Description
Bake this wonderfully moist, guilt-free banana bread relying on the natural sweetness of very ripe bananas. It is an easy recipe perfect for a wholesome breakfast or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 very ripe large bananas, mashed well (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter or coconut oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour or almond flour for a low-carb option
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Optional: 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon monk fruit sweetener or stevia blend (if bananas are not fully ripe)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a standard 9×5 inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas until mostly smooth. You can leave a few small lumps for texture.
- Stir the applesauce, melted butter (or coconut oil), eggs, and vanilla extract into the mashed bananas until just combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. If using, mix in the optional monk fruit sweetener here.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix only until no streaks of flour remain. Do not overmix; this keeps your bread tender.
- If using, gently fold in the chopped nuts.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly.
- Bake for 50 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs attached.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before carefully removing it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- The riper your bananas are (the spottier, the better), the sweeter your bread will be, reducing the need for any extra sweetener.
- For a diabetic friendly dessert, use almond flour instead of all-purpose flour.
- If you want a slightly richer flavor, substitute the applesauce with plain Greek yogurt.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 60 min
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 27
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 45