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This EASY Healthy Banana Bread recipe is made with low sugar, no oil and is just over 100 calories per slice. It yields incredibly moist, perfectly sweet, and delicious bread!
Looking for more bread recipes? Try my Lemon Poppy Seed Bread, Artisan No Knead Bread, or Skillet Cornbread!
What I love about the recipe:
- Normal Ingredients – No artificial sweeteners or anything out of the ordinary here. I use basic pantry ingredients you already have.
- Healthy – No oil, low sugar, FOUR bananas, and around 100 calories per slice!
- Tastes Amazing – When baked goods are labeled “healthy” they often don't taste great, but I promise you no one would ever guess that this banana bread is any different! It is still just as moist, sweet, and scrumptious as traditional banana bread!
How to make Healthy Banana Bread:
Grease a standard 9×5” loaf pan (I also like to line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper to make sure the loaf doesn't stick).
Mash bananas in a mixing bowl. Add egg, vanilla, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon and stir well to combine.
Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl. Add to banana mixture and stir to combine. Stir in melted butter.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for 5-10 few minutes before inverting onto a wire cooling rack.
Pro Tips:
- Use very ripe bananas. The riper the banana, the sweeter it is, the easier it is to mash, and the more sweetness it adds to the bread.
- Trick to ripen bananas quickly: Place the bananas (peel on) on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for about 6-8 minutes. until the outer peel is dark.
Storing and Freezing Instructions:
To Store: Banana bread will keep at room temperature for 3-5 days.
To Freeze: Cool completely and then store in an airtight container or freezer safe bag for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw to room temperature before serving.
Recipe Variations:
- Healthy Banana Muffins: Follow my instructions HERE!
- Mix-Ins: Feel free to stir in ¾ cup of you favorite chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or raisins, at the end, before adding the batter to the pan.
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Healthy Banana Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 bananas, , about 1 ⅓ cups, mashed (320 g)
- 1 large egg
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract, (15 ml)
- 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar, (38 g)
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar, (25 g)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, (2.6 g)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder, (4 g)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda, (5 g)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, (2.5 g)
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, (white or white-whole wheat) (180 g)
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, , melted (or substitute applesauce) (28 g butter or 30 g applesauce)
Instructions
- Grease a standard 9×5” loaf pan (I also like to line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper to make sure the loaf doesn't stick).
- Mash bananas in a mixing bowl. Add egg, vanilla, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon and stir well to combine.
- In a separate small bowl stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to banana mixture and stir to combine.
- Gently stir in melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow to cool in the pan for 5-10 few minutes before inverting onto a wire cooling rack.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I originally shared this recipe January 2017. Updated January 2021 and January 2022.
Process photos by Nikole from The Travel Palate
This recipe hits EVERY TIME!!! Even cooking this at high altitude and accidentally throwing the dry ingredients with the wet before mixing, still came out great. I also added in walnuts and choc chips! So yummy!!!!
Delicious!I have made it 4 times in 3 days! We just can’t get enough!!!
I absolutely LOVE this recipe!!! I make it as muffins and I add walnuts. I make this EVERY weekend so we have them for lunches for the week. My whole family LOVES them!
Hi, did you add applesauce as listed in the ingredients list?
How long did you bake the muffins?
I don’t see applesauce in the ingredient list
Applesauce listed next to the butter, can be used instead of butter.
I added 6 very ripe bananas and it baked for around 50 minutes at 350. I tasted it as soon as it came out of the oven, and admittedly, was disappointed. Texture was weird and it wasn’t very sweet.
24 hours later, it transformed into the yummiest, moistest banana bread I’ve made! Can’t wait to see how much better it will taste tomorrow too!
would adding milk to the batter make it more moist? how much would you suggest?
I don’t think the batter needs more milk–I think it results in a really moist bread. If anything I’d add more banana before I added more milk.
I just tried a gluten free version and it is delicious! I used King Arthur Measure for Measure Gluten Free flour and then used one packet of Sweet Leaf stevia in place of the white sugar and unsweetened apple sauce in place of the unsalted butter. Consistency is great and taste is delicious! Thank you for this recipe!
What would baking temp and times be for mini loafs. If I doubled the recipe and made about 6 mini loafs? Thanks
I would check them around 18-20 minutes.
Very good! I love how this bread is so moist. I added 1/2 cup of chocolate chips and a cinnamon brown sugar pecan topping on top. It was delicious! My family didn’t even realize I used whole wheat flour!
Hi! Can’t wait to make this recipe but can I substitute unsalted butter with unsweetened applesauce?
Yes, that would be fine!
Omg love this! Can’t stop making it! Do you think I could sub for carrots or does that need a completely different recipe?!
Also could we be distantly related haha
I don’t carrots will work the same! Sorry!
Hi can I add jaggery powder ? Instead of sugar
I’ve never baked with jaggery powder, but I’m sure it would be fine.
Hi, is there a substitution unsalted butter? If I add whole wheat instead of white flour will it make it taste different? Do I have to add salt? Thank you! I can’t wait to make them. 🙂
I am wondering the same thing. Can I use whole wheat flour instead of whole wheat white flour?
Yes, but it will change the texture slightly and be a little more hearty feeling.
Yummiest banana bread I’ve made yet! And I love that it’s a healthier version 🙂
This is great! How would I use almond flour instead?
Thank you!
I haven’t tried substituting almond flour in this recipe, but I think it would work fine!