Healthy Banana Bread

Nothing fills your kitchen with pure happiness quite like the sweet smell of banana bread baking in the oven! This healthy banana bread will make everyone in your family smile, and you’ll feel so good knowing it’s packed with wholesome ingredients that actually nourish your loved ones.

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Prep Time: 15 minutes, Additional Time: 2 hours, Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes, Serves: 10 people.

Nutrition Profile: Soy-Free, High-Fiber, Vegetarian.

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 221 Calories, 6g Fat, 39g Carbs, 5g Protein.

Ingredients You’ll Need

White whole-wheat flour: You’ll need 1¾ cups of this amazing flour that gives you all the nutrition of whole wheat but with a lighter texture. It’s the secret to making healthy banana bread that doesn’t taste heavy!

Baking powder: 1½ teaspoons will help your bread rise up nice and fluffy. Make sure yours is fresh for the best results.

Ground cinnamon: 1 teaspoon adds that warm, cozy spice that makes banana bread smell like home. Your kitchen will smell incredible!

Salt: Just ½ teaspoon brings out all the sweet flavors. Don’t skip this little bit – it makes such a difference!

Baking soda: ¼ teaspoon works with the buttermilk to create extra lift and tenderness in your bread.

Sugar: ¾ cup gives you just the right amount of sweetness. The ripe bananas add natural sweetness too, so you don’t need tons of sugar.

Unsalted butter or coconut oil: ¼ cup softened adds moisture and richness. Either one works great, so use whatever you prefer!

Large eggs: 2 eggs help bind everything together and add protein. Room temperature eggs mix in easier if you remember to take them out ahead of time.

Mashed ripe bananas: 1½ cups from about 3 bananas is the star of the show! The riper and more spotted your bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be.

Buttermilk: ¼ cup makes the bread extra tender and adds a subtle tangy flavor that’s so good with the sweet bananas.

Vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon adds that warm vanilla flavor that makes everything taste better.

Chopped walnuts or chocolate chips: ½ cup is totally optional, but they add such a nice texture and extra yumminess if you want to include them!

How to Make Healthy Banana Bread

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F and coat a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda until well combined.

Step 2: In another bowl, beat the sugar and softened butter (or coconut oil) with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until they’re well combined and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each one goes in.

Step 3: Add your mashed bananas, buttermilk, and vanilla to the butter mixture. Beat until everything is nicely combined and looks smooth.

Step 4: Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and beat on low speed until just combined. Don’t overmix – a few lumps are totally fine! Gently fold in the walnuts or chocolate chips if you’re using them.

Step 5: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and spread it out evenly. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 6: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Easy and Quick Healthy Banana Bread Version

Want to make this even easier? You can mix everything by hand instead of using an electric mixer! Just mash your butter or coconut oil really well with a fork, then stir in the sugar until combined. Add the eggs, bananas, buttermilk, and vanilla, then fold in the dry ingredients. It might not be quite as fluffy, but it’ll still taste amazing and save you some cleanup time!

Serving Ideas

This banana bread is perfect all by itself, but it’s also amazing with a little butter spread on top or a drizzle of honey. Try it toasted for breakfast with a cup of coffee, or serve it as a healthy dessert with a glass of cold milk. It makes a complete snack that’ll keep you satisfied!

Storage

Store your banana bread wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. You can also freeze slices for up to 3 months – just wrap them individually and pop them in the freezer. To reheat, just toast a slice or warm it in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.

Substitutions

No buttermilk? No problem! Mix ¼ cup regular milk with ¾ teaspoon lemon juice and let it sit for 5 minutes. You can swap the white whole-wheat flour for regular whole wheat flour or even all-purpose flour if that’s what you have. Coconut oil works great instead of butter if you want to make it dairy-free!

Pro Tips

• Use super ripe bananas: The more brown spots, the better! They’ll be sweeter and mash easier.
• Don’t overmix: Mix just until the flour disappears. Overmixing makes tough, dense bread.
• Test for doneness: The toothpick should come out with just a few moist crumbs, not wet batter.
• Let it cool: I know it’s hard to wait, but letting it cool completely makes slicing so much easier!

FAQs

Can I make this banana bread without eggs?

Sure! You can replace each egg with ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana. The texture will be a little different, but it’ll still taste great!

Why did my banana bread sink in the middle?

This usually happens when the oven temperature is too high or the bread isn’t fully baked. Make sure your oven is at the right temperature and test with a toothpick before taking it out!

Can I add other mix-ins besides nuts and chocolate chips?

You bet! Try dried cranberries, mini marshmallows, or even a swirl of peanut butter. Just keep the total add-ins to about ½ cup so the bread holds together well.

How ripe should my bananas be?

The riper, the better! Look for bananas with lots of brown spots or even ones that are mostly brown. They’ll be super sweet and mash easily, giving you the best flavor.

I hope you love this healthy banana bread as much as my family does! Let me know how yours turns out – I always love hearing about your baking adventures. Happy baking, friend!