Want gluten-free banana bread that is healthy, low in sugar and calories that still tastes amazing?
Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Let this gluten-free banana bread with applesauce recipe blow your mind.
Is Banana Bread Healthy?
It really seems like banana bread should always be healthy. I mean bananas are healthy and bread is usually pretty healthy too. But banana bread?
Totally yummy but usually not so healthy. Banana bread is often loaded with sugar and oil/butter. Bummer:(
But it doesn’t have to be…
How Can I Make Banana Bread Healthy?
I have been experimenting with this banana bread recipe and am so happy with how it turned out! Not only is it gluten free, but it’s also low in sugar, contains no oil or butter (thanks to my special secret ingredient) and has far less calories than other banana bread recipes.
The best part? It tastes just as delicious as the traditional version!
Healthy but still tastes sweet and delicious? How does that work?? Well, let me show you how this magic is done 🙂
Related recipe: Gluten Free Banana Cake: Healthier Version
1. Swap Applesauce for Butter
Did you know that 2 tablespoons of butter has 204 calories and 24 grams of fat? By simply replacing the butter, this recipe already gets a whole lot healthier.
The secret ingredient here is applesauce. Ditch the butter in favor of applesauce (21 calories) and save yourself 183 calories. You won’t even be able to tell the difference!
2. Cut the Sugar
The other big calorie culprit in banana bread is sugar. Recipes often call for 1 cup or more. Well, 1 cup of sugar is 774 calories. Since bananas are naturally sweet already, you don’t sacrifice taste at all if we cut down the sugar from 1 cup to 3 tablespoons.
3. Make it Gluten-Free
Okay, one last swap and our healthy banana bread recipe will be complete! To make this bread gluten free, it’s as easy as switching the flour. Use a cup for cup gluten free flour blend instead of wheat flour. I recommend King Arthur Measure For Measure Flour but other brands will work as well.
Alright, I think that’s everything. Let’s get baking!
How to Make Gluten-Free Banana Bread with Applesauce
The first step is gathering all the ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients
- 4 overripe bananas
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons applesauce
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1.5 cups gluten free “measure for measure” flour
Now that you have everything you’ll need, let’s get baking!
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease a 9″ x 5″ loaf pan. Set aside.
Then, mash the 4 overripe bananas in a large mixing bowl.
Mix vanilla, egg, sugars, applesauce, and cinnamon into the mixing bowl with the bananas. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, thoroughly combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
Slowly add the flour mixture into the banana mixture and stir until flour is completely incorporated.
*Tip – Gluten-free flour takes longer to absorb liquid. After thoroughly combining (a little extra stirring is helpful too), let the batter rest for 10 minutes to really soak up the liquid and soften.
Pour dough into the loaf pan and bake 35 to 40 minutes or until a knife or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the bread cool for at least 10 minutes and then slice and enjoy!
Healthy Gluten-Free Banana Bread
Healthy banana bread recipe that is gluten free, low in sugar, no oil or butter, and totally delicious!
Ingredients
- 4 overripe bananas
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons applesauce
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1.5 cups gluten free "measure for measure" flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a 9" x 5" loaf pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, mash the 4 overripe bananas.
- Mix in the vanilla, egg, sugars, applesauce, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, thoroughly combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
- Slowly add the flour mixture into the banana mixture and stir until flour is completely incorporated.
- Pour dough into the loaf pan and bake 35 to 40 minutes or until a knife or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the bread cool and then slice and enjoy!
The Wrap Up
I hope you love this healthy banana bread with applesauce as much as my family does!
And as always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Happy gluten-free munching! 🙂
Rebekah
