Description
This Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread is a deliciously moist and nutritious twist on classic banana bread, enriched with cocoa powder and optional protein powder for added health benefits. Made with ripe bananas, nut butter, and natural sweeteners, it’s perfect for a guilt-free snack or breakfast treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 3 medium ripe bananas (about 12 oz/360 g total)
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup (60 g) nut butter (almond, peanut, cashew, or sunflower seed butter)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- ⅓ cup (70 g) granular sweetener (monk fruit or brown sugar)
- ⅙ tsp sea salt
- 1 ½ cup (150 g) oat flour or preferred flour
- ½ cup (50 g) cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
Add-ins
- ¼ cup (40 g) chocolate chips
Optional Protein Boost
- ½ cup (50 g) protein powder (replace ½ cup flour with protein powder for higher protein content; vegan or casein recommended)
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 20 cm (7.9 inches) loaf pan with parchment paper or grease it with oil to prevent sticking.
- Mash Bananas and Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, use a fork to mash the ripe bananas until completely smooth. Stir in the nut butter and eggs until fully combined.
- Add Sweetener, Vanilla, and Salt: Add your chosen granular sweetener (monk fruit or brown sugar), vanilla extract, and sea salt to the wet mixture. Whisk or stir vigorously for about two minutes until the mixture is even and smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Stir in the oat flour (or substitute half with protein powder if using), cocoa powder, and baking powder. Mix thoroughly to ensure all dry ingredients are well incorporated, then fold in the chocolate chips gently.
- Transfer and Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Optionally, sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool the Bread: Remove the banana bread from the oven and let it cool in the loaf pan for about 15 minutes to set. Then remove it from the pan and allow it to cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Protein powder substitution: Replace up to ½ cup of flour with protein powder to increase protein content. Use vegan protein or casein for best moisture. Avoid whey protein to prevent dryness. Recommended flavors include vanilla, chocolate, or unflavored.
- Nutritional values vary depending on sweetener: Using monk fruit keeps calories and carbs lower, while brown sugar or regular sugar increase them.
- Adding protein powder changes macros by reducing carbohydrates and increasing protein. Adjust nutrition calculations based on ingredients used.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approximately 60 g)
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
