Published: Feb 26, 2019 · Modified: Apr 1, 2021 by Cassie

Low Sugar Banana Bread

Name: Low Sugar Banana Bread
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: Western
Ingredients: 3 very ripe bananas, mashed; 1/3 cup olive oil, I used a very mild flavour oil; 3 tbsp. rice malt syrup; ½ cup rolled oats; ¼ cup milk; 2 eggs; 1 ½ cups wholemeal flour; 2 teaspoon baking powder; 2 teaspoon cinnamon; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; Pinch of salt; Rolled Oats, lightly dust on top of bread; Banana, slice in halve & push into mixture before baking

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This easy and healthy low sugar banana bread is filled with good for you ingredients so you can enjoy a slice guilt-free. The perfect treat for those who are trying to avoid refined sugar. Simple to prepare and perfectly moist, this will be your favourite banana bread recipe.

I can't remember the last time I had a cafe-style slice of banana bread. Whilst I love sugar-filled baked treats, banana bread is the one thing I find that tastes better pared back on the sugar front. I prefer my healthier version any day.

This loaf is completely refined sugar-free, with just a little rice malt / brown rice syrup added to the batter.

This low sugar banana bread is the very best way to use up those overripe bananas sitting on the bench at the end of the week. It's a great size for sharing if you have company coming over and it freezes beautifully, which means you can portion slices out for lunchboxes.

I love a slice lightly toasted under the grill with lashings of butter spread on top. I've also been known to have a slice with some strawberry jam, which my husband tells me is most odd. I wonder if there's anyone else out there who has tried this?

How do you like to enjoy your banana bread? Let me know in the comments below!

INGREDIENTS

Here's what you need to make this Healthy Banana Bread...

Very Ripe Bananas: The darker and uglier, the better.
Olive Oil: Choose a very mild flavoured olive oil here or you can use coconut oil instead.
Rice Malt Syrup / Brown Rice Syrup: Or you can use honey or maple syrup instead.
Rolled Oats: Standard traditional rolled oats work best. Steel cut or quick oats are not suitable for this recipe.
Milk: Choose whichever milk you prefer. I've made this with cows milk, almond milk and soy milk and all worked well.
Wholemeal Flour: Can sub for white all purpose flour.
Eggs
Baking Powder, Cinnamon, Vanilla Extract and Salt.

Optional Topping - If you have an extra banana lying around, slice it in halve and push into the mixture prior to baking. It caramelises in the oven and adds lovely flavour to the bread.

What can you add to banana bread?

Banana bread is great on its own, but it also lends itself well to additions. Try adding ½ a cup of one of the following into the batter before baking for a different variation!

Chopped Walnuts
Chocolate Chips
Shredded Coconut
Nutella
Nut Butter

step by step images on how to make healthy banana bread

INSTRUCTIONS

First, pre-heat oven to 160C and line loaf pan with baking paper.

In a bowl combine rice malt syrup and olive oil and stir to combine (photo 1). Add in milk, eggs and bananas and combine (photo 2). Add remaining ingredients (except for 1 teaspoon of cinnamon) and mix until just combined (photo 3).

Pour mixture into a loaf pan and dust reserved teaspoon of cinnamon on top (photo 4).

Place in oven for 60 minutes or until cooked through. I start checking if it's done around the 50-minute mark. You want the loaf to be lightly browned and a skewer to come out clean.

Cool in tin for 5 minutes then remove and cool on a rack for another 10-15 minutes. Slice, serve and enjoy.

banana bread sitting on top of a cooling rack

WHY IS MY BANANA BREAD DENSE?

A common problem people experience when making banana bread in general is that it turns out too dense. Be sure to heed to the "mix until just combined" step in the instructions once you add the flour and you shouldn't have this problem.

An over-mixed batter will result in dense, rubbery banana bread, so go easy and stir until just combined.

STORING YOUR BANANA BREAD

Once cooled, store any leftover banana bread in an airtight container on the counter for a few days OR individually wrap slices in cling film and pop in an airtight container or freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.

The banana bread freezes really well and the individual slices are perfect for popping into lunchboxes or for when you need a late night sweet fix.

slices of healthy banana bread stacked on top of each other with the loaf sitting behind

MORE SCRUMPTIOUS SNACK RECIPES:

If you’ve tried this Low Sugar Banana Bread I’d love to hear how you enjoyed it! Pop a comment and a star rating below!

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