Whole Wheat Banana Nut Bread Recipe with No Brown Sugar

This Whole Wheat Banana Nut Bread recipe is the perfect way to use up ripe bananas, get healthy nuts into your diet, and not need your stretchy pants afterwards. 

Jump to:

• Great Banana Bread
• Simple Ingredients
• Instructions
• ​Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Recipe

For another easy breakfast idea, try my Quiche with Greek Yogurt Recipe.

Great Banana Bread

We pretty much always have a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook on our kitchen counter because everyone in Team Braddock likes them. If we don't have time to make smoothies in the morning, I will enjoy one with breakfast, although I'm particular about how I like my bananas. {I like them yellow with a hint of green meaning they are not super sweet yet and still firm. Anyone else?}

Unfortunately, our bananas pass their prime on a regular basis. It is not uncommon to see a pile of brown bananas lying under my latest purchase of a new bunch. It's hard to throw them out because it feels wasteful. I do enjoy frozen bananas for various things, but they seem to easily overtake my small freezer. So what does any good Southern homemaker person do with overripe bananas? Make our family's favorite banana bread!

Simple Ingredients

I've made a lot of banana bread through the years. Some of the most delicious banana bread recipes involved a lot of cream cheese, butter and/or Bis-Quick but were hurting in the healthy department. If I was going to have the freedom to make banana bread regularly, I needed a better solution that would provide some quality as well as deliciousness.

Many years ago, when I was co-developing a weight management program, my co-developer shared this recipe for Whole Wheat Banana Nut Bread. I have no idea where she got the recipe from, but it was unique, healthy and most importantly delicious! I've made some tweaks to the original recipe through the years and landed with my own spin that has become my go-to banana bread recipe. Here's what you'll need:

Dry Ingredients

• Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
• Ground Flax Seed
• Salt
• Baking Soda
• Walnuts

Wet Ingredients

• Avocado Oil
• Honey
• Vanilla Extract
• Eggs
• Mashed Bananas

Exact quantities can be found in the recipe card below.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325° F.
2. Prepare a 9x5 inch loaf pan by spraying with non-stick spray.
3. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer (or stand mixer) to beat oil and honey together on medium speed until well combined, about 1 minute. Add eggs and continue to mix on medium speed. Add in bananas and vanilla and mix on medium low speed until bananas are well incorporate. Turn off mixer.
4. To the bowl add in flour, flax seeds, baking soda and salt. Mix on low speed just until incorporated. Do not over mix. Using a spatula, fold in chopped nuts.
5. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
6. Bake time is 50-60 minutes or until a cake tester or toothpick test comes out almost clean when inserted in to the center of the loaf. (I think it's better to pull the bread out right before it's fully cooked.)
7. For best results, let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes. Then remove bread and cool on wire rack for ½ hour before slicing.

​Variations

This recipe can be made as banana muffins. Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 16-18 minutes. Makes about a dozen muffins.

Equipment

• Loaf Pan-To make a loaf of banana bread like this, I use a loaf pan like this one.
• Banana Masher- To mash bananas, you can use a fork and some elbow grease, or use one of these mashers.

Storage

Store this easy banana bread recipe in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days, then move to the fridge. Or store in fridge from the get go to help it last longer.

This easy banana bread has not only solved the "what do I do with these brown bananas" dilemma; it has solved the "how do I get my kids to eat walnuts" dilemma too! The boys are pretty good with almonds, but walnuts are starting to get the shaft, unfortunately. This simple banana bread recipe is a great way to keep introducing this super food in hopes that they will one day enjoy them on their own.

With whole grains, flax, natural sweeteners, and walnuts,  this version of banana bread of is a good-for-you choice you can make any day of the week.

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Recipe

The next time you need a quick bread recipe, I hope you'll remember this easy recipe. If you want some other fun ways to enjoy nuts, try my Hidden Honey Bars, Grilled Cantaloupe Salad,  Avocado Rubbed Kale Salad or Homemade Dark Chocolate Chunky Bar.