The Best Healthy Banana Bread Recipe
The best moist banana bread that is so delicious you won’t know it’s healthy! You are going to love this easy to make healthy banana bread recipe.
This is my all-time favorite banana bread recipe. It is moist and full of rich banana flavor. Your search for the perfect healthy banana bread recipe stops here!
I try not to label recipes as, “The Best,” unless I really mean it. I confidently call this healthy banana bread the best. It has the sweetness, moisture and flavor that you are looking for in a loaf of banana bread, healthy or otherwise.
I can’t even tell you how many times I have tested this recipe to make sure it is just perfect before sharing it here. I’ve tried out different amounts of banana, butter, sweetener and flour. I’ve made this banana bread with and without milk. I’ve found the perfect balance of ingredients and can’t wait for you to try this healthy banana bread recipe for yourself.
Banana bread and banana muffins are my favorite way to use up over-ripe bananas. I like to make both ahead of time for quick breakfasts and snacks for my family.
How to Make this Healthy Banana Bread Recipe
This whole wheat banana bread is made in one bowl, except for mashing the banana. I always mash my bananas in a separate bowl using a fork. You can also mash the bananas in a stand mixer.
To make this banana bread, you will start by whisking together your wet ingredients: melted butter, honey, mashed banana and eggs. I always start by melting the butter in my large glass mixing bowl in the microwave. Then I add the other wet ingredients to the bowl with the butter.
Once the wet ingredients are well combined, you will add baking soda, salt, cinnamon and vanilla to the bowl. I like to add the vanilla last so that I can use the same measuring spoon that I used for the dry ingredients without washing in between.
Use your whisk to mix the batter up really well before adding the flour. You want to make sure that there are no clumps of baking soda or salt left in the batter.
Finally, add the flour to the bowl. Use a rubber spatula to mix in the flour until it is just combined. Mix until you don’t see any more streaks of flour and then stop. Over-mixing the batter will make your banana bread dense instead of light and soft.
When I bake quick breads like this banana bread, I prepare my loaf pan by cutting a sheet of parchment paper to fit in the pan, as you see in the photo above. Lining the pan with parchment will make sure that your banana bread comes out of the pan easily, without sticking to the bottom of the pan.
How to Freeze Banana Bread
Banana bread will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months, when wrapped well. Let the baked bread cool completely on a wire rack before freezing.
You can wrap and freeze the loaf of banana bread whole. Or, if you want to be able to grab individual servings of banana bread from the freezer, slice the bread and wrap each slice individually in plastic wrap. Place the wrapped slices in a larger storage container or zip-top bag for storing in the freezer.
You can thaw banana bread overnight in the refrigerator or on the counter at room temperature for a few hours. Individual slices of banana bread can be thawed quickly in the microwave.
Baking Tips for Banana Bread
- The key to making the best sweet banana bread with rich banana flavor is to use very ripe bananas. You want your bananas to have lots of brown spots on them.
- If you are using bananas from your freezer, thaw them before proceeding with the recipe. Drain off and discard any excess liquid that separates from the bananas as they defrost.
- To make dairy-free banana bread, use coconut oil instead of butter in the recipe.
- You may substitute the white whole wheat flour with regular whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour.
- Mix a few nuts or chocolate chips into the batter to make banana nut bread or chocolate chip banana bread. If you like blueberries in your banana bread, try my healthy blueberry banana bread recipe. If you’re craving chocolate try my chocolate banana bread.
The Best Healthy Banana Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter or coconut oil
- 1/2 cup honey or pure maple syrup
- 1 3/4 cup mashed ripe banana about 3 1/2 large or 5 medium bananas
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups white whole wheat flour (250 grams), or regular whole wheat or all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Lay a sheet of parchment paper across the bottom and up the sides of the pan (see photo in post above).
- Melt the butter in a large glass bowl in the microwave (or melt butter in a pot on the stove and transfer to a large mixing bowl).
- Add the honey and mashed banana to the bowl and whisk to combine. Whisk in the eggs.
- Add the baking soda, salt, cinnamon and vanilla to the bowl. Whisk until very well combined.
- Add the flour and mix with a rubber spatula until just combined. You want all of the flour to be incorporated into the batter, but try not to over-mix.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan. Bake for 55-65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Check on the banana bread after 35 minutes and loosely cover with foil as needed to prevent the top from over-browning.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then transfer it to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Notes
- To make dairy-free banana bread, use coconut oil instead of butter in the recipe.
- Store banana bread at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Cool bread completely before freezing.
Nutrition
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Do you have any suggestions on how to alter the banana bread recipe for high altitude?
Hi Katie, I haven’t tested this recipe at high altitude, but this article has some information that might help.
Really moist and delicious. The cinnamon gives this bread an edge over other ones!!ย
Thank you, Holly! I’m glad you enjoyed this banana bread!
Can I make this recipe into muffins?
If yes, how long should I bake ?
Yes, you would bake muffins for 15-18 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. You might also like my healthy banana muffins recipe, which is similar to this one.
Thanks! Making this now! I love that it’s healthy and easy to have all the ingredients on hand. ๐ (I also love that the butter is melted lol, I always forget to set it out ahead of time)
I have the same problem with remembering to soften butter! You are going to love this banana bread! It’s my favorite. ๐
Try replacing the Butter with a half cup of vegetable oil if you want healthier version of banana bread. I make it for all my clubs and it gets eave reviews. My recipe uses 1 cup sugar instead of honey as I have sugar handy as it sometimes goes on sale locally for 4 lbs. 99 cents.
Depending on what type of oil you use, vegetable oil is not necessarily healthier than butter. I try to minimize the amount of sugar in my recipes and use unrefined sweeteners, such as pure maple syrup and honey, as much as possible. We all need to do what works best for us. ๐
ย Can I use almond flour for this recipe???
Hi Allie, I haven’t tested this recipe with almond flour so I can’t say how that would work.
Hi Kristine! ย I made your Healthy Banana Bread today. ย It came out great! ย I used maple syrup and unbleached white flour (both organic) . ย I love that it’s not super sweet and very moist. ย My husband likes it too!
I started making banana bread in the 70’s. ย As you might guess, I have many banana bread recipes, some good, some not so good, and it’s been trial and error a lot of the time. ย This is by far the best recipe I’ve tried.
Thank you so much for this delicious recipe! ย
Wow, what a compliment! I am so happy that you enjoyed this recipe! It’s my go-to favorite, too. ๐
LOVED it!!! I added sugar free chocolate chips and walnuts. Super moist and yummy!! Thanks for sharing!! (Made all the way in COSTA RICA!) ๐
Wow! I am so happy that you loved this recipe! Thank you for taking the time to let me know. ๐
Made this banana bread in South Africa this morning for my 1 year old whoโs on a no sugar diet, she loved it, so did we! What a winner. Thank you x
It makes me so happy to hear that! Now I’m craving a slice. ๐
How would the recipe work if I used salted butter ? It’s all I have right now.
You can use salted butter, but may want to reduce or omit adding the salt to the recipe. I recommend using unsalted butter when baking because it makes it easier to control the amount of salt.
I only have 3 bananas but I still want to make this ย recipe any suggestions ?
You can use applesauce to replace the rest of the banana. If you don’t have applesauce, you could try the recipe using 3 bananas, but it might be a little less moist and less sweet.
Great bread, turned out perfect! ๐ From Canada, thanks for the recipe!
So dang yummy! I subbed half of the white whole wheat flour for spelt and topped with old fashioned oats and flax seeds. Kept everything else the same. Thanks for your fantastic recipe ๐
Adding the rating
Hi! Can I sub honey for coconut sugar?
It’s hard to say without testing that myself, since you’re subbing a dry sweetener for a liquid one. I think it will turn out well, but can’t say for sure. If you try it let me know how it works. ๐
have you tried adding macadamia nuts? It gives it a really yummy and crunchy texture!