a fun way to enjoy it 🙂
Ricardo Vazquez
January 1, 2019 at 11:56 pmWhat is the spread you put on the banana bread?
Thanks
The Clean Eating Couple
January 2, 2019 at 7:10 amIt’s just peanut butter 🙂 You don’t have to put anything on it, but peanut butter is delicious!
Marcus@strengthery
January 27, 2019 at 2:11 amI like to put peanut butter on banana bread too. So good haha 🙂
The Clean Eating Couple
January 27, 2019 at 10:59 amTotally!! It makes it sooo much yummier!
Annie
February 7, 2019 at 9:15 amI have made this banana bread soo many times and I have to say it’s delicious and I love that there it is naturally sweetened. My kids, 18 month old twins and my 3 year old love it soo much. My 3 year old actually helps to make it and gets soo excited about it, lol. Anyways, thank you for a wonderful recipe. Keep them coming!!!!
The Clean Eating Couple
February 7, 2019 at 9:16 amI’m so glad you like it, Annie!! And that your kids love it 🙂 That makes me so happy to hear!
Mare Dougherty
March 23, 2019 at 2:18 pmFollowed the recipe exactly as stated but bread was extremely dry,any suggestions? Thanks !
The Clean Eating Couple
March 24, 2019 at 11:45 amHi Mare – I’m sorry but I’m not sure why that would happen. I’ve had hundreds of people make this recipe with no issues! Are you sure you used the correct ingredients + baked it at the right temperature?
Amanda
May 17, 2019 at 11:05 amI had a couple bananas that were getting too ripe and I wanted to make a healthier banana bread. I am so glad I came across this recipe. I made it for the first time yesterday and it came out great. I also loved that this recipe didn’t require dumping sugar and butter in it! The whole family loved it and I will be making it again for sure.
The Clean Eating Couple
May 19, 2019 at 5:10 pmI’m so glad you liked it, Amanda!! You totally don’t need a bunch of butter/sugar for a delicious treat!
Nadine
June 8, 2019 at 4:37 pmAbsolutely loved this recipe! Easy to follow, and tasted so yummy! Definitely be making it again! 😋
The Clean Eating Couple
June 8, 2019 at 6:10 pmThank you so much, Nadine!! I’m glad you liked the banana bread!
Melissa Levato
June 12, 2019 at 10:18 amMy kids and I love to make this banana bread. We leave out the nuts, personal preference. It is usually only around for the day!
The Clean Eating Couple
June 12, 2019 at 10:44 amIt makes me so happy to hear that you + your kids love this! Thank you so much, Melissa!
Dawn
June 14, 2019 at 12:07 pmWould this be good for a diabetic?
The Clean Eating Couple
June 17, 2019 at 10:39 amHi Dawn – I’m not a nutritionist/dietitian. You’d need to do your own research on if this is an appropriate treat for a diabetic as I’m not sure.
Theresa
June 17, 2019 at 4:07 pmFirst time making your recipe! My boys requested banana bread and I came across your clean eating (low sugar!! Yay!!) recipe! I even threw in dark chocolate cocoa that I had available:) So Yum!! Thank you!!!
The Clean Eating Couple
June 17, 2019 at 4:46 pmI’m so glad you liked it, Theresa! The dark chocolate cocoa sounds like a yummy addition!
Brianne
July 21, 2019 at 3:30 pmThe best banana bread! Throwing out the recipe I’ve been using for years! Don’t need it! The ginger is such a fun flavor surprise, and the loaf came out so moist! Love!! Will be on the rotation!
The Clean Eating Couple
July 21, 2019 at 6:40 pmI’m so glad you like it, Brianne!! Thank you so much!