This healthy chocolate banana bread recipe is easy to make with a handful of nutritious ingredients like applesauce, Greek yogurt and whole wheat flour. It’s sweetened with honey (no refined sugar) and makes a great breakfast or snack.
I love creating healthier versions of our favorite recipes recipes that my kids love to eat - like this healthy chocolate banana bread (adapted from our favorite chocolate banana bread recipe).
This recipe is easy to make with a handful of nutritious ingredients like applesauce, Greek yogurt and whole wheat flour. It’s sweetened with honey which means there's no refined sugar.
We usually enjoy it for breakfast but it also makes a delicious healthy dessert or snack!
Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread: Ingredients & Substitutions
- Bananas. Make sure the bananas are overripe for the best flavor and maximum sweetness. If you use frozen bananas, let them thaw to room temperature before using in this recipe - and don't drain off any liquid that forms in the thawing process.
- Honey. Maple syrup is a great substitute for honey, and imparts a delicious maple flavor.
- Unsweetened applesauce. Cinnamon applesauce is also a great choice. I prefer unsweetened but you can use any variety you'd like.
- Vanilla greek yogurt. You can use plain Greek yogurt or sour cream if you'd prefer, just note you may want to add a little bit more honey.
- Salted butter. Unsalted butter, coconut oil, canola oil and ghee all work well as substitutes for salted butter.
- Whole wheat pastry flour. White whole wheat flour, whole wheat flour or regular all-purpose flour all can be used in place of whole wheat pastry flour.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder. Use a dark powder for a deeper chocolate taste.
- Mix-ins. there are so many possible mix-ins that can be added to this healthy chocolate banana bread recipe. Chocolate chips, dried cranberries, raisins, dried cherries, coconut, pecans, walnuts, almonds, etc.
How to make Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread
This healthy chocolate banana bread recipe comes together in a few minutes with minimal dishes. Don't forget to watch the video and follow along with the step by step photos below.
Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F and generously greasing a 9x5” Loaf pan, then set it aside.
Next combine the flour, cocoa powder baking soda, cinnamon and sea salt together in a medium bowl, then set it aside.
Then, in a large bowl, combine the mashed bananas, eggs, vanilla, honey, applesauce, Greek yogurt and melted butter. Stir until mixture is smooth with just lumps of banana.
Once the wet ingredients are combined, add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until combined.
Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread: Mix-ins
At this point, if you wish you can add mix-ins. We added chocolate chips, but here are some other 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
Next, pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake the healthy chocolate banana bread on the lower rack in the preheated oven for 50-65 minutes, or until the top is set and a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out with moist crumbs.
Once the bread has finished baking, let it cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Serve
Once the bread is cooled enough (you can serve it serve slightly warm or at room temperature), 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 chocolate 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, you can store it at room temperature. If it will take longer, I recommend storing it in the refrigerator.
How to freeze banana bread
This healthy chocolate banana bread freezes very well. I recommend freezing it in slices in an airtight container so you can pull out one slice at a time to enjoy.
Recipe FAQs
Make sure you use overripe, brown bananas! They have the best flavor, maximum sweetness, and are the easiest to mash! They should be very dark brown or almost black and soft to the touch!
Yes, I recommend freezing it in slices in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Wrap each individual slice in plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn.
If this bread isn't moist it's likely your loaf was over-baked. Bake for a shorter amount of time. Also make sure to use full-fat ingredients and don't make substitutions.
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Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas mashed (about 1 ¼ cups)
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup honey or maple syrup
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup salted butter melted
- 1 ¼ cups whole wheat pastry flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon 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, cocoa powder 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 on the lower rack in the preheated oven for 50-65 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 the bananas are overripe for the best flavor and maximum sweetness. If you use frozen bananas, let them thaw to room temperature before using in this recipe - and don't drain off any liquid that forms in the thawing process.
- Honey. Maple syrup is a great substitute for honey, and imparts a delicious maple flavor.
- Unsweetened applesauce. Cinnamon applesauce is also a great choice. I prefer unsweetened but you can use any variety you'd like.
- Vanilla greek yogurt. You can use plain Greek yogurt or sour cream if you'd prefer, just note you may want to add a little bit more honey.
- Salted butter. Unsalted butter, coconut oil, canola oil and ghee all work well as substitutes for salted butter.
- Whole wheat pastry flour. White whole wheat flour, whole wheat flour or regular all-purpose flour all can be used in place of whole wheat pastry flour.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder. Use a dark powder for a deeper chocolate taste.
Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread: Mix-in 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
Serve
Once the bread is cooled enough (you can serve it serve slightly warm or at room temperature), 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 chocolate 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, you can store it at room temperature. If it will take longer, I recommend storing it in the refrigerator.How to freeze banana bread
This healthy chocolate banana bread freezes very well. I recommend freezing it in slices in an airtight container so you can pull out one slice at a time to enjoy.Nutrition
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Cindy
This bread is moist and delicious!