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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 make these as muffins frequently. I do make a few adjustments, not to knock the original but to make it slightly more carb friendly. Just 3 bananas, I use half whole wheat pastry flour and half almond flour. 2tbsp chia seeds and I sub the sugar with just 4 tbsp monkfruit sweetener. I often add Lilly’s SF choc chips and walnuts.
The bread was really moist and flavorful and had a great texture. I was looking for a recipe that was lower in fat and sugar and this came out great. Thank you for sharing!
Tried the recipe, my wife and I love it. Unless You come up with something better, this is now my go-to for banana bread, oh, also peach cobbler!!
I really enjoyed this banana bread. I gave some to my friend who is a diabetic as a healthier alternative. I will be making it again!
Great recipe. My whole family loved it
Love this Recipe and all the friends I’ve made it for have been pleased. It is unreal how how good the results are without the excessive amounts of butter and sugar. I also love the high banana ratio, which to me is the point of making the bread. I’ve made all sorts of variations, and some nice alterations have been extra cinnamon, half-sugar, and quick or old-fashioned rolled oats.
Thank you Lauren for showing us that quick breads can be done better!
Really delicious and moist!
Hi. So do you use less flour when adding the oats? I’ve been wanting to add oats to banana bread, just not sure of the ratio? Do you add any liquid I.e milk? Thanks
When I sub oats for flour I use half and half. It can be made with all oats but will be heavy. I chop the oats in the food processor for a couple of minutes first. If you are adding walnut flour I would suggest a touch of milk.
I’ve made this several times throughout 2021, it’s a favorite to make because it’s simple, healthy delicious and low sugar added. What else to do with bananas?
A favourite at our house that I’ve recommended to many others. Made at least once a month for the last 3 years, either as is or as muffins.
Awesome! Turns out great every time.
Great recipe. I added a few chopped walnuts. Truly delicious!
Skinny Banana Bread!!
The best ever. 19 grandchildren and everyone loves it. I have never made so much banana bread. Plus keeping everyone happy. Thank you