Posted Jan 02, 2021, Updated Mar 14, 2024 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. Begin by combining the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and sea salt in a medium bowl, then set aside to use later. Next, whisk together the bananas, eggs, vanilla, honey, applesauce, Greek yogurt and melted butter in a large bowl. Then, 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! 🙂 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.
Serve
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.
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! If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
