Updated: Nov. 24, 2023
Craving banana bread, but not all of the calories? Give this healthy banana bread recipe a try. It's delicious AND nutritious!
Banana bread is a classic, all-American comfort food that fills the whole house with warmth, but it’s not always the healthiest option. That’s why if you’re watching your waistline, you’ll love this healthy banana bread recipe! It tastes just as good as any of our best banana bread recipes but cuts back on calories and fat.
How Do You Make Healthy Banana Bread?
Yields one loaf (about 16 slices)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 egg white
- 2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4 medium)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
Step 1: Get whisking
In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar for 2 minutes or until crumbly. Beat in the egg, then the egg white, beating well after each addition. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy.
Step 2: Add the goodness
Stir in the bananas, applesauce, honey and vanilla extract. Combine the flours, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the banana mixture until moistened.
Step 3: Pour mixture into the pan
Pour the mixture into a 9×5-in. loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with pecans.
Step 4: Make that bread
Bake at 325°F for 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool. Enjoy!
How Do You Keep Banana Bread Moist?
Keep your banana bread good as new from the first slice to the last by following these tips:
- Use very ripe, brown bananas.
- Always wrap your bread in plastic wrap, aluminum foil or an airtight container to keep it from drying out.
- Banana bread can be left out at room temperature for up to two days.
- If you want your bread to last a bit longer, pop it in the refrigerator and warm it up in the microwave when you’re ready to enjoy it. Refrigeration will keep your banana bread fresh and safe to eat for up to one week.
Go Bananas!
1 / 34
Best Ever Banana Bread
Calls for: 2 ripe bananasWhenever I pass a display of bananas in the grocery store, I can almost smell the wonderful aroma of my best banana bread recipe. It really is that good! —Gert Kaiser, Kenosha, WisconsinGo to RecipeYou’ve probably heard ofmug cakes, so you get the idea. There's no need for kneading with this banana bread in a mug recipe, try it out today!
Banana Bread Snack CakesCalls for: 1 ripe bananaThis cake doesn't need any frosting—just a dusting of powdered sugar. Guests are always amazed that I made this treat from scratch. —Denise Loewenthal, Hinckley, Ohio
Go to Recipe
Wondering if you have enough bananas to bake with? Read more about how many bananas are in a cup.
Pecan Banana Bundt CakeCalls for: 2-3 ripe bananasMy daughter, Liz, often made this banana bundt cake for us. It was delicious and different. She discovered five-spice powder during a culinary class field trip. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California
Go to Recipe
Also, learnhow to store bananas so they last longer for you to make these interesting recipes.
Banana Oat MuffinsCalls for: 2 ripe bananasChopped pecans add pleasant crunch to these hearty banana oatmeal muffins with rich flavor. The muffins are low in cholesterol, but you’d never know it. My husband and I love them. —Marjorie Mott, Galatia, Illinois
Go to Recipe
Banana Split Brownies Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Banana Split BrowniesCalls for: 1 ripe bananaHow's this for a dish—all the joy of a banana split without the mess. Everything in my recipe fits into one pan of delectable brownie bars. —Connee Sheckler, Chestertown, Maryland
Go to Recipe
Banana Nut PancakesCalls for: 1 ripe bananaI enjoy these versatile banana nut pancakes. Besides being a satisfying breakfast, they can be a deliciously different dessert. —Diane Hixon, Niceville, Florida
Go to Recipe
Banana Orange BarsCalls for: 3-4 ripe bananasI have been making these treats for many years. I no longer remember where the recipe came from, but one thing is certain—the bars are always a hit at family get-togethers and parties. The secret to tasty banana desserts is the ripeness of the bananas—the riper, the better. —Mary Sturgis, Hingham, Massachusetts
Bananas ‘n’ Cream Tube Pan CakeCalls for: 3 ripe bananasThis absolutely scrumptious banana Bundt cake needs no icing...just a dusting of confectioners' sugar. Even though the recipe has been a family secret for years, I'm delighted to share it with my fellow home cooks. —Oma Rollison, El Cajon, California
Go to Recipe
Cranberry Banana Coffee CakeCalls for: 2 ripe bananasI make this moist cake for Christmas morning every year. It tastes like banana bread but has a sweet golden topping with a nutty crunch. —Gloria Friesen, Casper, Wyoming
Go to Recipe
Banana Chocolate CakeCalls for: 2 ripe bananasThis light-as-air chocolate cake has a yummy banana flavor. It’s scrumptious as is, but you can also dress it up with nuts or light frostings. —Tina Bellows, Racine, Wisconsin
Go to Recipe
Taste of Home
Banana Pound CakeCalls for: 2 ripe bananasI adapted a basic pound cake recipe from my great-aunt for this treat. It makes a moist cake that pops out of the pan perfectly. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey
Go to Recipe
Taste of Home
Banana Oat Breakfast CookiesCalls for: 2 ripe bananasI use to buy name-brand breakfast cookies from the supermarket, but since I found this recipe I've enjoyed making my cookies more than buying them.—Linda Burciaga
Go to Recipe
Chocolate Banana BundlesCalls for: 2 ripe bananasBanana and chocolate are such an irresistible combo that I make this quick dessert often. You can also top them with the butter and brown sugar mixture left over from coating the bananas, or sprinkle on a dash of sea salt. —Thomas fa*glon, Somerset, New Jersey
Go to Recipe
Pumpkin Banana BreadCalls for: 2 ripe bananasI came across this recipe in a local newspaper about 10 years ago, and I still make the bread on a regular basis. The recipe conveniently yields a number of mini loaves, making gift-giving easy. —Linda Wood, Roanoke, Virginia
Go to Recipe
Peanut Butter-Banana Yogurt ParfaitsCalls for: 2 ripe bananasFor a lightening-fast breakfast, I layer vanilla yogurt with bananas, peanuts and multigrain cereal. It’s crunchy, easy and perfect for kids. —Teresa Miller, Hamilton, Indiana
Go to Recipe
Banana-Nut Bundt CakeCalls for: 3 ripe bananasEach slice of this cake has a temptingly tropical twist. If you'd like, sprinkle confectioners' sugar over the top. —June Yeates, Bradley, Illinois
Go to Recipe
Banana SquaresCalls for: 2-3 ripe bananasWhen we were first married, my husband was in the Navy. Stationed in Puerto Rico, we had banana trees growing in our yard, so I found ways to use dozens of ripe bananas at a time. I made these banana squares often. They freeze well and make a great snack to have on hand when friends drop in for coffee. —Susan Miller, Raleigh, North Carolina
Go to Recipe
TMB studio
Southern Banana PuddingCalls for: 3 ripe bananasThis old southern banana pudding recipe features a comforting custard layered with sliced bananas and vanilla wafers, then topped with meringue. I serve it year-round. —Jan Campbell, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Go to Recipe
Egg-Free Double Chocolate Banana MuffinsCalls for: 2-3 ripe bananasI am always looking to use up the brown bananas on my counter. My usual go-to was banana nut bread, but when my youngest developed an egg allergy I had to come up with something different. Since bananas and chocolate are so good together I decided to make these muffins. You would never be able to tell they are egg-free. —Danielle Siero, Farmington, Michigan
Go to Recipe
Calls for: 3 ripe bananasWe keep bananas on hand, but with just two of us in the house they ripen faster than we can eat them. That makes them perfect for roasting and baking into this cheesecake with a nutty crust. —Patricia Harmon, Baden, Pennsylvania
Go to Recipe
Calls for: 1 ripe bananaOatmeal is a favorite breakfast food, quick, easy and filling. I came up with this version by using some of the same ingredients from my favorite breakfast smoothie. Add bran cereal for a heartier taste and more fiber. A brown sugar substitute and soy milk also blend in well. —Jessi Rizzi, Odenton, Maryland
Go to Recipe
Taste of Home
Potluck Banana CakeCalls for: 3 ripe bananasI found this recipe more than five years ago and have been making it for family gatherings ever since. The coffee-flavored frosting complements the moist banana cake. —Kathy Hoffman, Topton, Pennsylvania
Go to Recipe
Taste of Home
Banana Macadamia MuffinsCalls for: 3 ripe bananasThese muffins taste even better the next day, so to save time, I often make them the night before. They stay moist for days. —Stasha Wampler, Clinchport, Virginia
Go to Recipe
Taste of Home
Banana Split Cake BarsCalls for: 3 ripe bananasSummer isn’t summer without a banana split or two, and these fun bars bring that same delicious flavor in potluck-perfect form. —Jasey McBurnett, Rock Springs, Wyoming
Go to Recipe
Taste of Home
Pear-Blueberry Ambrosia with Creamy Lime DressingCalls for: 3 ripe bananasThis dessert is delicious and decadent, yet is chock-full of healthy fruit with a creamy lime dressing; the blueberries provide a lovely pop of color. —Laura Stricklin, Jackson, Mississippi
Go to Recipe
Banana Oatmeal CookiesCalls for: 2 ripe bananasMy mom made these oatmeal banana cookies when I was young. Now my children like making them just as much as I did, and we quadruple the recipe to serve our large family. You can't eat just one of these goodies packed with chocolate morsels. —Jaqueline Wilson, Armstrong Creek, Wisconsin
Go to Recipe
Banana Blueberry PancakesCalls for: 3 ripe bananasThis blueberry pancakes recipe is a favorite in our home. My kids don’t even realize how healthy it is! —Kelly Reinicke, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
Go to Recipe
Cast-Iron Chocolate Chip Banana BreadCalls for: 3 ripe bananasI love this cast-iron banana bread because it cooks evenly every time. The end result is so moist and delicious! —Ashley Hudd, Holton, Michigan
Go to Recipe
Taste of Home
Frosted Banana BarsCalls for: 3 ripe bananasThese bars are always a hit at potlucks in the small rural farming community where my husband and I live. I also like to provide them for coffee hour after church. They're so moist and delicious that wherever I take them, they don't last long. —Karen Dryak, Niobrara, Nebraska
Go to Recipe
Quick Bananas FosterCalls for: 3 ripe bananasGuests are always impressed when I ignite the rum in this delicious bananas Foster dessert. Use perfectly ripe bananas for best results. —Mary Lou Wayman, Salt Lake City, Utah
Go to Recipe
Banana PuddingCalls for: 4 ripe bananasI didn’t see my son, Lance Corporal Eric Harris, for more than two years after he enlisted in the Marines after high school. And when I saw him arrive at the airport, I just grabbed hold of him and burst out crying. When we got home, the first thing he ate was two bowls of my easy banana pudding recipe. He’s a true southern boy! It’s a dessert, but you can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. —Stephanie Harris, Montpelier, Virginia
Go to Recipe
Gluten-Free Banana BreadCalls for: 4-5 ripe bananasThis gluten-free banana bread recipe isn't dry and crumbly—it tastes like the real thing. I hope you try it! —Gladys Arnold, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Go to Recipe
Air-Fryer Breakfast CookiesI used to buy brand-name breakfast cookies from the supermarket, but since I found this recipe, I've enjoyed making my cookies more than buying them. —Linda Burciaga, tasteofhome.com
Go to Recipe
I Like to Eat Apples and Bananas BreadCalls for: 4-5 ripe bananasMy children love to bake (and eat) all kinds of banana bread. They make this all by themselves, with just a little help from me to put it in the oven. —Kristin Metcalf, Charlton, Massachusetts
Go to Recipe
