I think it’s a little crazy when I see banana bread recipes that call for an entire cup of sugar. Ripe bananas are so naturally sweet 
I actually use them as the sweetener in some recipes like smoothies and pancakes. Maybe it is my new and improved palate, but I cannot imagine needing a full cup of sugar in addition to three super sweet ripe bananas! So here is my version of banana bread, which of course calls for 100% whole-wheat flour and a mere quarter cup of honey. And don’t feel confined to the “loaf” shape…these are great as muffins, mini-muffins, or small loaves as well. Also, feel free get creative with add-ins like nuts, raisins or other dried fruit. Enjoy!
Whole-Wheat Banana Bread
I think it's a little crazy when I see banana bread recipes that call for an entire cup of sugar. Ripe bananas are so naturally sweet I actually use them as is.
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cup whole-wheat flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 bananas, ripe, mashed
- ¼ cup plain yogurt
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup coconut oil, (or another mild oil of your choice)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease pan.
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Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
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In a separate bowl mix mashed bananas with yogurt, honey, eggs, oil, and vanilla.
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Fold the banana mixture into the flour mixture until blended. Do not overmix.
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Pour batter into prepared pan.
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Bake large loaf for 40 – 50 minutes or until it comes clean with a toothpick.
Recipe Notes
We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
Nutrition Facts
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I’ve tried many banana bread recipes and have never even liked it. Every recipe I’ve tried making or tasted (made by someone else) has always been too dense and WET.
I made this recipe last night, baked it in 3 mini loaf tins, and it is delicious. The texture is lighter and not wet. I put chocolate chips on one loaf for my daughter and she was so pleased. I will definitely use this recipe from now on.
I feel silly having to ask this… When you bake with coconut oil, do you melt if first or leave it in its solid state?
Hi there. You melt it for most baking. :)
Could you make this recipe in a bread machine? I’m looking for a healthy bread recipe to throw
in my bread maker the night before for breakfast the next day….
Thanks!
Hi. We’ve not tried but this might help: http://www.bhg.com/recipes/bread/converting-your-favorite-recipes/.
May I ask what is the calorie break down of the recipe is please? Thanks!
Hi there. We really do not focus on calories. This post helps explain our philosophy of not getting bogged down by numbers: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/04/healthy-eating-defined/.
Can I use agave instead of honey?
Hello Nicole. Agave is not an ingredient we use. This helps explain why: http://www.foodrenegade.com/agave-nectar-good-or-bad/.
Was going to make these today but I don’t have any yogurt on hand. Any thoughts for a substitute?
Thank you for all your great recipes :)
Hi Melanie. Sorry that we are not able to answer recipes in real time typically. I’ve used coconut milk.
I just made these today. I did not have eggs or plain yogurt. I substituted sour cream for the yogurt and then added 1/2 extra banana, 2 tsp. more of sour cream, and 4 Tbs quick oats for the eggs. I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. I’m excited to make it again the original way so I can compare but I have really been enjoying my modified version. :)
can butter b used instead of oil
Yep. :)
We love this recipe! I have been making this for quite some time with my older kids, but I am hesitant to give it to my 10 month old because of the honey. Can I substitute maple syrup? Or is there another alternative?
I don’t like honey so we never have it in the house, so I use maple syrup!
Made this bread and I was pretty disappointed. I usually love 100 Days recipes but I thought this bread was very bland. :(
So delicious! And, I subbed applesauce for oil and it is perfect!
Hi! I love your website and cookbook. I’ve already made several of your recipes and my family has enjoyed them. I do have a couple of questions about the banana bread recipes: mine has little to no sweetness in it at all. Do you have any suggestions as to how to add more sweetness? I thought of cinnamon and chocolate chips, but is there anything else that might work? Also, why are your recipes for banana bread and banana muffins different? Thanks!
Hi Kara. I use over ripe bananas. If you want it even sweeter, you can add a bit more honey. I’ve added chocolate chips and it is really yummy. The recipes are just two different versions of banana breads. ;)
Hi – My bread was super dry – any suggestions on how to moisten it up?
Try adding a little applesauce.
Is the 1/3 cup on coconut oil is to liquid form or the solid? Wanting to be sure I back this correctly…. Rather my daughter makes it correctly.
Hi there. Liquid. :) Here is more info: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/02/07/how-to-cook-with-coconut-oil/.
Thank you Amy!
Made these today as muffins – 350 for 15 minutes. YUM!
Love this recipe. I usually make a double go and put chocolate chips in one.
I absolutely LOVE this recipe! I’ve made it twice in the last week! The second time I used olive oil and added about 2 tablespoons of chia seeds. Beyond delicious :)
We loved this recipe! We just moved into a new house, so didn’t have all of the ingredients and subbed brown sugar for the honey and one cup white flour for 1 of the cups whole wheat. My 4 year old daughter and I are SO excited about how yummy our bread is. We made 3 small loaves instead of one big one and next time we will add a bit of cinnamon and substitute some of the oil with applesauce.
How long do I bake if I make mini muffins??
Hi there. I typically cook the minis 11-15 minutes.
I needed 25 min @ 350 degrees. Sounds long but that’s what it needed to get the toothpick come out clean. It tastes good as well. Any idea what I did wrong?
Well, that is a big difference. :) All ovens are going to be a little different and I usually use a convection setting. If it didn’t taste over-cooked, then I wouldn’t worry.
Is there a sub for the Greek yogurt?
Hello. Other readers have used applesauce.
If milk is the issue Silk now has a soy alternative yogurt in a large tub that comes in plain.
Thank you for posting. I used this recipe as a base and added a few extra ingredients to our palate’s desire. It’s my second time baking with whole-wheat flour and minimal to no sugar. We’re making life style changes and this is a awesome start. Thank you for sharing recipes and all the helpful comments/recommendations.
I’ve baked this twice and it’s always been a hit!! thank you
I made this last night, and it came out a little drier than typical banana bread. Has anyone else had this problem? Would substituting unsweetened applesauce for the oil help with that?
Hi Tabitha. It might but you could also try cooking for a shorter time. All ovens are a little different.
I had the same issue with my first loaf. This time, I increased the yogurt to 1/2 cup (instead of 1/4 cup). It’s more moist this time around. But I was also wondering about the applesauce! I might try that next time!
Made the mini muffins , I baked for 13mins- came out perfect ! thanks for the great recipe
Needs flavour. Probably would have helped to have overripe banana vs the ripe ones I used
Mine were done in Ten minutes! I think a bit of apple sauce would be nice.
Hey, I’m sorry but that was so gross. I spit it out of my mouth. Tasted like cardboard and burnt eggs.
Or burnt eggs on cardboard.
Maybe some stevia added, if we’re avoiding sugar here, and replace one of the eggs with applesauce. I’m not willing to try though.
Sorry. I wish I could get back those ingredients and that hour of my life. And I love health food and can handle some funky stuff.
What would the baking times be for muffins or mini muffins?
12-14 minutes. :)
Thank you!! Making these as muffins tonight and I would have gone longer…
I only have vanilla yogurt. Do you think I could substitute it for the plain? What I need to decrease the honey if so?
Hi there. Using a flavored yogurt would definitely make it sweeter. You could decrease the honey a bit if you are concerned about over-sweetness.
Thank you for responding. I’ll try it today!
Does plain coconut yogurt work in this recipe?
Hi. I don’t see why not.
If I wanted to use coconut sugar instead of honey as a sweetener, do you know how much I would use?
Hi there. This might help: http://wholenewmom.com/whole-new-budget/baking-with-honey-sugar-for-baking/.
Our family is dairy free. Do you have a suggestion for a sub for the yogurt in this recipe?
You could use a non-dairy yogurt variety. Or, you could use coconut cream.
Thank you! I have been looking for a sugar free banana bread recipe for months and I can’t believe I couldn’t find one. I can’t wait to try this!
Can you put this in a bread machine? If so what cycle do you recommend,
Hello. We’ve not tried making this in a machine. I’d use the sweet bread cycle.
Just tried this using my machine on the quick bread cycle and it turned out amazing! Super-easy and delicious, I highly recommend trying it in the bread machine if you have one!
I was wondering if you have tried substituting unsweetened applesauce for the oil in this recipe?
No, not in this one but I’ve done it many times when baking.
Delicious! They rise beautifully and are soft. I too like not-too-sweet muffins.
Is the coconut oil melted?
It is. This might help: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/02/07/how-to-cook-with-coconut-oil/.
What could be substituted for the yogurt? My son is allergic. I’ve never seen yogurt in a banana bread recipe so not sure what it’s replacing. Could I just use almond milk??
Yes, I use almond milk. ;)
Is there a substitute for honey?
Hi. Our sub for honey is maple syrup.
Hi- although the recipe doesn’t specify, I’m wondering if using Greek yogurt will work. I’m worried it is too tart. Thoughts? Thank you!
Greek yogurt works great! :)
Do you refrigerate the banana bread leftovers? I made a loaf a few days ago and the last few pieces in the pan taste really bitter. Its been covered on the counter since I made it, but I was wondering if the bitterness is from the whole wheat flour going rancid??? (I normally keep the whole wheat flour in the freezer). Any thoughts you can share would be great! Thanks! : )
Can I make muffins instead of bread with the same exact recipe?
Hi. You can but here is Lisa’s banana muffin recipe: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2014/04/30/recipe-whole-wheat-banana-nut-muffins/.
Can’t wait to try! If I wanted to make it “chocolate ” how much cocoa would I add?
I’ve not added cocoa but I have added 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.
Any recommendations for a sub for the yogurt?
You could use a plant based yogurt, there are several on the market. Maybe coconut milk yogurt (a great alternative to the real thing), almond milk, cashew milk, or a pea protein based yogurt would do the trick. There are a lot of different brands and usually one alternative can be found at the local grocery store, depending on where you live.
Really delicious and moist. Will definitely make this again!
could you substitute applesauce for the yogurt and add a little more coconut oil?
Hi. We’ve not tried that specifically. You can certainly give it a try.
What size loaf pan is this?
A standard 9×5 works well.
This always comes out dry for me. I use coconut oil. Any tips?
H Melissa. I find that adding applesauce is an instant moisture pick up but I’ve not had to add it to this recipe.
This looks like a super easy recipe and look forward to making. I notice that baking powder is not listed in the ingredients. In your muffin recipe baking powder is included. Just want to make sure it was left out on purpose for the bread recipe. Thank you.
I’ve made this so many times and I love it. I use gluten free oat flour instead of whole wheat flour. I also add chocolate chips. Delicious!!!!
Where do I fine the Nutritional Facts is your recipes?
Hi there. We do not provide nutrition info. This post helps explain why: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/healthy-eating-defined/.
Absolutely delicious! Made these just now with my 3 year old daughter assisting and she had so much fun. Because we are just beginning our journey of eliminating processed foods from our diets, we still have a bit of white flour in the house and rather than waste $$ and throw it away, I’d figure it best to use up what we have and then forever replace it with whole-wheat. I added some flax meal (truthfully to make myself feel better about using white flour) and we only had Siggi’s whole milk vanilla yogurt in the house so that went in (and I omitted adding the tsp of vanilla). I used majorly over ripe bananas that had been hiding in the way back of the freezer and I think that helped make this bread sweet. Both my 3 year old and 1 year old gobbled it up!!
Hi!
Would the measurements be different if using spelt flour?
Hi. It should be 1:1.
Do you have a recommendation for making this in a bread machine?
Hi there. I think this may help: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/learn/bread-machine-basics.html
http://www.bhg.com/recipes/bread/converting-your-favorite-recipes/.
Hello, Could you substitute sour cream for the yogurt?
Thanks!
You can.
Can’t donyogurt- what can I substitute?
Sour cream or coconut yogurt are good subs.
What size pan does Lisa use for the banana bread recipe? I have 3 different bread pan sizes. Thanks!
Hi there. A 9×5 works well.
I found 100 days of real food a bit late but am super excited about this. This recipe turned out great for me. I did add an extra banana and used canola oil (just trying to use the last of it and then will switch to recommended oils). I also crushed some walnuts on top. Loved this recipe and can’t wait to try others.