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Home Recipes by Type Breads & Muffins Quick Breads
FF Freezer Friendly VG Vegetarian

Whole Wheat Reduced-Fat Chocolate Banana Bread

5
/5
1 hr 15 mins
20 Comments
Jump to Recipe
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 09/23/2013Updated: 06/15/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This whole wheat, reduced-fat chocolate banana bread is (almost) guilt-free and is a perfect way to start your morning. Get the easy recipe on RachelCooks.com!

This whole wheat reduced-fat chocolate banana bread is (almost) guilt-free and is a perfect way to start your morning. Tastes great with coffee!

This whole wheat, reduced-fat chocolate banana bread is (almost) guilt-free and is a perfect way to start your morning. Get the easy recipe on RachelCooks.com!

Banana bread is a classic, isn’t it? It is everyone’s go-to recipe when they have a pile of brown bananas siting on the counter top that no one wants to eat. We go through bananas like a bunch of monkeys, but occasionally a few are left over that have gone a little too far.

It doesn’t happen often because I like them green and Ben likes them on the brown side, and we typically freeze some brown ones for smoothies. But we go through about 4 bunches of bananas a week so I often buy even more to ensure that there will be some ready to turn into banana bread.

This whole wheat, reduced-fat chocolate banana bread is (almost) guilt-free and is a perfect way to start your morning. Get the easy recipe on RachelCooks.com!

I’ve been making reduced fat banana bread for a long time and it is a family favorite. Reduced fat banana bread is so super moist using a minimal amount oil, substituting applesauce to replace most of the oil. It freezes great and I often make two loaves so that I have one to pull out of the freezer when the first loaf has been eaten (in other words, in two days or less).

Update: I wrote a new post about my whole wheat banana bread which is the way I make it now.

Sometimes I like to switch it up a little by adding some cocoa powder for extra anti-oxidants. Yeah. For that reason. And for the great taste of cocoa. The best part is that cocoa powder doesn’t add hardly any calories.

I have to really fight the urge to throw in some chocolate chips as well but I like to keep this whole wheat reduced-fat chocolate banana bread something I can feel good about eating for breakfast. Try it with this delicious vanilla bean whipped cream cheese!

PS: I’ve also adapted this banana bread recipe into banana bread muffins and banana bread with coconut and chocolate chips! If you’re really looking for chocolate, try triple chocolate banana muffins!

This whole wheat, reduced-fat chocolate banana bread is (almost) guilt-free and is a perfect way to start your morning. Get the easy recipe on RachelCooks.com!

 

More ideas for brown bananas:

 

  • Banana Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting (THE BEST banana cake, seriously)
  • Banana Mango Smoothie
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Milkshake
  • Salted Peanut and Caramel Banana Bread from Fake Ginger
  • Banana Doughnuts with Brown Sugar Glaze from Buns in my Oven
  • Whole Wheat Banana Streusel Muffins from Chocolate & Carrots
  • Chocolate Walnut Breakfast Cookies
  • Zucchini Banana Bread from Brown Eyed Baker

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread | RachelCooks.com
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread

5 from 3 votes
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 1 hr
Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
1 loaf- 12 servings
Print Rate Recipe
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This chocolate banana bread is (almost) guilt-free and is a perfect way to start your morning. Tastes great with coffee!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup ground flax seed
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 ripe bananas, mashed

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F°. Spray a 9- by 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, flax seed, and cocoa powder until well combined.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together sugar, applesauce, oil, vanilla, and eggs until combined. Stir in mashed banana.
  • Gradually stir in dry ingredients until everything is combined. Do not overmix. Pour into prepared loaf pan.
  • Bake until toothpick or knife inserted into the middle of the loaf comes out almost clean, or about 1 hour. Let cool in pan for about 10 minutes before removing from pan and cooling on a wire rack. Cool completely before slicing and storing in an airtight container.

Notes

  • Add a cup of chocolate chips if you want this to be a little more indulgent!

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 196kcal, Carbohydrates: 38g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 31mg, Sodium: 227mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 17g

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.

© Author: Rachel Gurk
Did You Make This?Be sure to upload a photo & tag me at @RachelCooksBlog. I love seeing what you made!
Share A Photo! Tag on Insta Rate It
Verdict: The whole family loves this bread!
Changes I would make: mmmm….chocolate chips. Maybe next time.
Difficulty: Easy!
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  1. Taran says

    November 9, 2014 at 10:38 am

    Just made them in muffin pan and they came out great. Since I wasn’t sure about the time I set the timer to 25mins but around 20mins I started to smell the chocolate and pulled them out. They were done but next time I will check them at 15-17 mins as I will definitely be making them again.They taste amazing, not overly sweet but I did cut the sugar back to just 1/2 cup to my preference. I can totally taste chocolate and banana. I love adding flaxseed meal to almost all my bakery goods and it was just the best addition to add to them. This is a guilty free, healthy, omega rich treat for my coffee in the morning. Thanks a lot for the recipe.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      November 10, 2014 at 9:00 am

      Thanks for the comment Taran! Love the idea of making this into muffins. Glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  2. Janis says

    November 2, 2014 at 1:57 am

    Would the measurement of the wheat flour be the same for white flour?

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      November 2, 2014 at 9:04 am

      Yes. :)

      Reply
  3. whole wheat banana bread says

    February 20, 2014 at 1:05 am

    wonderful Chocolate Banana Bread,whole wheat banana bread!!!

    Reply
  4. Lisa says

    September 26, 2013 at 9:52 am

    Just made this….I left out the oil and replaced it with 2 T of apple/prune puree. This produced a large loaf of chocolaty, moist bread. A touch of sweetness…not at all overwhelmingly sweet. I think my kids will enjoy this as their after school snack today! Good and good for you! Thank you for the recipe! :)

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      September 26, 2013 at 1:55 pm

      Happy to know it turns out without the oil too! I’ll have to try that. Thanks for the comment – glad you liked it! :)

      Reply
  5. Sues says

    September 23, 2013 at 9:53 pm

    Chocolate in banana bread is SUCH a good idea… with a little whole wheat for good health :)

    Reply
  6. Angelyn @ Everyday Desserts says

    September 23, 2013 at 6:19 pm

    I’m so scared to make whole wheat/healthier recipes, but this looks really, reallllly good …. I may just have to try this!

    Reply
  7. Javi Trulove @ T3treats says

    September 23, 2013 at 4:44 pm

    I’m not a big fan of healthy dishes and desserts, i think if you substituyes the fatness, the sweetness and the goodie part of the food whats left. but this banana bread looks so good and Chocolate with bananas are a classic combo.

    Reply
  8. Christina says

    September 23, 2013 at 3:13 pm

    Wow, your family goes through a lot of bananas! I love that this is a chocolate banana bread, don’t see that too often. I don’t think I’d be able to resist adding in chocolate chips though! I’ve got a problem.

    Reply
  9. Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says

    September 23, 2013 at 1:29 pm

    best. banana bread. EVER

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      September 23, 2013 at 2:01 pm

      did you make it?! I just got really excited because it really is the best banana bread EVER! :)

      Reply
      • Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says

        September 23, 2013 at 2:05 pm

        Not yet-but I can tell!

        Reply
        • Rachel Gurk says

          September 23, 2013 at 2:09 pm

          You’re a smart lady! ;)

          Reply
  10. vanillasugarblog says

    September 23, 2013 at 11:46 am

    Well I like healthy!
    And it has chocolate too!
    Totally down for this one

    Reply
  11. Laura @ The Rookie Cook says

    September 23, 2013 at 11:16 am

    Yummy! I think I’ll make this into muffins for breakfast. Gotta love pre-portioned foods :)

    Reply
  12. Meagan @ A Zesty Bite says

    September 23, 2013 at 9:58 am

    I seriously love this bread and would like to have several slices.

    Reply
  13. Tahnycooks says

    September 23, 2013 at 9:20 am

    I like my banana a little on the green side too. I think it helps with the texture! This bread looks scrumptious!

    Reply
  14. denise says

    September 23, 2013 at 6:14 am

    foolproof! yum!

    Reply

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