This healthy banana bread recipe is easy to make with a handful of nutritious ingredients like whole wheat flour, applesauce, and Greek yogurt. This whole wheat banana bread is sweetened with honey (no refined sugar) and makes a great breakfast or snack.
We make banana bread weekly around here, and sometimes I like to take a break from our regular banana bread (which is amazing) and make this healthy banana bread recipe for a more nutritious option (or this Paleo banana bread).
This healthy banana bread is easy to make with a handful of nutritious ingredients like applesauce, Greek yogurt and whole wheat flour. It is sweetened with honey (no refined sugar) and makes a great breakfast or snack.
Healthy Banana Bread Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions
Let’s chat about the ingredients in this whole wheat banana bread, as well as possible substitutions.
- Bananas. Make sure your bananas are overripe for the best flavor and maximum sweetness.
- Honey. Maple syrup is a great substitute for honey, and imparts a delicious maple flavor.
- Unsweetened applesauce. Any variety of applesauce works well in this healthy banana bread recipe.
- Vanilla greek yogurt. You can use plain Greek yogurt or sour cream if you’d prefer, just note that the whole wheat banana bread will be a little less sweet.
- Salted butter. Unsalted butter, coconut oil, canola oil and ghee all work well as substitutes for salted butter.
- Whole wheat flour. White whole wheat flour, whole wheat pastry flour or regular all-purpose flour all can be used in place of whole wheat flour.
- Mix-ins. there are so many possible mix-ins that can be added to this healthy banana bread recipe. Chocolate chips, dried cranberries, raisins, dried cherries, coconut, pecans, walnuts, almonds, etc.
How to make Healthy Banana Bread
As always, we’ll walk through how to make healthy banana bread step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.
Combine dry ingredients
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and sea salt, then set aside to use later.
Combine wet ingredients
In a large bowl, combine bananas, eggs, vanilla, honey, applesauce, Greek yogurt and melted butter. Stir until mixture is uniform throughout.
Add dry ingredients & mix-ins
Next, add the dry ingredient mixture and stir until combined, then add mix-ins if desired. This bread is delicious enough to hold it’s own without additions, however my kids never scoff at the idea of adding chocolate to anything! 🙂
Healthy Banana Bread: Mix-ins
So, if you’d like to add some mix-ins, here are some suggestions:
- Chocolate Chips (milk, dark, light, etc.)
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Cinnamon chips
- White chocolate chips
- Blueberries
- Dried fruit (cranberries, rasins, etc.)
- Swirl of peanut butter or Nutella
- Unsweetened coconut
Bake & Cool
Pour the healthy banana bread batter into prepared loaf pan and bake in preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is set and a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out with moist crumbs.
Let the whole wheat banana bread cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, serve slightly warm or at room temperature.
Enjoy
Once the bread is cooled enough, cut into slices and enjoy! I suggest serving it with a slather of this cinnamon honey butter, homemade peanut butter or this homemade vanilla almond butter.
Store
Store this healthy banana bread recipe in an airtight container or plastic bag to ensure it does not dry out. If you plan on eating the entire loaf in a day or two, feel free to store it at room temperature. If it will take longer, I recommend storing it in the refrigerator.
How to freeze banana bread
This healthy banana bread freezes very well. I recommend freezing it in slices in an airtight container! That way you can pull out a slice at a time to enjoy!
If you like this healthy banana bread recipe, you’ll love these!
- We love banana bread around here – try our classic banana bread, Paleo banana bread, and this chocolate chip banana bread.
- Muffins too – try these banana muffins (the BEST), spinach banana muffins (reader favorite), and these paleo banana zucchini muffins.
- These are the fluffiest banana pancakes ever! And you have to try these banana oatmeal pancakes!
- More quick breads to try – the best pumpkin bread (or this paleo pumpkin bread) and the best zucchini bread!
IF YOU MAKE SOMETHING FROM JOYFOODSUNSHINE I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR CREATIONS! DON’T FORGET TO RATE THIS RECIPE AND LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW! ALSO, FOLLOW ALONG WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND TWITTER FOR MORE RECIPE INSPIRATION AND A GLIMPSE INTO OUR EVERYDAY LIFE!
Healthy Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 4 overripe bananas mashed (about 1 ½ cups)
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup honey (or maple syrup)
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup salted butter melted
- 1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 TBS ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 cup mix-ins optional: chocolate chips nuts, dried fruit, coconut, etc.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x5” Loaf pan, set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and sea salt, set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine bananas, eggs, vanilla, honey, applesauce, Greek yogurt and melted butter. Stir until mixture is uniform throughout.
- Add dry ingredients and stir until combined and there are no lumps.
- If desired, add mix-ins.
- Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
- Bake in preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is set and a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out with moist crumbs.
- Let cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, serve slightly warm or at room temperature.
Video
Notes
Ingredient Substitutions
- Bananas. Make sure your bananas are overripe for the best flavor and maximum sweetness.
- Honey. Maple syrup is a great substitute for honey, and adds a little extra maple flavor.
- Unsweetened applesauce. Any variety of applesauce works well in this healthy banana bread recipe.
- Vanilla greek yogurt. You can use plain Greek yogurt or sour cream if you'd prefer, just note that the whole wheat banana bread will be a little less sweet.
- Salted butter. Unsalted butter, coconut oil, canola oil and ghee all work well as substitutes for salted butter.
- Whole wheat flour. White whole wheat flour, whole wheat pastry flour or regular all-purpose flour all can be used in place of whole wheat flour.
- Mix-ins. there are so many possible mix-ins that can be added to this healthy banana bread recipe. Chocolate chips, dried cranberries, raisins, dried cherries, coconut, pecans, walnuts, almonds, etc.
Store
Store this healthy banana bread recipe in an airtight container or plastic bag to ensure it does not dry out for up to 3 days at room temperature, or 1 week in the refrigerator.To freeze
This healthy banana bread freezes very well. I recommend freezing it in slices in an airtight container! That way you can pull out a slice at a time to enjoy!Nutrition
The photos in this post were taken by Jamie from Dishing Out Health!
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine!
Jennifer
This turned out perfectly! I love how it has no refined sugar but kids cant tell the difference!
Athena
Hi Laura, is there any substitute for apple sauce here? It is not common in Asian countries. TIA!
Carla
Make your own. In a steamer put your apples cut in 4 without seeds or core. Steam for 5 minutes. Blend.
Chastity
I made this bread today and it is delicious!! I love that it has healthy ingredients, although it tastes just as good as regular banana bread.