Description
This healthy banana bread with applesauce is moist, naturally sweet, and cozy with cinnamon. It uses very ripe bananas, maple syrup, and whole wheat flour for a tender loaf that’s perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
Ingredients
5 very ripe bananas (spotted), mashed
2 eggs (room temperature)
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 tbsp avocado oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a standard 9×5-inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, mash the bananas until mostly smooth.
3. Whisk in eggs, applesauce, maple syrup, avocado oil, and vanilla until combined.
4. Sprinkle in baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; stir to evenly mix.
5. Add whole wheat flour and fold just until no dry streaks remain (do not overmix).
6. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
7. Bake 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (a few moist crumbs are okay).
8. Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool fully before slicing.
Notes
Use the ripest bananas you have for the best sweetness and flavor.
Avoid overmixing after adding flour to keep the loaf tender.
Substitutions: swap avocado oil with melted coconut oil or light olive oil; use white whole wheat or half all-purpose flour for a lighter crumb.
Storage: keep covered at room temp up to 2 days, refrigerate up to 5 days, or freeze slices up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg