The Better-for-You Banana Bread Recipe You Need to Know

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!

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Best Ever Banana Bread

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Wondering if you have enough bananas to bake with? Read more about how many bananas are in a cup.

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Taste of Home

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TMB studio

Southern Banana PuddingCalls for: 3 ripe bananas This 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

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Egg-Free Double Chocolate Banana MuffinsCalls for: 2-3 ripe bananas I 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

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Roasted Banana & Pecan CheesecakeCalls for: 3 ripe bananas We 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

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Taste of Home

Potluck Banana CakeCalls for: 3 ripe bananas I 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

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Taste of Home

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Taste of Home

Banana Split Cake BarsCalls for: 3 ripe bananas Summer 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

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Taste of Home

Pear-Blueberry Ambrosia with Creamy Lime DressingCalls for: 3 ripe bananas This 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

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Banana Oatmeal CookiesCalls for: 2 ripe bananas My 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

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Orange Banana Nut BreadCalls for: 3 ripe bananas I like this recipe because the orange juice gives the nut bread such a bright flavor and also makes it moist. —Barbara Roethlisberger, Shepherd, Michigan

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Taste of Home

Frosted Banana BarsCalls for: 3 ripe bananas These 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

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Elvis Banana BreadCalls for: 4 ripe bananas As a toddler, my son loved bananas, so we always had them in the house. We didn't always eat them all before they were too ripe, so we experimented beyond basic banana bread. That’s how we came up with Elvis bread! —Liz Somppi, Greenfield, Wisconsin

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Quick Bananas FosterCalls for: 3 ripe bananas Guests 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

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Banana PuddingCalls for: 4 ripe bananas I 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

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Gluten-Free Banana BreadCalls for: 4-5 ripe bananas This 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

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I Like to Eat Apples and Bananas BreadCalls for: 4-5 ripe bananas My 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

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