The best healthy No Added Sugar Banana Bread—rich with banana flavor, made without refined sugar and using whole-food ingredients. Dairy-free and about 150 calories and 6 g of sugar per 3-ounce slice. Enjoy plain or add mix-ins: walnuts, pecans, raisins, or chocolate chips.
Table of Contents
Every kitchen should have a reliable healthy banana bread recipe. It’s perfect for using slightly bruised or overripe bananas or for clearing out frozen bananas tucked in the back of the freezer.
This version is an updated and simplified No Added Sugar Banana Bread I’ve made for years. I tweaked the leavening and streamlined a few steps to get a moist, flavorful loaf that’s the best iteration yet.
Healthy No Added Sugar Banana Bread is pictured here with walnuts, though chocolate chips are my usual guilty pleasure. Even with chocolate chips the loaf still contains far less added sugar than many traditional banana breads because the sweetness comes mostly from the bananas themselves.
Is banana bread without added sugar still sweet?
Yes. The secret is ripe to overly-ripe bananas. As bananas ripen, starches convert to sugars like fructose, making them much sweeter and ideal for baking. Use very ripe bananas for the best natural sweetness.
Ingredients for Healthy No Added Sugar Banana Bread
- Mashed overripe bananas: The browner the better. Fresh or frozen-and-thawed both work—see notes on frozen bananas below.
- Eggs: Large eggs work best. I haven’t tested vegan egg substitutes for this specific recipe.
- Oil: A neutral or light-flavored oil such as avocado oil or melted coconut oil.
- Vanilla or banana extract: Vanilla is classic; banana extract will intensify banana flavor if desired.
- Flour: White whole wheat flour is used here. A blend of 1 cup all-purpose + 3/4 cup whole wheat also works well.
- Leaveners: A combination of baking powder and baking soda gives the bread lift—this recipe uses mostly baking powder.
- Kosher salt: Table salt or sea salt work too; adjust table salt slightly because it’s finer.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Freeze peeled bananas in an airtight bag for up to several months. Thaw completely and bring to room temperature, keeping the liquid, then mash before mixing. Cold batter can prevent the loaf from baking through, so warm the thawed bananas to room temp before combining.
Popular options: chopped walnuts or pecans, raisins, or chocolate chips. Mix-ins can increase bake time slightly; chocolate chips add sugar but still keep the loaf lower in added sugar than many recipes.
Other delicious healthy treats you might like
- Healthy Air Fryer Banana Bread
- Healthy no added sugar zucchini banana bread
- Healthy no added sugar pumpkin banana bread
- Healthy chocolate chip banana muffins (made with lentils and sweetened mainly with bananas)
5 from 30 reviews
Healthy No Added Sugar Banana Bread
This banana bread is packed with banana flavor, contains no refined sugar, and is dairy-free. About 150 calories and roughly 6 g sugar per 3-ounce slice (without mix-ins).
- Prep Time:
15 minutes - Total Time:
1 hour 20 minutes - Makes:
12, 3-ounce slices
Ingredients
- 500 grams (~17.5 oz) peeled overripe bananas (about 2 1/2 cups mashed, from about 5–6 medium)
- 1/4 cup melted coconut or neutral-flavored oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla or banana extract
- 1 3/4 cups white whole wheat flour (or 1 cup all-purpose + 3/4 cup whole wheat)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup mix-ins such as chopped walnuts, pecans, raisins, or chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pans. Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or three mini loaf pans.
- Mix wet ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk mashed bananas, oil, eggs, and extract until smooth. If using a scale and blender, weigh bananas and puree with the wet ingredients for a silky batter.
- Add dry ingredients. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and any mix-ins until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Bake and cool. For a full loaf bake 60–75 minutes (mini loaves 35–40 minutes), or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool another 15–20 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Ingredient notes
- Bananas: Very ripe or overripe bananas give the best sweetness. If using frozen bananas, thaw completely and bring to room temperature, keeping the liquid to incorporate into the batter.
- Flour: White whole wheat yields a lighter texture; a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat is an acceptable substitute.
- Mix-ins: Adding nuts or chocolate chips can increase bake time; expect the loaf to be closer to the longer bake time if you add them.
Prep tips
- Mash bananas and refrigerate up to 2 days if needed.
- Measure dry ingredients ahead; you can combine the dry spices, leaveners, and salt in one bowl.
Kids in the kitchen
- Toddlers: Peel and mash bananas, help grease the pan, whisk wet ingredients, stir in dry ingredients.
- Little kids: Measure ingredients and pour batter into the pan.
- Big kids: Assist with all steps under supervision.
Nutrition notes
Nutrition values are for one 3-ounce slice made with melted coconut oil and without mix-ins: approx. 150 calories and 6 g sugar.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1, 3-ounce slice
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 105 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg
If you make this No Added Sugar Banana Bread, please leave a comment or rating—feedback helps others find the recipe and I enjoy hearing how it turns out for you.
Want more recipes with no added sugar?
Some other favorites to try: healthy pumpkin banana bread, zucchini banana bread with no added sugar, and no-bake peanut butter cookies (omit the Kiss).
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