Looking for a cozy, comforting bake? You can’t do much better than a homey banana bread. But at Taste of Home, we know there are a lot of variations out there—we’ve got dozens of banana bread recipes in our archives! So how do you choose the right bread for you? And how do you take this treat—which we’d happily eat for breakfast, snack or dessert—and make it suit your needs (or maybe make it a smidge healthier)?
Well, we compared our most popular banana bread recipe with a few healthier options: our healthier banana bread, vegan banana bread and gluten-free banana bread. Our Test Kitchen weighed in on the differences between these bread recipes in taste, flavor and nutrition.
Classic Banana Bread
We consider out best-ever banana bread recipe to be the gold standard of banana breads. It’s top-rated by our readers and has made plenty of appearances at our office potlucks. This bread is moist, filled with banana flavor (it’s the perfect way to use up ripe bananas) and it gets extra texture and flavor from toasted walnuts. With a whole cup of chopped walnuts in this recipe, you’re sure to get some crunch in each bite.
This is a pretty traditional banana bread recipe. It has bananas, sugar, oil, all-purpose flour and nuts. This recipe calls for buttermilk which makes the loaf even more tender. And if you don’t have buttermilk, it’s easy to make a substitute at home.
Healthier Banana Bread
If you’re looking for a banana bread that’s a bit lighter, this makeover version is for you. It uses half the sugar as our standard recipe and uses some applesauce in lieu of more oil to add moisture. You’ll also see that the recipe uses some wheat flour in addition to all-purpose. You’re saving a bit of fat in this recipe and getting a bit more fiber. In comparison to the best-ever banana bread, you’re saving about 90 calories per slice and gaining an additional gram of fiber and protein.
Our samplers in the Test Kitchen found this bread to be buttery and the most banana-forward of all our recipes. If you’re looking for nutty banana bread, you may want to stir more pecans into the batter here since this recipe just calls for them to be scattered on top (which looks very pretty). Just be sure to toast the nuts first for the most flavor.
Vegan Banana Bread
Vegan baking can be a challenge. Getting the right texture without traditional ingredients takes some finesse, but this banana bread manages it! Instead of eggs, our recipe calls for silken tofu. This ingredient adds tenderness and moisture to the recipe. And don’t be wary of using it in baking—it’s a cinch to use. Silken tofu as soft and blends easily into batters. Just be sure to use silken and not block tofu.
But let’s get real: What does the bread taste like? Our Test Kitchen samplers say that this vegan banana bread is on par with our classic best-ever banana bread (high praise!). This recipe is moist and tender, and it’s not too sweet. Instead, the banana and nuts really shine through.
Gluten-Free Banana Bread
You can also make your banana bread gluten-free by following this recipe which calls for a gluten-free flour blend. You can make your own blend of flours or use a pre-made mix, something like Cup4Cup gluten-free flour.
The result is a pale golden loaf packed with nuts and a more mild banana flavor. It’s not quite the cakey texture of traditional banana bread, but that’s typical for gluten-free baking. For GF folks, this is a great recipe and is highly rated by readers.
The Best Option for a Healthier Banana Bread
When it comes to making a healthier version of banana bread, it all depends on what you’re looking for. If you eat vegan, obviously the vegan recipe is the way to go. If you’re looking for the lightest option in terms of calories and fat, we suggest the healthier makeover banana bread.
But if you’re up for a little experimenting in the kitchen, we recommend making some swaps to Taste of Home’s best-ever banana bread recipe if you want to lighten it up but still get the impact of one of our best recipes. If you’re really craving banana bread, cut down the sugar in the recipe to one cup. You won’t miss it.
You could also swap some—but no more than half—of the flour for whole wheat flour. All-purpose flour is what gives the bread a light and tender texture, so don’t omit it completely. A loaf made with just wheat flour will be a bit dense and dry.
Additionally, you could replace half the oil with unsweetened applesauce. In fact, you can do this in most baking recipes.
How to Customize Your Banana Bread Even Further
Besides making healthy swaps in your go-to banana bread recipe, you can customize your banana bread with additional flavors. We’ve got plenty of options for how you can amp up banana bread. Adding toasted nuts adds texture, flavor and protein. Stirring in some shredded zucchini, like you would in this banana-zucchini bread, adds moisture and some vitamins like vitamin C.
If you’re interested more in flavor than the nutritionals (that’s absolutely fine—this is a treat after all), sprinkle in chocolate chips or some cocoa powder. You can even tip with coarse sugar for crunch.
Really, banana bread is such a flexible bake. You can make lots of alterations to your go-to recipe to create a new favorite.
Apple and Banana Bread
My children love to bake (and eat) all kinds of banana bread. They make this all by themselves, with just a little help from me to put it in the oven. —Kristin Metcalf, Charlton, Massachusetts
Banana Eggnog Bread
This time of year, one of my favorite snacks is warm banana bread with a glass of nog. I decided to combine the two, and was so happy with the resulting eggnog bread. —Kristin Stone, Litte Elm, Texas
Bananas Foster Bread
This moist, tender bread has all the flavors of New Orleans’ famous dessert. And the rum-flavored glaze on top’s amazing! —Christen Chalmers, Houston, Texas
Banana Nut Bread
This quick bread is a family favorite, so I always try to have ripe bananas on hand for this recipe. I'm sure your family will love this tasty, nutty bread as much as mine. —Susan Jones, La Grange Park, Illinois
Banana Pecan Loaf
We slice this banana bread so thick it is almost embarrassing—but we need fat slices to deliver ample portions of the Pineapple Spread. When beating the cream cheese for the spread, beat the cheese until it is as light and fluffy as whipped cream. —Lee Ann Miller, Millersburg, Ohio
Beernana Bread
Really, it's simple arithmetic…or something like that: Beer is good. Banana bread is good. Beernana bread is great! Even guys who don't know their way around the kitchen can pull this one off. —Steve Cayford, Dubuque, Iowa
Best Ever Banana Bread
Whenever I pass a display of bananas in the grocery store, I can almost smell the wonderful aroma of my best banana bread recipe. It really is that good! —Gert Kaiser, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Blueberry Banana Bread
Blueberries and bananas combine in these tender, golden loaves. Whether you enjoy a slice as a snack or for breakfast, this bread is so flavorful, you won't need butter. —Sandy Flick, Toledo, Ohio
Christmas Banana Bread
This bread is a pretty addition to the table during the holidays. Cherries, walnuts and chocolate chips give fast festive flair to the loaf of moist banana bread. —Phyllis Schmalz, Kansas City, Kansas
Coconut Banana Bread
White chocolate is the wonderfully different addition to this tropical-tasting bread. The moist slices are so scrumptious, they disappear as soon as I serve them.
Easy Banana Bread
I watch several youngsters each day while their parents are at work. They come running when I announce it's time to cook. This easy banana bread is one of their favorite treats to help bake and eat. —Sharon Ward, King Ferry, New York
Easy Banana Nut Bread
A yellow cake mix streamlines assembly of this moist golden bread. I searched a long while for a banana bread that was easy to make. This one takes no time at all, and makes two loaves. —Marie Davis, Pendleton, South Carolina
Elvis Banana Bread
As a toddler, my son loved bananas, so we always had them in the house. We didn't always eat them all before they were too ripe, so we experimented beyond basic banana bread. That’s how we came up with Elvis bread! —Liz Somppi, Greenfield, Wisconsin
Glazed Coconut-Banana Bread
Give your celebration a tropical flair with this exotic variation of banana bread. It’s quick to prepare, giving you plenty of time to focus on other holiday details. —Katherine Nelson, Centerville, Utah
Homemade Banana Bread
“I served this quick bread to a group of ladies I had over for lunch,“ writes Carole Lanthier from Courtice, Ontario, “and every one of them asked for the recipe! It was a big hit.“ Moist, tasty and studded with cherries and walnuts, this pretty loaf is easily doubled. TIP: This bread freezes well and also makes a lovely holiday or hostess gift.
Judy's Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
I received this chocolate chip banana recipe from my co-worker and dear friend, Judy, years ago. When she gave it to me she said, “You will never need another banana bread recipe.” She was almost right. I added more chocolate chips for the chocolate lovers in my family. — Debra Keiser, St. Cloud, Minnesota
Maple Nut Banana Bread
Banana bread rises to a whole new level when you add maple syrup, sour cream and pecans—and a cinnamon-spiced streusel. It’s a comforting, home-style treat for breakfast or any time of day.—David Dahlman, Chatsworth, California
Orange Banana Nut Bread
I like this recipe because the orange juice gives the nut bread such a bright flavor and also makes it moist. —Barbara Roethlisberger, Shepherd, Michigan
Pineapple Banana Bread
Our four kids like slices of this moist tropical-tasting banana bread for breakfast. I sometimes bake it in mini loaf pans, then freeze the loaves so we can enjoy a small portion at a time. —Mary Watkins, Chaska, Minnesota
Pumpkin Banana Bread
I came across this recipe in a local newspaper about 10 years ago, and I still make the bread on a regular basis. The recipe conveniently yields a number of mini loaves, making gift-giving easy. —Linda Wood, Roanoke, Virginia
Special Banana Nut Bread
This extra-special banana bread makes a wonderful gift for friends and neighbors. The recipe makes two loaves, so I can serve one and keep the other one in the freezer to use as a last-minute gift. —Beverly Sprague, Catonsville, Maryland
Walnut Banana Bread
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas I bake 200 loaves of bread.—Douglas Jennings, Ottawa, Kansas
Yuletide Banana Bread
Rich but relatively fuss-free, this is no ordinary banana loaf! I fill my quick bread with macadamia nuts, raisins and coconut to create a memorable treat. —Regina Albright, Southaven, Mississippi
Zucchini Banana Bread
I got this Zucchini Banana Bread recipe from a friend at work and now it's one of my favorites. It makes three small loaves, but they freeze very well. —Donna Hall, Wolfforth, TexasThe post We Tested 4 Banana Bread Recipes—Here’s What You Need to Know appeared first on Taste of Home.
source https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/we-tested-4-banana-bread-recipes/
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