Easy Healthy Banana Bread moist with applesauce and other simple ingredients. Your kids will love it!
Healthy Banana Bread Recipe
Healthy banana bread is a staple in our house. It is perfect as a school snack or for breakfast (spread with butter – yum!). Learn how to make it using our healthy banana bread recipe. So easy my 12 year old makes it.
Your perfect banana bread with applesauce should be moist. Have glossy and sticky top. And with a crack. When you take a bite it melts in your mouth. In my world, it is the best banana bread. And you are looking at it right now!
Is Banana Bread Healthy?
Well. Where do I begin?! I think everyone has their own definition of “healthy”. And I think my whole wheat banana bread is super healthy for the following reasons. If you don’t eat entire loaf in a day.:)
- No sugar (refined) but with honey or maple syrup.
- Applesauce replaces almost a cup of oil. It makes low fat banana bread moist.
- Whole wheat flour adds fiber, nutrients and vitamins unlike the all-purpose flour stripped of everything that’s good for us.
Ingredients
- Bananas
- Applesauce
- Eggs
- A bit of oil
- Honey or maple syrup
- Whole wheat or spelt flour
- Baking powder + soda, cinnamon
If you can find a more simple healthy banana bread recipe with only 1/3 cup of maple syrup and without 1 cup of vegetable oil, feel free to leave it in comments.
Substitutions
Applesauce: Extra ripe large banana, Greek yogurt with 2% fat content and higher or pureed fresh apples.
Flour: Only whole wheat or spelt flour. Flours that don’t work with this recipe are almond flour, coconut flour and all purpose white flour. I have not tested this recipe with any gluten free flour.
Mix-ins: 1/2 to 1 cup of nuts, chocolate chips or blueberries.
About the Bananas
Ripe bananas are a must. They make bread sweet and moist. Ripe bananas are very yellow with brown spots. The uglier the bananas, the better. Even uglier than in my photo and video are perfect.
If you don’t have going bad bananas, don’t fret. To “ripen” bananas faster:
- Bake yellow bananas with skin on for 20 minutes at 300 degrees F oven.
- Place a few ripened bananas or apples with unripened ones in a brown bag. Close tightly and wait 1-2 days. The ethylene gases from the ripened fruit will speed up the ripening.
- Peel and slice bananas, place them on a plate and microwave for 30 seconds or until they sizzle.
How to Make Whole Wheat Banana Bread
- Mash bananas with a masher.
- Add eggs and I like to “whisk” them with the same masher haha.
- Add all other ingredients except flour. “Stir” with the same masher. I know, I’m fancy but there is really no need for extra tool and bowl. Quick bread is not a cake.
- Add flour and stir gently until incorporated. Do not mix too much.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for about an hour.
Tip: Let cool completely before slicing. Will make all the difference. Been there, done that haha.
How to Store and Freeze
We store banana bread on a counter wrapped in plastic or straight in the loaf pan covered with plastic. Then cut a slice each time. You can slice it fully and wrap each slice in plastic but in my opinion it is not environmentally friendly option.
Banana bread stays fresh on a counter for up to 3 days. After you can refrigerate for another 3 days.
Can I freeze quick bread? Yes. Any.
Bake banana bread and cool completely. I recommend you do not slice bread before freezing. It retains its moisture better this way. Place in a gallon size Ziploc container, let out as much air as possible and seal. Freeze for up to 3 months.
To thaw, defrost on a counter. Takes about 3-4 hours. Bread will taste just like freshly baked. Pop it into a toaster for a minute for that freshly baked bread warmth and aromas.
Enjoy this healthy banana bread!
More Healthy Banana Bread Recipes
- Almond flour banana bread – moist, tender and melt in your mouth.
- Healthy banana muffins with 5 star reviews and kids love them!
- Coconut flour banana bread – gluten free and moist.
- Almond flour banana muffins – hands down most popular recipe on ifoodreal.com
Watch Olena Make Banana Bread with Applesauce
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PrintHealthy Banana Bread
Easy Healthy Banana Bread moist with applesauce and other simple ingredients. Your kids will love it!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: North American
Ingredients
- 4 medium very ripe bananas (1 1/2 cups)
- 2 eggs, large
- 1/2 cup applesauce, unsweetened
- 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
- 2 tbsp avocado or coconut oil (melted)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 tsp baking powder, aluminum free
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 1/4 cups whole wheat or spelt flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 9 x 5 loaf pan with unbleached parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork or a masher. Add eggs, applesauce, maple syrup, oil, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda and salt; whisk to combine (masher works fine).
- Add flour and stir gently just enough to mix. Pour batter in prepared loaf pan and bake for 50 – 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes. Then transfer to a cooling rack to cool off completely. Cut into 10 slices and enjoy.
Store: Keep in a cool dry place in a glass airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating in the comments.
Just made a double batch of this amazing banana bread. The only thing I did differently was used half honey and half maple syrup. Used all organic everything and added walnuts and dried cranberries. Will definitely keep this recipe!!
★★★★★
Swear, this is the only recipe I’ve been able to get to rise and cook threw exactly as written. Tastes amazing too. Thank you!
★★★★★
You are very welcome, Rena! Tested on my family many times haha
Hello
Is it 2 cups and then 1/4 cups of flour or 2 times a 1/4 cup of flour?
It is 2 cups + 1/4 cup = 2.25 cups.
This recipe looks amazing! I am about to make it but am wondering if it matters whether I use honey or maple syrup? I feel like maple syrup would taste better but I only have honey on hand. Have you made it both ways?
Hi Amanda. Maple syrup has more mild and less prominent after taste than honey. However, bananas have strong flavor. I made it both ways and we love it both ways. It is a personal preference and if you want to run to the store. I would personally just make it with honey cause I do not taste major difference. Hope this answers your question.
Great, thank you so much! It is in the oven now and I cant wait to try it 🙂
The banana bread turned out amazing with the honey!! Thanks again for the recipe, will definitely be making this often 🙂
★★★★★
Yay, awesome to hear!:)
Hey Olena, can I make this recipe with sprouted spelt flour?
Thank you so much 🙂
Yes! I always use it or whole wheat interchangeably.
Thank you so much, Olena,
I was doubtful because the package said ‘Sprouted’ spelt flour. But it came out great!! It tasted even better the next day out of the fridge 🙂
I didn’t have applesauce so substitute yogurt 🙂
I wonder why your recipes use less oil than all other ones and still so yummy 😉
I think sprouted is just more healthy for us lol. I know what you mean. Sometimes it’s not sprouted and still works the same.
That’s my trade secret.:) Just enjoy lol.
I came across this recipe when I searched google for ‘banana bread recipes with applesauce’. I have a jar of cinnamon applesauce laying around in my fridge and had to do something with it. Now! This is, by far, the BEST banana bread I have ever made. it’s so soft, moist and I feel healthy eating it. This will be my go-to recipe from today. I added some pecans just because lol.Thanks, Olena!
★★★★★
Hi Uzo. So happy to hear and thank you for letting me know how you found my healthy banana bread recipe. Made my Monday morning. And “just because” additions happen in my kitchen all the time lol. Enjoy!!!
Hi Olena,
This is the first recipe of yours I have tried and it is excellent! So good to have a guilt free banana bread! I’m a working Aussie mum, but will be trying to make more recipes from your site whenever I have time. 🙂
★★★★★
Hi Katrina. Good for you! So happy to hear my healthy banana bread was a hit in your family. Have you seen my healthy freezer meals? That’s for working moms like us.:)
Very delicious! Will make again for sure!
★★★★★
Simply delicious!!!! And easy! Thank you!!! Love your recipes ❤️
Trying to post a picture, don’t know if it’s going to work.
Couldn’t find how to attach it?
★★★★★
🙂 You are welcome! Happy New Year! You can’t attach a photo here but only on social media. #ifoodreal on Instagram or tag @ifoodreal.:)
OMG! Olena, I’m in LOVE with your website, recipes, etc.!! I’m totally making a couple of your healthy bread recipes as gifts for friends this Christmas season!!! Banana bread is a must for sure. And I’ll be trying the Healthy Gingerbread, too!! I’m sure I am going to be the hit of all my friends who receive these breads – that is, IF they make it there w/o me eating them myself!!
Thank you again for your blog & I’m sooo happy I found your website!! Love, love… LOVE it!
P.S. Yours is the one I go to most!! 🙂
Aw. Thank you so much for your kind words. Glad you are enjoying it that much. Don’t forget to slip a printed recipe card with each loaf haha. Homemade food is the beat gift for people who have everything.:). That’s us. 🙂
Oh… so ahead of you on the printed recipe cards for the home baked breads & other home baked goods… friends for Christmas!! And, included on recipe card was your referenced website… ifoodreal.com. 😉 Thanks again!
I’m looking at the Leg of Lamb recipe… thinking I might need to tackle that one as I’ve never cooked Lamb before. Maybe later…
Made this with my four year old today. Quick, easy, healthy and delicious. An all around win!
★★★★★
Aw. How cute!:)
Do I need to adjust any of the ingredients to add nuts?
Nope.
This recipe is amazing! I was looking for a banana bread without sugar and using spelt flour and here it it! My kids love it, it is so yummy it pretty much gets eaten in a day! Thanks so much ?
★★★★★
You are welcome.:) Yes, my kids love it too! I make 2 at a time because husband counts as “a kid”.:)
I have made many a “clean eating” banana bread. This was, by far, the most outstanding. The size of the loaf was relatively large compared to others I have made. I added some cinnamon to this for an extra little bit of flavour. Thanks for the great recipe!
★★★★★
Awesome! Yes, cinnamon is great. I just try to keep recipes basic and then little flavour tweaks are to personal taste.:)
The most delicious healthy banana bread I have ever tried!
★★★★★
This is the BEST banana bread I’ve ever made. I was out of applesauce and to lazy to make some so I used an extra banana. The lightest banana bread I’ve ever made. Thank you.
Yay. Yay. Yay.
Hi,
I followed your recipe, I think it’s the best I have seen. I am not sure what applesauce is and I replaced it with unsweetened almond milk. I baked for 40mins and the bread turned out quite dry. Is it because I don’t have much oil In it (the applesauce has oil I presume)?
Thanks!
Sissi
Hi Sissi. You can’t replace applesauce with almond milk. Applesauce is puréed cooked apples full of fiber thus adding moisture. It replaces oil in baking quite well. Almond milk is simply water. You can buy applesauce in any store. Bread will turn out amazing!
Hi Olena,
Thanks for your reply. I will try it with applesauce. Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe. perfect wth my diet 🙂
Just made this recipe, and it is soo good! The only difference is I used 3 large bananas and 1/4 cup maple syrup because it was easier to calculate the nutrition lol. I used spelt flour and next time I will use whole wheat and see how it turns out. It might seem soggy/wet when you first take it out the oven and cut into it but rest assured when it cools overnight it dries and is fluffier than ever. Oh and I had to bake mines for 10min extra on top of the 60min.
Awesome! So glad to hear. I am making my healthy banana muffins today too. Kids love them.
Just made this following the recipe exactly with the addition of 2 T of mini chocolate chips. I halved the recipe as I only had 2 ripe bananas. I baked it for 35 minutes. It’s almost gone, after being highly approved by an 8 and 10 year old, and ME!! Very moist and delicious!
Wohooo!:)
Hi, Olena!
First of.all, thank you for.sharing with your healthy and light recipes! This is awesome, because the recipes that I see perfectly fit.in my current diet:) I recently had my 4 th child and surely gained some baby fat:( but am working on getting back in shape. I am also eating high protein and low fat/carb foods. It is very effective! And does not affect my milk supply:)
Blessings to your family!!!
Hi Victoria. Congratulations on your baby! I’m glad to help.:) It is all possible with a little bit of work.:) Thank you for reading!