Heart Healthy Banana Bread

(5.0)
By Judy Capodanno
Published 2/7/2022
Dietitian Reviewed: Jane Schwartz, RDN, CLT
Approved for These Diets:
Heart Healthy | Diabetic | Vegetarian

This heart healthy banana bread recipe is a homemade and nutritious treat that you can make quickly and feel good about eating. We use whole wheat flour then reduce the fat and sugar to create a low sodium, low-calorie recipe for the best banana bread for your heart and your tastebuds. This is a diabetic recipe for a moist banana bread, too.

Total Time
90 minutes
Servings
14
Calories
171
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Why You’ll Love This Heart Healthy Banana Bread Recipe

Craving a quick heart healthy breakfast recipe that will fill you up? Look no further than this heart-healthy banana bread recipe. It’s a classic dessert that can also be enjoyed as a quick, healthy breakfast or nutritious healthy snack.  This recipe makes a low sodium, low fat banana bread that’s good for your heart healthy diet.

Not an experienced baker? That’s okay because this healthy banana bread recipe is incredibly easy to make and is perfect for the novice baker. All you need is one bowl and a few simple ingredients, and you’re on your way to the most delicious, moist healthy banana bread you’ve ever tasted.

  • Bananas are a great source of potassium, a mineral essential for heart health. They also contain fiber, which can help regulate cholesterol levels.
  • Whole wheat flour provides fiber and complex carbohydrates for sustained energy.
  • Fat-free sour cream has a creamy texture that helps to create a moist banana bread.
  • Unsalted butter provides calcium and other vitamins that are not found in vegetable oils.
  • Pecans and walnuts add crunch and extra nutrients to make this an even healthier banana bread.

This banana bread recipe is easy to make, but here are a few ways to make it even easier.

  • Read the entire recipe before you start making the banana bread. This ensures that there are no missed steps while preparing the banana bread.
  • Use room temperature ingredients, especially the butter, eggs and sour cream, to help create a smooth and creamy batter. If your ingredients are cold, they won’t blend together, which creates a lumpy batter and a dense banana bread.
  • Make sure you use very ripe bananas to help give your banana bread extra sweetness and banana flavor.
  • Carefully measure the whole wheat flour. Spoon the flour into a measuring cup and use the back of a knife to level it off. 
  • Do not over-mix. Mix the flour with the wet ingredients until it's just combined for a tender banana bread. 
  • Bake at the right temperature. Bake the bread at 350°F (175°C) until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Let the healthy banana bread cool completely before slicing to prevent it from crumbling.

Ready to make healthy banana bread but your bananas aren’t overly ripe? Don’t worry, we have an easy trick for quickly ripening your bananas. You can place the unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet and bake them at 300°F for 5 to 10 minutes until the bananas are soft and warm. The longer you bake them, the sweeter the bananas will be. Just be sure to let them cool completely before adding the mashed bananas to your batter! 

Ingredients

Recipe yields 14 servings

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How to Make Banana Bread

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly coat a 9- x 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. With a hand mixer, in a bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, and beat about 3 to 5 minutes, until light and fluffy.

  2. Step 2

    In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Add to the butter mixture and mix until just combined. Add vanilla, sour cream and bananas; mix to combine. Stir in nuts, if using. Pour into prepared pan.

  3. Step 3

    Bake about 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let rest in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then turn out onto rack to cool completely.

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size:
1/2 to 3/4-inch slice

171
Calories
6
g
Fat
34
mg
Cholesterol
245
mg
Sodium
29
g
Carbs
4
g
Sat. Fat
2
g
Fiber
3
g
Protein
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