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–+ servings
Whole wheat banana bread, partially sliced.
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4.64 from 61 votes

Whole Wheat Banana Bread

Whole wheat banana bread is a staple in my house - my kids love it and it's a perfect way to use ripe bananas. It freezes well and makes a great lunchbox treat!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Additional Time20 minutes
Total Time1 hour 35 minutes
Course: Quick Breads
Cuisine: American
Servings: 10
Author: Rachel Gurk

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas (4 bananas, depending on size)
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ½ cup applesauce
  • 2 tablespoons oil (vegetable, canola, or coconut)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 8- or 9-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  • 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.
    1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas, 2 large eggs, beaten, ¾ cup sugar, ½ cup applesauce, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 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. Stir just until combined; a few lumps are okay.
    2 cups whole wheat flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt
  • Add banana bread batter to prepared loaf tin and smooth out into an even layer.
  • Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few crumbs.
  • Cool for 10 to 15 minutes in the pan before turning out of the pan onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before slicing.

Video

Notes

  • Storage: 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.
  • Flour note: If desired, replace whole wheat flour with all-purpose flour, or a combination of the two.
  • Reduced sugar: The amount of sugar can be reduced to ½ cup, if you like. The bananas and applesauce add lots of natural sweetness. I've often made this recipe with less sugar.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 261mg | Potassium: 230mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

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