Bake up healthy comfort food with this super easy and super delicious lower sugar Banana Bread. It’s so easy, so good, and is a perfect breakfast or snack to share with the kids.
Lower Sugar Banana Bread
Whenever we need a steady supply of healthy comfort food, this banana bread is our favorite easy option. Usually we have a few overripe bananas sitting around by the end of the week and this comes together in minutes. I can even make it when I’m a little bleary-eyed in the morning!—and we all love it.
This contains ½ cup of sugar, which is ½ cup less than standard banana bread recipes. This allows the flavor of the bananas to shine through, creates the texture you expect from a banana bread recipe, and reduces the amount of added sugar. I love tweaking classic recipes to be a little less sweet so we can taste all of the flavors, not just overt sweetness.
We love it slightly warmed up or toasted. YUM. This is a great weekday breakfast, it packs well as travel food, and is a perfect addition to a freezer stash or meal train.
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe so you know what to have on hand and ready to go.
- Unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled: You can melt this first, then gather the rest of the ingredients so it cools a bit.
- Mashed very ripe bananas: The more brown spots the bananas have, the better the flavor and natural sweetness will be.
- Eggs: Large eggs add structure and tenderness to this quick bread recipe.
- All purpose and whole wheat flour: Using half and half of each flour adds some extra nutrition but keeps the bread light and fluffy.
- Sugar: A modest amount of sugar creates the texture you expect from classic banana bread, but allows the banana flavor to shine through.
- Baking soda: Check to make sure your baking soda is fresh as it’s key for the bread cooking through and rising properly.
- Cinnamon, vanilla, and salt: Round out the flavors nicely.
TIP: I like the mix of half all purpose flour and half whole wheat, but you can use just all purpose flour if that’s what you have.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Dairy-free: Use melted coconut oil or plant-based butter in place of the regular butter.
- Gluten-free: Use a 1:1 style of baking mix in place of the wheat flours.
- You can use coconut sugar if you prefer.
- Use all whole wheat flour or all all purpose. If you use whole wheat, it may be done a little earlier. If you use all purpose exclusively, it may take a few more minutes.
- Stir in a handful of chocolate chips or sprinkle some on top if you’d like.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at how to make this easy banana bread so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full information.
- Gather the ingredients. Melt the butter and mash the bananas.
- Stir together the wet ingredients.
- Stir in the dry ingredients.
- Add to the pan and bake!
TIP: Melt the butter first so it has a chance to cool while you mash the bananas.
How to Store Banana Bread
Store any leftovers, once fully cooled, wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days, in the fridge for 5 days, or freeze slices, once cooled, and freeze in a zip top storage bag with as much air removed as possible for up to 6 months.
Thaw in the fridge or at room temperature.
Wrapping the slices in plastic helps retain the moisture, though you can also just store in a container and plan to warm or toast to serve.
Best Tips for Success
- Serve chilled or slightly warmed or toasted. (If it’s been a few days and the bread is getting a little dried out, toast it!)
- Use all all-purpose flour if desired.
- Add ½ cup chocolate chips to the batter if desired.
- Mash the bananas very smooth with a fork or a potato masher. (This is a good step for the kids to help with!)
- Cut the bread into slices or cubes for younger kids.
- Spread on some all fruit jam, a thin smear of nut butter, or cream cheese if desired.
Related Recipes
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Easy Strawberry Banana Bread
If you try this recipe, I’d appreciate it so much if you leave a comment and give it a star rating!
Lower Sugar Banana Bread (SO Good!)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted and slightly cooled; 1 stick)
- 1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (about 3 large)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray. (I use classic Pam.)
- Add the butter, bananas, eggs, and vanilla to a large bowl. Stir to combine.
- Stir in the flours, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula so it’s even. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out cleanly.
- Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove from pan (carefully) and let cool on a wire rack completely.
- Slice and serve.
Video
Notes
- Store any leftovers, once fully cooled, wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days, in the fridge for 5 days, or freeze slices, once cooled, and freeze in a zip top storage bag with as much air removed as possible for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge or at room temperature.
- Serve chilled or slightly warmed or toasted. (If it’s been a few days and the bread is getting a little dried out, toast it!)
- Use all all-purpose flour if desired.
- Add ½ cup chocolate chips to the batter if desired.
- Mash the bananas very smooth with a fork or a potato masher. (This is a good step for the kids to help with!)
- Spread on some all fruit jam, a thin smear of nut butter, or cream cheese if desired.
Nutrition
This post was first published December 2020.
So easy to prep and LOVE that you provide alternatives for different dietary restrictions. Helps our family to still enjoy favorite baked goods without dairy! My 3 year old gave it two thumbs up!
I made this gluten free by using 1:1 gluten free flour as a substitute for the all-purpose and wheat flours. I also added 1/4 c sugar free vanilla yoghurt to the batter to add moisture. It was fantastic!
I tried this for the first time this weekend. It is delicious. Just the right amount of sweetness. Thanks for the lower sugar recipe!
I have made a lot of banana bread over the years but I can tell you this is absolutely the best! I can’t believe it tastes this good with only 1/2 c sugar! I put some walnuts on the top to give it a little crunchy texture.
Can I use wheat white flour?
Sure!
Can you substitute Almond or Coconut flour with this recipe. Thank you
No, that won’t work the same as wheat flour.
Hi!! So I’m wondering if we don’t use any sugar and add maple syrup will that work and if so how much maple syrup?
Sure, the texture may not be identical, but it should work well. I’d use 1/4-1/3 cup maple syrup
This has become our family’s overall favorite banana bread recipe and I make it often! I have made it using coconut oil in place of half of the butter and it was great! I like to use a little less than a cup of ww flour and add 1TB of ground flax seed. My new favorite now is baking this recipe into muffins! It makes 12 perfect muffins and they freeze so well!
Love your recipes and this is a favorite for sure! Thank you!
Made this today on Christmas day! Super easy and delicious! Made it for my 17month old and my husband ate half of it!! Thank you!
Made this today for my 19 month old. We love it!! You don’t miss the sugar at all. I substituted coconut oil for butter, and only used all-purpose flour. Great recipe. Even my picky husband didn’t notice the difference muahahaha.
I’m so glad!
Funny story… I was so excited to make this tonight and somehow missed putting in the melted butter! I found it sitting on my counter about 20 minutes after the bread was in the oven haha. Good news, it still turned out pretty good considering! I took it out after 35 minutes and my husband has been enjoying it! I did add chocolate chips to mine which also may have helped 🙂 thanks for the literal foolproof recipe!
Funny story… I was so excited to make this tonight and somehow missed putting in the melted butter! I found it sitting on my counter about 20 minutes after the bread was in the oven haha. Good news, it still turned out pretty good considering! I took it out after 35 minutes and my husband has been enjoying it! I did add chocolate chips to mine which also may have helped 🙂 thanks for the literal foolproof recipe!
That’s amazing, I’m so glad it worked out regardless!
We have made this recipe a few times and love it! I saw Amy made it with pumpkin as well and I can’t wait to try that this fall!
It’s so yummy with pumpkin! I keep meaning to post that as a separate recipe but it’s an easy swap for the banana!
Amazing! I love that I can still have my banana bread without feeling guilty and knowing that it’s much healthier for me.
My daughter loved it…actually the entire family loved it… love all of your recipes..this one will be added in our weekly rotation… thank you !
I’m so glad!