Whole Wheat Banana Bread Recipe (one bowl!) – with VIDEO
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Whole Wheat Banana Bread is a staple in my house – my kids adore it and it’s the perfect use for ripe bananas. People are always shocked when I tell them this is healthy! It freezes well and it’s going to become a staple in your house, too.
When I realized I hadn’t posted this recipe, I knew I had to get on it, right away! It’s one of my favorites and one that I make so frequently. I even let my type-A personality take the backseat sometimes and let my kids help me out with this one. They love using the potato masher to mash the bananas. They also love talking me into adding some chocolate chips.
I’ve shared a few varieties of this bread — whole wheat caramel banana bread, whole wheat banana bread with chocolate chips and coconut, reduced-fat chocolate banana bread, and skinny banana bread muffins! We really do love this whole wheat banana bread in every shape and form.
Even with all its different variations, this version is the one I go to most often. If I have enough bananas, I almost always make two loaves. I’m all about doubling up on things because it isn’t too much more work to use a bigger bowl and wash two loaf pans, and then I have a loaf to freeze. This banana bread freezes super well – you can freeze it whole or you can freeze it cut up into slices so you can easily grab one and go.
When I first began making this banana bread, I’d always use three bowls. One bowl for mashing the bananas, one for the wet ingredients, and one final bowl for the dry ingredients. It’s the type-A in me again, probably. Then I remembered that I don’t like doing dishes, so I switched to the method I use now. It uses one bowl…usually my big giant stainless steel bowl that is typically reserved for holding my precious popcorn.
I start off by mashing the bananas in the bottom of the bowl. To the bananas, I add the rest of the wet ingredients. On top of them, I gently add the dry ingredients. I’ll give those a little toss together before stirring them into the wet ingredients. I’ll let you in on a secret – it turns out the exact same way! And it’s a third of the dishes. It’s a beautiful thing, right?
I know you guys are going to absolutely love this banana bread as much as we do – make sure to watch the video, too!
Enjoy this whole wheat banana bread today!
Looking for more banana recipes?
- The Best Banana Cake
- Banana Chocolate Chip Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
- Triple Chocolate Banana Muffins
- Healthy Banana Pancakes — Whole Wheat
- Skinny Banana Bread Muffins
- Banana and Chocolate Pudding Dessert Bites
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Milkshake
- Banana Split Pancakes
- Creamy Mango Banana Smoothie
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (3 large bananas)
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 2 tablespoons oil (vegetable, canola, or coconut)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Place mashed bananas in a large bowl (I'd mash them right in this bowl to save dishes!). Add eggs, sugar, applesauce, oil, and vanilla. Whisk to combine wet ingredients.
- On top of wet ingredients, add whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gently mix the dry ingredients together before stirring into the wet ingredients.
- Whisk all ingredients together just until combined.
- Spray a 8- or 9-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add banana bread batter and smooth out into an even layer.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few crumbs.
- Cool for 10-15 minutes in the pan before turning out of the pan onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- Banana bread, wrapped well, will keep at room temperature for a few days. For longer storage, store in refrigerator for up to 1 week or in freezer for up to a month. If desired, slice first before freezing so individual slices can be removed.
- If desired, replace whole wheat flour with all-purpose flour, or a combination of the two.
- Sugar can be reduced to 1/2 cup, if you'd like to reduce added sugar. The bananas and applesauce add lots of natural sweetness.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Jack Jones says
You have fantastic recipes, and living in the UK, there are (very few) ingredients I sometimes have to replace. But your site has relegated my 15+ cookbooks to a dust collecting shelf. Thank you.
Rachel Gurk says
I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks for taking the time to let me know!!
josephine ramos says
Hi Rachel, I’ve made this cake basically every week since I found your recipe. I have my happy Monday night using up the overripe fruit and veg cook party. Well, this time I added to the recipe: cut crystalized ginger, cut crystallized lemon slices, hazelnuts and ground cardoon seeds, touch of mace. Oh my, so good. Your master recipe is extraordinary, thank you for sharing
Rachel Gurk says
I’m so glad you like it! And I love that you’re adding some fun additions. Thanks for sharing!
Lino says
Hi Rachel, I followed this recipe yesterday, the cake texture was very good, I used plain yogurt instead of apple sauce, cut the sugar to 1/2cup and used 1.5 cups wheat flour and 1/2 cup flaxseed grounded, and added few chocolate chips, so cake was healthy and tasty too… Thank you for this recipe, will stick to this recipe for future banana breads
Rachel Gurk says
So happy you liked this recipe! Thank you for taking the time to come back and leave a comment!
Kara Plantinga says
Followed the recipe except subbed 1 cup of regular flour for whole wheat and added 1/4 cup of flax seed meal…oh and a 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. :) It was delicious! My mother-in-law had some and said she needed the recipe.
Rachel Gurk says
So glad you liked it! The kids and I were thinking about making a couple loaves today, we have some brown bananas to use up..
Patricia Schmidt says
Can you make this in a bread machine?
Rachel Gurk says
I don’t think that would work for this recipe since it’s a quick bread and not a yeast bread.
Fran B. says
Since I didn’t have any applesauce, but did have the same amount of pumpkin puree, I decided to try this route. It was really good. I love this one bowl mix–so easy less clean-up.
Rachel Gurk says
I’m so glad it worked out and you liked the recipe! Thanks for taking the time to come back and leave a comment!
Kien says
Could I possibly use 2 tbsp of melted butter and plain yogurt instead? So excited to try this.
Rachel Gurk says
I’m assuming you mean plain yogurt instead of the applesauce? And butter instead of coconut oil? I haven’t tested it that way, but I imagine it should work.
Estef says
I followed the recipe as it is and made my own applesauce, and it turned out delicious! Thanks!
Rachel Gurk says
I’m so glad to hear that! Thank you for taking the time to come back and leave a comment!
Linda says
Absolutely delicious, I’ve tried several whole wheat bread recipes yours’ is the best.
Rachel Gurk says
Wow, thank you so much! I’m so happy that you like it! Thank you so much for taking the time to come and leave a comment – it means so much to me!
Theresa says
I was looking for a banana bread recipe using wheat flour. I followed the recipe as written. It is delicious! I have found a keeper.
Rachel Gurk says
So glad you liked this recipe, Theresa! We just made a batch on Saturday but my kids talked me into adding chocolate chips. This is one of my most-used recipes in my own home and I’m so glad you’re enjoying it too! Thanks for taking the time to come back and leave a comment!
Leonora says
I cut the sugar to 1/2 C. brown sugar, and added 1/2 C. walnuts and 1/2 C. chocolate chips. It’s delicious. Thanks for the recipe! I’ll try the version with coconut next.
One note on timing: Usually my oven takes a few minutes longer than a recipe states, but for this recipe, it needed a few minutes less. At 57 minutes, I could smell it really needed to come out and took it out of the pan immediately. Next time I’ll take it out at 50 min and let it cook in the pan IAW recipe.
Rachel Gurk says
Loving the addition of walnuts! It could be your loaf browned faster due to the brown sugar? But I’m glad it worked out! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
Nicole says
Can honey be used as a substitute for sugar?
Rachel Gurk says
I haven’t tested this recipe that way, but I bet it would work great!
Inem Sam says
Can I substitute fresh pineapple puree for the applesauce. Cos I don’t have applesauce. Or is there a way to make applesauce at home?
Rachel Gurk says
You can make applesauce at home by cooking peeled and cored apples on the stove until they are soft, adding water as needed to get the right consistency. Pineapple puree will drastically change the flavor of this recipe…but it might be tasty nonetheless. Let me know what you end up trying!
Penny Pombert says
don’t have any apple sauce.
Rachel Gurk says
Try plain yogurt instead!
Lisa says
Just made this recipe with my kids!! My picky eaters devoured their piece and asked for more!! The only thing I did different was I made it as mini muffins, same recipe, same oven temp, for 13 minutes. Thank you sooo much!!! This was everything you look for in banana bread.. sweet.. moist!! I enjoy mine with butter also!
Rachel Gurk says
Yesssss!!!! I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for taking the time to come back and leave a comment!
Denise says
this looks good, unfortunately, I have a food sensitivity to bananas and can no longer eat them
Rachel Gurk says
Oh no! So sorry to hear that. Try my applesauce bread!