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Overhead view of slices of banana bread cut from a loaf on a parchment-lined cutting board, next to yellow bananas.
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4.86 from 7 votes

Healthy Banana Bread

This healthy banana bread recipe is an easy, low-fat quick bread that's tender, moist, and full of banana flavor! A simple swap of oil for applesauce is all it takes.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Quick Breads
Cuisine: American
Servings: 10
Author: Rachel Gurk

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, or a combination of the two
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup applesauce (or 1 snack size container)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I use canola)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4 bananas, depending on size)

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350°F. Prepare 9 by 5 loaf pan by lightly spraying with nonstick spray, set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
    2 cups all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, or a combination of the two, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt
  • In another bowl, whisk together sugar, applesauce, oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk in eggs until combined. Using a large spoon, stir in banana.
    ¾ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup applesauce, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 2 large eggs, beaten, 1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas
  • Gradually stir the flour mixture into the banana mixture until just combined. Evenly pour batter into prepared pan.
  • Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Remove bread from the oven and place pan on a wire rack to cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Run a knife around edges of bread to loosen from pan. Invert onto rack and turn bread topside up.
  • Cool the bread completely before cutting into 10 slices.

Video

Notes

  • To freeze: I almost always double the recipe and wrap one loaf in foil, then put it in a freezer zip-top bag and freeze. You can also slice the bread first, wrap the slices individually, and freeze for a quick lunchbox treat. The sliced bread thaws quickly.
  • Nutrition note: Bread in images is made with 100% whole wheat flour and the nutrition information below is calculated using whole wheat flour.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 262mg | Potassium: 232mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 81IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg

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