Healthy Banana Bread
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Healthy Banana Bread is a delicious, low calorie treat! Made with applesauce, this clean eating banana bread is perfect for dessert! No refined sugar necessary for this super healthy banana bread – it’s delicious all on its own!
This post was originally shared in 2017 but has since been updated.
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 ripe bananas, a touch of honey, and applesauce —no refined sugar here! Coconut oil keeps the bread moist and tender, and if you’d like, you can add chopped walnuts for extra crunch and heart-healthy fats.
Made with whole wheat flour and pantry staples, it’s easy to whip up and guaranteed to become a favorite in your house.
Liz’s tip for the best banana bread
- “Help! My banana bread is sticking to the pan”: I typically grease my loaf pan really well with coconut oil, and you can also line a pan with parchment paper. Allow the bread to cool completely for about one hour before running a butter knife along the edges of the pan to help loosen the bread before taking it out.
- Use overripe bananas: Bananas that are brown and spotty are ideal for banana bread, as they provide natural sweetness and moisture. If your bananas aren’t fully ripe, you can microwave them for 20-30 seconds to soften them, making them easier to mash and incorporate into the batter.
- Allow the bread to cool before slicing: After baking, let the banana bread cool for at least an hour before removing it from the pan. This gives the bread time to set, which helps prevent it from falling apart when you cut into it.
Ingredients
Substitutions
Bananas: If you’re short on bananas, you can substitute them with a little bit of applesauce or pumpkin puree. If you have extra bananas, try our Healthy Banana Pancakes or Banana “Nice” Cream!
Honey: You can substitute honey with pure maple syrup.
Applesauce: I have not tried making this banana bread recipe without applesauce so I’m not sure how it would work. You might be able to substitute yogurt or pumpkin but without testing it I can’t be sure. If you want a pumpkin bread recipe, try this Healthy Pumpkin Bread!
Eggs/To make vegan: Replace 1 egg white with 1 flax egg. Sub honey with maple syrup.
Coconut Oil: You can replace coconut oil with extra-virgin olive oil or melted butter. Canola oil will also work but we don’t recommend cooking with canola oil.
Flour: It’s best to make this banana bread with whole wheat flour, as the recipe recommends. You can also use regular white flour, but your bread might be a little more dense. I would not recommend almond flour, coconut flour, or oat flour- they will not work. Coconut and almond flour can never be replaced 1:1 with regular flour. Try finding an almond flour banana bread recipe instead!
To make gluten-free: I haven’t tried making this bread gluten free but others have used Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free Flour and had success. If you try it, let me know! Try at your own risk though, gluten free baking is a science!
Spices: You can omit the ginger and nutmeg if you don’t have any. Add a little bit more cinnamon to compensate!
Healthy Banana Muffins: To make muffins, Pour the batter into greased or lined muffin tins. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the muffin. You can also try our Healthy Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins or Protein Muffin Recipe
Mini Loaves: I haven’t tried making this healthy banana bread recipe into mini loaves, but I think it would work! Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the loaf pan.
Nuts: You can use chopped pecans instead of walnuts or skip the nuts to make this bread nut free.
Lower Sugar: Skip the chocolate chips if you want a lower sugar banana bread. They’re optional.
Vanilla Extract: You can add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for extra flavor if you’d like.
Zucchini: To up the nutritional benefits, try our Zucchini Banana Bread, which is the perfect mix of this recipe and Zucchini Bread.
How to make Healthy Banana Bread
- Mix together wet ingredients. Stir in dry ingredients. Fold in chocolate chips and walnuts.
- Pour batter into greased 8×4 loaf pan.
- Bake for 40 -45 minutes until a toothpick or cake tester comes out completely clean when inserted in the center of the bread
To me, banana bread is not only delicious but brings back such great memories- banana cake is my Gram’s specialty!
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.
Storage
Storing 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! It will last up to a week in the refrigerator – but will lose its freshness after about 3 days on the counter.
How to freeze Banana Bread: You can slice this bread and individually wrap slices in plastic wrap or freeze banana bread whole. To defrost a whole loaf – take it out the night before you’d like to enjoy it and let it thaw in the refrigerator.
When you’re ready to serve – pop in the microwave. If you’re defrosting a single slice, you can put it directly in the microwave or toaster oven until it is warm.
Low Calorie Banana Bread vs Regular Banana Bread
This homemade banana bread has 230 calories per slice. It has 35g of carbs, 10g of fat, and 3g of protein.
Most banana bread recipes have 400 calories per slice, 60g of carbs, and closer to 12-15g of fat.
Healthy Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups ripe mashed bananas about 3 bananas
- ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup coconut oil melted + cooled to room temp
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 egg white
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips optional
- ½ cup chopped walnuts optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and prepare a greased 8×4 loaf pan.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, mash bananas with a fork until slightly clumpy. You can microwave them for 20 seconds prior to mashing to make it easier.
- Add the applesauce, melted coconut oil, honey, and egg white to the mashed bananas. Mix until combined.
- Add whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger to the bowl. Gently mix until combined.
- Fold in walnuts and chocolate chips if using
- Pour batter into greased 8×4 loaf pan. Optional: sprinkle with a handful of chocolate 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 before slicing. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
Hi
This recipe looks amazing, and I would really like to try it, but where do I find the quantities for the ingredients…
Thanks!
Not sure where you are looking but just use the ‘jump to recipe’ button
Oh My Gosh!!! This was amazing. ❤️ It tastes so good and was very light. Thank you for sharing the recipe. I have more bananas. I am going to make them into muffins and freeze them for work.
So glad you liked it! Thank you!
To make it even better, omit oil altogether and just sub apple sauce. You can do that with any recipe and it turns out moist and perfectly delicious. Whatever amount of oil it calls for, use the same amount of applesauce. Been doing this for years and haven’t failed yet. Cheers!
I haven’t tried that with this recipe – it already has applesauce and bananas in it so this isn’t something I would recommend but glad it has worked for you with other recipes!
I have made this a ton of times and love it. I went to make it again yesterday and realized I ran out of whole wheat flour. I subbed in all-purpose flour like the blog mentioned and it still came out great!!
So happy to hear this, Amanda!
This bread is so good, really moist and the prefect amount of sweetness. I wasn’t sure it would be sweet enough , but it is perfect. The chocolate chips add the perfect touch. My new go to recipe, I always check this site first for new recipes, thanks!!
Thanks, Katie! So glad you liked it!
Made this yesterday. So good and so easy!
So glad you liked it, Candy!
SOSOSOOOOOOO GOOD!!!! Amazing texture (dare I say moist!) and seemingly decadent yet healthier than banana bread often loaded with butter and oil. I reduced the amount of choc chips and walnuts a bit and it was still perfection! Thanks for sharing!!!
Thanks, Jen! So happy you liked it!
This was a really easy recipe. My kids loved it and it was really tasty and moist. Definitely making again, it was gone in 1 day!
Love hearing this, Carrie! Thank you!
The only banana bread i ever make now!
So glad you like it, Lauren!
This is seriously the BESTTT banana bread recipe I’ve ever tried. Ok, ok. You read those comments on other blogs/recipes/reviews, etc but this banana bread recipe is the most delicious bread in all the land. If you don’t give it a try you will miss out. I make this all. the. time. Make it! Thank you Liz for gracing us with this recipe ☺️
You are too sweet, Abby!! Thank you!!
This was the best banana bread I’ve ever made! And it’s a bonus that it’s healthier too! Thank you’
Thank you so much, Kim! I’m glad you enjoy it!
I seen a few other recipes for banana bread the other day and I remembered it has been a little while since I last made a quad batch. With growing, always hungry teen boys multiple loaves is a must! This banana bread is inhaled by them that I I don’t even mention it’s healthy! Pros sky wouldn’t matter anyways!! They love it and now this is definitely on the baking list when it will feel like fall next week!!
Thank you so much, Nichole! I’m so glad you + your boys enjoy it!!
This bread is SO GOOD! I always get nervous making “healthy” versions of baked goods, but I will continue to make this recipe again and again.
So glad you enjoyed it, Cate! Thank you so much!
SO GOOD. There are a million banana bread recipes out there but I love that this one has all good ingredients that you feel much better/healthier about eating. It was delish would definitely make again!
Thank you so much! So glad you liked it 🙂
Can I use canned pumpkin in place of banana for this? How would I adapt the cooking times if I wanted to make muffins instead of bread, or would it cook the same?
I have not tried using canned pumpkin in this so I’m not sure. If you’re looking for a pumpkin muffin recipe – try this one!
As for muffins – it’s noted in the substituions: Healthy Banana Bread Muffins: Pour the batter into greased or lined muffin tins. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the muffin.
Who doesn’t love banana bread with chocolate chips? Easy to make and with more healthful ingredients than many bb recipes, this bread tastes soooooo good. The applesauce gives it a soft sweetness and lovely, moist texture, I tossed in some chia seeds just for fun.
So glad you like it, Tara! Love the chia seed addition 🙂
Really good and the texture was great!
Glad you enjoyed them, Kira!
The best banana bread I’ve ever made! Love it with chocolate chips. Kids love it too, they usually eat it all before I get one slice. Thanks!
Thanks, Monica! Chocolate chips make everything better 🙂
Best banana bread ever.! Used Bibs 1:1 GF flour so my GF daughter could eat it. It was so good our family of 5 ate it in 1 day. Next time I’ll make a couple loaves!
Thank you, Paula!! Bob’s makes the best GF flour 🙂
Love this recipe! It is so easy to make & delicious to eat. As soon as we have ripe bananas; this ricipe is made. 👍👍
Thanks, Toni! It’s the best way to use up ripe bananas!
What is the reason for only using the egg white & not the yolk.
Egg whites add volume and act as a drying and leavening agent.
Perfect recipe for our taste. I’ve made several banana breads with different recipes. There is one that I loved but it was too complicated and too much work. Your recipe however was easy, used all natural ingredients, and very, very delicious. This is a keeper recipe and will be the one to use on a regular basis. Thank you.
Thanks, Adela! We try to keep all of our recipes simple, easy to make and delicious 🙂
This recipe is a staple in our house. My kids love it so much!
Thanks, Katie! So glad you all enjoy it 🙂
This recipe was delish! I am glad my son showed me your page. Thanks.
So glad you liked it, Karen! Thank you so much!
This is the best! I never thought about adding chocolate chips into banana bread but it really adds such a yummy touch to the bread! You would never know this doesn’t have sugar in it! So sweet and delicious!
So glad you liked it, Elizabeth!!