Healthy banana bread
Indulge in warm, freshly baked banana bread with rich, melted chocolate chips oozing from every slice. This healthier version is still perfectly moist and sweet, filled with the comforting flavours of vanilla, cinnamon, and a hint of maple syrup.
10 mins
50 mins
166 kcals
serves 4
Photo credit: Chris Terry
Healthier banana bread recipe
This wholesome banana bread is the perfect comfort food, offering all the indulgence you crave but with a healthier twist. It’s moist, hearty, and packed with rich, sweet flavours from the ripe bananas and maple syrup. Each bite is bursting with the warmth of vanilla, cinnamon, and melting chocolate chips, making it hard to believe it’s also nutritious. Made with wholemeal flour and yoghurt instead of butter, it’s a healthier treat that’s perfect for breakfast, a snack, or pudding. Plus, it’s a great way to use up overripe bananas and turn them into something delicious!
Variations and add-ins to try
One of the best things about banana bread is how versatile it is! While this healthier version with chocolate chips is already a delicious treat, you can easily customise it with different add-ins and flavour combinations to suit your taste or dietary needs. Here are a few ideas to inspire your next loaf:
Nuts
Add a handful of chopped nuts, like walnuts, pecans, or almonds, for a satisfying crunch that complements the soft, moist texture of the bread. Nuts not only add flavour but also bring extra nutrients like healthy fats and protein.
Dried fruit
For a naturally sweet twist, try adding dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, or chopped dates. These add a chewy texture and an extra hit of sweetness that pairs beautifully with the banana and cinnamon flavours.
Nut butter
Create a delicious swirl by adding spoonfuls of peanut butter, almond butter, or even tahini into the batter before baking. It adds richness and depth of flavour, plus a little extra protein.
Spices
While cinnamon is already a star in this recipe, you can experiment with other warming spices like nutmeg, cardamom, or ginger for a deeper, more complex flavour profile. A pinch of cloves can also add a subtle warmth.
Seeds
Add chia seeds, flaxseeds, or sunflower seeds to boost the fibre and nutrient content of your banana bread. They also bring a slight crunch, which contrasts nicely with the soft crumb.
Chocolate
Take the chocolate up a notch by adding white chocolate or dark chocolate chunks in addition to the chips. You could even drizzle melted chocolate over the top for an extra indulgent finish.
How healthy banana bread works on Slimming World?
This is definitely a treat if you are following Slimming World, but the good news is that it only works out at 6.5 syns a slice.
These are the ingredients which need to be synned:
Cooked banana: 4 syns per 100g (9 syns total)
Maple syrup: 2 syns per tablespoons (8 syns total)
Light soft brown sugar: 3 syns per tablespoon (6 syns total)
Baking powder: 1/2 syn per teaspoon (1 syn total)
Wholemeal flour: 4 syns per 25g (24 syns total)
Self-raising flour: 4.5 syns per 25g (16 syns total)
Chocolate chips: 6.5 syns per 25g (13 syns total)
Total syns for whole cake: 76
Divided into 12 slices: 6.5 syns per slice
Healthy banana bread
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 slices 1x
Description
A wholesome, healthier banana bread made with wholemeal flour, less sugar, and yoghurt instead of butter. Sweetened naturally with maple syrup and flavoured with vanilla, cinnamon, and chocolate chips.
Syns: 6.5 per slice
Ingredients
3 small ripe bananas (approx. 225g/8oz peeled weight)
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
4 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons light soft brown sugar
150g (5 1/2 oz) fat-free Greek yoghurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
150g (5 1/2oz) plain wholemeal flour (not wholemeal bread flour)
90g (3 1/4oz) white self-raising flour
50g (1 3/4oz) milk or dark chocolate chips
low calorie cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to to 180ºC/160ºC fan (350ºF), Gas Mark 4.
- In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas with a fork, then mix in the eggs, maple syrup and sugar. Stir in the yoghurt, vanilla, cinnamon, salt and baking powder.
- Stir in the flours with a wooden spoon to form a batter, then stir in the chocolate chips.
- Line a 900g (2lb) loaf tin with baking paper or a loaf tin liner and spray with low-calorie cooking spray. Spoon the batter into the tin and spread out evenly.
- Bake on the bottom shelf of the oven for 50 minutes. The loaf will rise (and the top may crack) and will be well browned on top. Insert a knife to make sure that it is cooked through: if the knife comes out clean, it is done; if it comes out covered in batter, you will need to bake it for longer.
- Allow to cool slightly and serve warm.
Notes
This cake is at its best warm but keeps well in an airtight container in a cool place for about 4 days (allow it to fully cool before transferring into a sealed container). One of our favourite ways to eat it in the days after baking is toasted and spread with peanut butter, almond butter or chocolate spread.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Cakes and Bakes
- Method: Easy
- Cuisine: British
a family favourite!