This low-calorie banana bread recipe is only 74 calories per slice. This bread is also a great low-fat alternative to traditional banana breads.
Banana bread is one of my favorites and this recipe is lower in calories than most. My biggest advice when making banana bread is to use well-ripened bananas because their sweetness and moisture affect the taste and texture of the bread. The riper the banana the better it will be for bread making. The banana should look like it’s almost rotten with brown spots because it will be sweeter and will work much better with this texture.
What is a banana?
As surprising as this may sound, bananas are considered berries. Bananas develop from a flower with a single ovary and have a soft skin, fleshy middle and small seeds. As a result, they meet the requirements of a berry and can be considered both a fruit and berry. A bunch of bananas is called a hand, and a single banana is a finger. Ecuador is the leading producer of bananas worldwide, followed by the Philippines.
Are bananas healthy?
Bananas are high in potassium, antioxidants and fiber. They can also be a good way to get magnesium and vitamins C and B6.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Lower in calories and fat than most banana breads
- Great for a quick breakfast or snack
- Perfect to meal prep and eat during the week
Ingredients
What you’ll need to make this recipe.
- Ripe bananas – Ripe bananas add to the sweetness of this bread
- Unsweetened applesauce
- Vanilla extract
- Sugar
- Salt
- Baking Powder
- Egg
- Skim milk
- Flour
How to make this recipe
1 – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray two mini-baking pans with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
2 – In a medium sized mixing bowl, add all the ingredients except the flour. Gently mix by hand until everything is mixed and the batter is smooth.
3 – Add in the flour and stir until combined.
4 – Divide the batter between the two baking pans. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
5 – Let the bread cool, then cut each loaf into 6 slices.
For a little more flavor to the bread you could also add in some chocolate chips.
How do I store banana bread?
Wrap banana bread in plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or place in an airtight container. The banana bread will last for about 1 to 2 days at normal room temperature, and up to about a week by refrigerating it.
Can I freeze banana bread?
Yes! Wrap banana bread tightly in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container. The banana bread will maintain best quality for about 2 to 3 months in the freezer.
Calories per serving (1 slice): 74
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Low-Calorie Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp skim milk
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Spray two mini-baking pans with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, add all ingredients except the flour. Gently mix by hand until everything is mixed and the batter is smooth.
- Add flour. Stir until combined.
- Divide batter between the two baking pans. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Let cool. Cut each loaf into 6 slices. Enjoy!
Notes
- Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Nutrition
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This banana bread looks delicious! I love that it’s low calorie too! ☺
Thanks, I hope you like.
Looks like a totally delish healthy banana bread, yum 😋
Thanks, it is! 🙂
This is the perfect banana bread recipe. It’s so moist and best of all SO healthy!
Thank you! 🙂
Thank you for sharing a healthier option to gift to friends and family this year. I also appreciate you discussing how to store it and how long it will keep.
Thanks, Sophie! 🙂
I too love Banana Bread and I enjoy learning new things like bananas are a berry?!! Mind blown with this new information and this tasty low calorie recipe!
Thank you, Beth. 🙂
Can I substitue a tbs of applesauce with greek yoghurt?
Hi, Natalie. Yes, you should easily be able to substitute a tablespoon of applesauce for Greek yogurt.
I can eat banana bread everyday, so a low carb option like this is a God send. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thanks, Anita!
I love a slice of banana bread with a coffee as an afternoon pick me up.
That does sound delicious. 🙂
Can someone tell me the size of the pans measurements
Hi Bonnie, I have a link under the recipe to the mini loaf pans I use.
Love this recipe. Wonderful flavor easy to make. Thank you for sharing.
I’m glad you enjoy, Jayne. 🙂
You just can’t beat a slice of banana bread – I love it! I am absolutely loving the fact that this is low calorie too!
Thanks, Bintu. 🙂
Your banana bread looks so soft. I do love banana bread, it’s a great way of using up those over ripe bananas. I hate wasting them.
I agree, perfect way to use up those overripe bananas.
Would love to have it every morning. The best part about this bread is that it is low in calories. Love the texture
Thanks, Alisha. 🙂
I love banana bread! This is a perfect low carb option with less guilt!
Thanks, Tisha. 🙂
Is it possible to cook it all in one bigger loaf pan instead of two smaller ones?
I haven’t tried to bake all in one pan, but you would likely have to double the baking time. I would check with a toothpick in the center to see if it’s cooked through after 40-50 minutes.
Hi, I would like to try this but only have a regular size bread pan. Can I make the whole recipe in that? If so how long should I bake it for? thanks
1
I haven’t tried to bake all in one larger pan, but you would likely need to double the baking time. I would check with a toothpick in the center to see if it’s cooked through after 40-50 minutes.
Hi there! Wondering if anyone has tried stevia or another sweetener other than sugar??
Hi Lauren! I’ve never used Stevia with this recipe, but I do use monk fruit sweetener often. It’s granulated and is just like using sugar, but with no calories.
Can u make into muffins
Hi Bonnie. I’ve never tried turning this recipe into muffins, but several others have successfully, so it should work out ok. 🙂
Hi can you use almond or coconut flour?
Hi Anjie, I haven’t tried this recipe using almond or coconut flour, but hopefully someone else has that can comment.
How many grams is 1/2 cup of sugar and 3/4 cup of all purpose flour?
Hi Mare, I believe a 1/2 cup sugar is equal to 64 grams and 3/4 cup sugar is equal to 96 grams.
I’m overwhelmed with how easy this was to make and how delicious! Easily my favorite new banana bread! I love that it under 100 calories too!
Since I only had a regular sized glass bread pan, I let it cook at 30 minutes then turned the oven off and let it sit in it for about 15 more minutes, and it came out wonderful!
Thanks so much for the review, Carly. I’m glad you enjoyed. 🙂
Hi! Can’t wait to make this. Wondering if anyone has made this with whole wheat flour?
Hi Arpita, I haven’t tried this recipe using whole wheat flour, but hopefully someone else has that can comment.
two questions can I use oat flour instead of all purpose? and I can I use stevia instead of normal sugar? and if I can How much of each?
Hi Hope! I’ve never used oat flour, but hopefully someone else has that can comment. I’ve never tried Stevia with this recipe either, but I do use monk fruit sweetener often. It’s granulated and is just like using sugar, but with no calories and is typically used in a 1:1 ratio.
You had me at low-calorie…and I’m always up for banana bread. What a simple recipe! No need to make it any other way.
Thanks, Traci! 🙂
This recipe is my favorite especially since it’s low calorie! I’m thinking of making it this weekend. I’m so excited!
Thanks, Beth! 🙂
First of all, I had no idea that bananas were considered berries! Second, at only 74 calories a slice, this looks like the perfect recipe!
Thanks, Leslie. 🙂
Apple sauce? What! Ok, now I have to try this recipe. My hubby and kiddo will love it.
Thanks, Maggie! I hope you enjoy. 🙂
I have been making a lot of banana bread recently, so this looks perfect for me! Bookmarked for later 🙂
Thanks, Cathleen! I hope you enjoy. 🙂
Hi, will this still rise if I use gf all purpose flour??
Hi Megan, I haven’t tried this recipe using gluten-free flour, but hopefully someone else has that can comment.
Instead of the skim milk! could I possibly use almond milk?
Hi Jamie, I haven’t made that substitution before, but I don’t see why it would be a problem. 🙂
Each slice is at least 120 calories.. Almost double than what’s stated.
3/4 cup flour = 339 calories approx
1/2 cup sugar = 386 calories approx
Thats 725 calories on just flour and sugar. Divided by 6 slices that’s 120 per slice without even taking into account the egg, applesauce etc
Hi Gina, the batter is divided up into two loaves at 6 slices each, so in the end there are 12 total slices, not 6.