Whole Wheat Reduced-Fat Chocolate Banana Bread
Posted: 09/23/2013
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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!
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.
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!
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!
loaf- 12 servings
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.
Changes I would make: mmmm….chocolate chips. Maybe next time.
Difficulty: Easy!
Taran says
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.
Rachel Gurk says
Thanks for the comment Taran! Love the idea of making this into muffins. Glad you enjoyed them!
Janis says
Would the measurement of the wheat flour be the same for white flour?
Rachel Gurk says
Yes. :)
whole wheat banana bread says
wonderful Chocolate Banana Bread,whole wheat banana bread!!!
Lisa says
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! :)
Rachel Gurk says
Happy to know it turns out without the oil too! I’ll have to try that. Thanks for the comment – glad you liked it! :)
Sues says
Chocolate in banana bread is SUCH a good idea… with a little whole wheat for good health :)
Angelyn @ Everyday Desserts says
I’m so scared to make whole wheat/healthier recipes, but this looks really, reallllly good …. I may just have to try this!
Javi Trulove @ T3treats says
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.
Christina says
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.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
best. banana bread. EVER
Rachel Gurk says
did you make it?! I just got really excited because it really is the best banana bread EVER! :)
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
Not yet-but I can tell!
Rachel Gurk says
You’re a smart lady! ;)
vanillasugarblog says
Well I like healthy!
And it has chocolate too!
Totally down for this one
Laura @ The Rookie Cook says
Yummy! I think I’ll make this into muffins for breakfast. Gotta love pre-portioned foods :)
Meagan @ A Zesty Bite says
I seriously love this bread and would like to have several slices.
Tahnycooks says
I like my banana a little on the green side too. I think it helps with the texture! This bread looks scrumptious!
denise says
foolproof! yum!