Healthy Banana Bread Recipe

Our Healthy Banana Bread recipe combines coconut oil, ripe bananas, and pure maple syrup in a fluffy quick bread batter for a flavorful, robust bread. This is a sustaining snack that is perfect for after school, a mid-day treat, or an addition to your brunch or breakfast table. Spread a good quality grass fed butter over top for some healthy fats and you have yourself a scrumptious and healthy bite.

Banana walnut bread has been a popular recipe for generations. Everyone enjoys the combination of sweet banana with the nutty richness of walnuts. You can make this recipe as directed for that classic pairing, or omit the nuts completely if you prefer.

A healthy banana bread recipe can mean different things to everyone; It just depends what your definition of healthy is. We work to reduce refined and processed ingredients as much as possible in our baked goods, and that’s what this recipe will give you.

What are quick breads?

Quick breads are made without yeast, yielding a dense and more cake like texture. These breads are made in loaf pans, and sliced and served in the same fashion as bread. Quick breads share a likeness to pound cakes and are often lumped in the same category because of their inclusion of ingredients like fruits and nuts.

Quick breads are a favorite treat in our family, and if you have been around the blog for a bit you have probably noticed how many different quick breads we have. Some of our favorites include our Blueberry Banana Bread, Lemon Zucchini Bread, and Caramel Pecan Banana Date Bread.

What can I add to my healthy banana bread recipe?

This healthy banana bread recipe includes chopped walnuts for a delicious, traditional sweet bread that everyone enjoys. But, if you are looking to dress it up even more there are some easy ways to do it. Here are some of our favorite ideas.

• Add some dark chocolate chips to the batter
• Throw some frozen blueberries into the batter
• Swap out the walnuts for pecans
• Add some oatmeal to the mix for a more robust texture
• A bit of sourdough discard could be added to the batter for a more robust flavor punch
• Drizzle the baked loaf with a warm healthy peanut butter and raw honey mix
• Add some unsweetened coconut shavings to the batter and on the top of the loaf

What do I need to make banana bread?

This recipe can be simplified which makes it a very easy and basic healthy banana bread recipe. But, even when made as directed it is straightforward and comes together quickly. We included flax meal for some extra healthy fats, but that can be omitted if you prefer. The rest of the recipe is your standard recipes for ingredients how to make banana quick bread.

Flour, baking soda and powder, eggs, ripe bananas, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla extract. For the sweetener it calls for pure organic maple syrup which can be found in any grocery store. We used coconut oil instead of butter or vegetable oil. This is a much healthier oil for baking, but if you would like to use some good quality butter for added flavor you absolutely can. Butter is a wonderful healthy fat when sourced from quality brands.

The ingredients we chose to enhance this bread

We have been baking successfully with coconut oil for several years. It is a much healthier, heat stable oil than the processed cooking oils. Coconut oil is such a flavor enhancer when you reach for the unrefined, virgin coconut oils. It adds that subtle coconut flavor while giving you the most pure oil. If you prefer a flavorless option just grab a good quality refined coconut oil.

Flax is also a great ingredient to include in quick breads and muffins, as it is full of good fat and fiber. It is by no means necessary to include, but it helps to enhance the nutritional quality and sustaining power of baked goods like muffins, quick breads, and pancakes.

How easy is it to store banana bread?

This healthy banana bread recipe is just like any other quick bread and stores amazingly well. Quick breads are known to freeze well, making them wonderful recipes for making ahead and enjoying at a later date. They also make fantastic food gifts for friends and family.

Once the bread has finished baking allow it to cool fully. This is important because otherwise steam and moisture will become trapped in the bread making it stale and dense. After the loaf has cooled all the way through wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or wax paper. We recommend wrapping it a second time in foil to keep all of the air off of the loaf.

Be sure to write and date and label it with the name of the bread. All quick breads look nearly identical after they have been baked, so it’s important to include the name of the loaf. Then, place the loaf in an airtight freezer safe bag and store in the freezer.

This healthy banana bread recipe can be frozen for up to 3 months

When stored properly you can freeze and enjoy this bread months later without compromising the flavor quality and texture of the loaf. You may be able to freeze it for 6 months, but the risk of freezer burn does increase.

Keep this healthy banana bread recipe in your fridge or covered and in a cool, dark area of your kitchen for a few days after baking. As long as it is covered and kept cool it can be enjoyed for up to a week after baking.

Can this healthy banana bread recipe be made into muffins?

Yes! Muffins would be a great variation for this recipe. No changes need to be made in how you prepare the healthy banana bread recipe, just bake it in your favorite muffin tins for easy snacks and adorable, packable lunch treats.

Best Banana Bread Recipe

We have a few banana bread recipes on the blog, each with it’s own uniqueness; but, this healthy banana bread recipe is easily our favorite. It gives a sustaining and healthy sweet treat with delicious banana flavor that everyone loves.

Variations can be made to suite your preferences and use what you have on hand. Our main goal for this recipe was to omit the processed and refined sugars for a healthier sweet.

Don’t miss these other tasty banana recipes!

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