Description
Bake this wonderfully moist and tender sugar-free banana bread. You rely only on very ripe bananas for natural sweetness, making this a guilt-free, healthy banana bread perfect for breakfast or a wholesome snack.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large, very ripe bananas (the spottier, the better)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil or avocado oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour (or all-purpose flour)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Optional: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon monk fruit sweetener (for extra sweetness assurance)
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 thoroughly until mostly smooth. You want some small lumps for texture.
- Whisk the mashed bananas, applesauce, melted oil, eggs, and vanilla extract into the wet ingredients until just combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. If using, mix in the monk fruit sweetener here.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix gently with a spatula until you just combine the batter. Do not overmix; a few streaks of flour are fine.
- If using nuts, fold them in now.
- Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly.
- Bake for 50 to 65 minutes. Start checking at 50 minutes. The bread is done when 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 transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- The ripeness of your bananas is key; they provide all the necessary sweetness for this no added sugar recipe.
- For a low-carb banana bread option, substitute the flour with 2 cups of almond flour and add 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum to the dry ingredients. Adjust baking time as needed.
- If you prefer a richer flavor, substitute the applesauce with plain Greek yogurt for a protein boost.
- Store cooled bread tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze slices for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 60 min
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 185
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 26
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 45