Healthy Zucchini Banana Bread is the best way to use up fresh zucchini and over ripe bananas. Moistened and sweetened with fruit and veggies, you can’t even tell zucchini is there except for the wonderful moisture it provides!
This is a hybrid of my two favorite breads, healthy banana bread and healthy zucchini bread.
Healthy zucchini banana bread is a great idea in summer when bananas are ripening faster than you can eat them, and zucchini are in surplus.
Moistened and sweetened with mostly fruit and veggies, this bread is healthy and easy to make with whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour, be sure we tested this quick bread both ways!
In fact, photos and recipe updated in June 2025. This summer alone, we baked this banana zucchini bread 4 times!
Reader’s Review
I just made this bread absolutely delicious. (I used whole wheat flour) I did add nuts and small chocolate chip bits came out perfect and I’ll definitely make it again. Great recipe. Thank you!
Barbara
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy: Made in one bowl with common baking staples.
- Healthy: Zucchinis are high in fiber but low in calories and rich in vitamin B6. Bananas are high in potassium and add natural sweetness.
- Versatile: This healthy banana zucchini bread recipe has been tested with 3 different flours: whole wheat flour, spelt flour and all-purpose flour.
- Less waste: No feeling bad about throwing out your brown spotty bananas!
Ingredients for Healthy Zucchini Banana Bread
- Bananas: Use very ripe bananas. If making in summer, bananas ripen super fast in heat. Here is tutorial how to freeze bananas, thaw on a counter in an hour (use the liquid as well), and voila.
- Zucchini: We will need 1 cup of grated zucchini, measured before squeezing, then squeezed dry. Yellow summer squash works too.
- Flour: I have tested this bread with whole wheat flour, spelt flour and all-purpose flour. I think whole grain adds nice nutty touch to bread. I also think whole wheat pastry flour and white whole wheat flour will work.
- Liquid sweetener: Maple syrup, agave or honey will work. Not dry sweetener like sugar though because it will offset the batter’s consistency.
- Egg: Adds a little bit of moisture and act as a binder. I have not tested this zucchini banana bread recipe with chia egg or flax egg but you could try.
- Oil: Just a bit helps to prevent bread from being gummy.
- Flavor boosters: Pure vanilla extract and cinnamon.
- Leavening agents: Baking soda helps bread rise while mixing, and baking powder makes it fluffy in the oven.
How to Make Healthy Zucchini Banana Bread
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Mash bananas: In a large bowl, add bananas and mash with a fork. Doesn’t have to be perfect, small chunks are fine.
- Prep zucchini: Shred zucchini on a medium size holes of a box grater if you want to hide it in the bread, or on large holes if you don’t mind it. Then squeeze zucchini shred dry with your hands and add to the bowl with bananas.
- Combine wet ingredients: Add egg, oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk well until no small lumps of leavening agents are left.
- Add dry ingredients: Add flour and stir just until batter is formed. Do not over mix because your loaf will turn out tough.
- Bake: Transfer to a loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Don’t over bake!
- Cool: First you want bread to cool off a bit in a loaf pan, then remove onto a wire rack to cool to room temperature.
Tips for Best Results
- Use very ripe bananas: The more yellow with more brown spots your bananas are, the sweeter the bread will be. Here is a quick tutorial how to ripen bananas fast.
- Zucchini tips: No need to peel it unless it’s very big and old, then its skin will be bitter. Grate, measure and then squeeze with your hands over the sink very well. That’s all you need to do.
- Banana substitute: If you are out or short on bananas, substitute with applesauce or pumpkin puree. Any mashed soft fruit should work.
- Other additions: Add up to 1/2 cup of things like chopped walnuts or pecans, mini chocolate chips, raisins, dried dates or cranberries, or unsweetened coconut flakes. Fold gently into the batter last.
How to Store
Store: If you are baking zucchini banana bread in summer, I recommend to store it lightly covered on a counter for 1-2 days. I usually place it in a container with a lid and leave it a bit open for air circulation.
During cooler months, it will stay fresh for 3-4 days this way.
Freeze: Past day 4, I recommend to freeze the bread. Place in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw on a counter for a few hours.
More Healthy Zucchini Recipes to Try
- Healthy banana zucchini muffins
- Healthy chocolate zucchini bread
- Healthy zucchini brownies
- Healthy zucchini muffins
- Healthy zucchini cake
- Healthy zucchini cookies
- Healthy lemon zucchini bread
You might also enjoy to peruse through my full collection of quick bread recipes!
Healthy Zucchini Banana Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup very ripe bananas, mashed (2 large)
- 1 cup grated zucchini, squeezed dry (measured before squeezing)
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup olive oil, or avocado oil
- 1/2 cup maple syrup, or honey
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour or spelt flour, or 2 cups 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line 9″ x 5″ loaf pan with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork. Add zucchini, egg, oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk well – sometimes if baking soda and baking powder have lumps, it takes a minute to let them sit and then whisk again.
- Add flour and stir with spatula just until combined.
- Transfer batter into prepared loaf pan, level with spatula and bake for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven, let cool in a loaf pan for 10 minutes and then transfer onto the cooling rack to cool more. Cut with serrated knife into 12 slices and enjoy.
Notes
- Update June 2025: I have retested the recipe in June 2025 for better results as per reader’s feedback.
- Store: If you are baking bread in summer, I highly recommend to refrigerate it in a container lined with double paper towel. During cooler months, store covered on a counter for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Past day 4, I recommend to freeze bread. Place in Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw on a counter for a few hours.
- Use very ripe bananas: The more yellow with more brown spots your bananas are, the sweeter the bread will be.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Really enjoyed the Healthy Banana Zucchini Bread as I enjoy all of your recipes that I try. Thank You!
I am so happy to hear you love my recipes!
Followed the directions, turned out perfectly! It was delicious, not too sweet. Love that it’s a healthy version with maple syrup. This is a keeper!
I’m so happy to hear this bread recipe work for you, Megan!
I just can’t get enough of this bread and your ripe banana pancakes.I don’t buoy bread from the store I make my own thanks to you and your skill of putting these recipes together and please 😜 please if you ever considered writing recipe books please let me know I would love to have them to teach my son’s how to cook they enjoy these 🍞 May the Lord blessing be with you as you keep on helping people and teaching us how to add more vegetables to our meals.
I’m so happy to hear this! I never buy breads or muffins, once I read the sugar content I put them back. Although they look very good at the store haha
Hi! This recipe looks delicious. Would it be possible to omit the maple syrup/honey? Could it be replaced with applesauce?
Well, baking is a science. You can’t omit maple syrup as liquid:dry ingredients ratio will be off and recipe will not turn out. You could use applesauce but might need more than amount of maple syrup or maybe it will work.
Wow!! This bread is delicious- moist, sweet enough and disappeared lol
Haha that’s fantastic, Robyn! Welcome to my house where all food just disappears.:)
Just make this in a metal cake pan i make it exactly as the recipe said it was delicious and moist very easy to put together yummy
So happy to hear you loved the recipe!
Can I make muffins instead of bread
Yes, I think so. I would bake them for 22-25 mins at 375.
Quite easy and delicious! I used 1 C whole wheat flour and 1.25 C all-purpose flour. The batter is very thick so I was worried the bread would be dry, but it was actually very moist—the zucchini did its job! A little healthier and just as good or better than any other zucchini bread recipe out there. Thank you for this recipe.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
It’s so delicious and moist! I added chocolate chips for my kids. I have to make another loaf as the first one did not last. Definitely a keeper!!
Yeah! So happy everyone loved it!
This recipe is amazing!!! I already had shredded and squeezed zucchini before finding this recipe, and it was not quite 2 cups. My three medium bananas measured about 1 cup. I ended up adding a little applesauce to make up for the extra zucchini and to replace some of the moisture. I added in some mini chocolate chips (about 1/2 cup). Came out so yummy!!!
So glad you loved it and could adapt to what you had on hand!