Healthy Pumpkin Banana Bread
Moist quick bread with a tender crumb that's packed full of fruit and flavor. Healthy Pumpkin Banana Bread uses applesauce, bananas, and pumpkin in place of butter and has only ½ cup brown sugar in the whole recipe!
Can you even believe this is the very first pumpkin recipe I've put out this fall?
I can't.
I've been stockpiling pumpkin for at least 2 months, and at one point I had a million great ideas, but I didn't write them down. and then there were just soooo many gorgeous pumpkin recipes all over the internets that my ideas flew right out of my head.
It's a job hazard.
So this Healthy Pumpkin Banana Bread was actually Healthy Peach Banana Bread that I made for my friends at Food Fanatic.
But before we talk about delicious quick breads and things, can we just take a second to talk about The Walking Dead? I need to talk about it. Because that premiere on Sunday was so serious.
I was on the couch like a huge ball of stress with my phone in my hand, both afraid to be interrupted and totally eager for #TheWalkingDead live tweets.
I swear twitter is what keeps the networks in business, because without it who in their right mind would sit through all those commercials? Commercial breaks are for reading commentary from people 10000 X wittier than I could ever be.
Also I never ever watch anything when it actually airs. This show is a major exception. And last night Chad, who never actually has the patience to watch any series in the history of the world (he quit on me 3 episodes before the end of Breaking Bad, you guys), said to me last night, "I can't wait till Sunday!"
Yup. It's like that.
Okay back to the bread. THIS BREAD!!!
There's NO BUTTER. Only applesauce, bananas, and pumpkin puree. I added oats and used just ½ cup of brown sugar in the whole recipe. THAT MEANS that this bread clocks in at just under 90 calories a slice. It makes a perfect breakfast on-the-run or afternoon snack.
It's easy to make [I based it on my very first recipe I ever made by myself when I was a kid] and I looove it.
To make this Healthy Pumpkin Banana Bread you're going to...
... follow the recipe below EXACTLY, but you will swap the 1 medium peach for ¾ cup of canned pumpkin puree. And I definitely added ½ cup chopped walnuts.
You also might want to try this decidedly unhealthy but super delicious cranberry butter.
And then you are going to talk to me all about how much we loathe gum-chewing guy and how Carol has definitely redeemed herself, but also where is Beth???!!!
If you love a good fall quick bread, you'll also love...
Healthy Sweet Potato Crunch Bread
Hi! I made this last night and it is absolutely delicious! Super moist, nice crumb and flavorful. I added a dash of cinnamon, otherwise kept it the same! Thank you!
Cinnamon always makes things better. Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
Would love to make this today! But I only have 2 ripe bananas - would it be OK to make this with only the 2 instead of the 3 bananas, or would I have to add something to make up for the 1 less banana? Thank you!
Hi Janet! You can use a little more pumpkin or applesauce to replace the 3rd banana. Enjoy!
Loved this bread! The loaves came out super moist! I didn't peel the peach but it tastes like that didn't make any difference. I'll probably make this again for the holidays.
I know you say the cranberry butter is not healthy but some times I need a little sinful stuff in my life and I have a friend that is so crazy about cranberries. Please share this recipe with us. Thanks Heather. Have a good week--------------
Can I substitute the wheat flour for coconut flour? I don't want to use regular flour. I'd rather have something healthier. Advice?
Hey Karina! I admittedly have zero experience baking with coconut flour. When I substitute flours in recipes I usually start with half & half, see how it rises etc, and then adjust for more or less from there. You might want to either use your experience with coconut flour to judge or find a good tutorial on baking with alternative flours. It's a really forgiving recipe 🙂 I hope that helps!
Great recipe without guilt. I added 1 tsp ginger 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg and 1/2 tsp allspice. This gives your rexipe a more pumpkin pie flavour.
Great additions Deborah! Thank you so much for reading!
Any suggestions for substitutions for the peach?! They're not in season here and if you buy them they're hard as apples!
Hey Courtney! If you look at the notes in the post above the recipe you'll see that you can use pumpkin, applesauce, etc 🙂
I made this bread and used the leftover pumpkin purée and some apple cider to make pumpkin butter to spread on it. Highly recommend!!! Thanks
Ooohhh apple cider -- good call! Glad you enjoyed it Betsey!
I would like to try this pumpkin banana bread but I don't see the recipe. I just see the recipe for peach banana bread.
Hi Jessica! If you read the post it details that the peach and pumpkin are an even swap. I made the Peach bread for my friends at Food Fanatic and then later made the pumpkin bread for my readers here. You can swap out all kinds of things for that one measurement -- pumpkin, more banana, applesauce, mangoes & pineapples. Have fun with it! (Although the pumpkin is my favorite)
Tasty, not too sweet, soft, and dense....over all.... LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!! 🙂
So glad you enjoyed Lisa! Thank you!!
Has anyone tried making this vegan? With flax or chia eggs? Just wondering if it would still come out!
Hi Jenna! I haven't tried it but this bread doesn't rise a ton so I think substituting the eggs would probably work out fine. I suck at vegan baking, but my friend Ginny at Vegan in the Freezer might be able to better answer your question. If you try it let me know!
I did! It turned out delish!
awesome!
This bread!! It looks so moist and delicious! ALos love the simplicity of the ingredients. Can't wait to try it!
Thank you so much Tracy! Hope you'll try it!
Took this one into work for morning tea today - everyone loved it! I love that it was so dense and super moist, delicious!
Oh awesome! Thanks for the update John!
Oh Heather, this is probably way healthier than my go-to pumpkin bread recipe - I'll have to give it a try!
It's lighter AND still good -- I swear it! Thanks Beth!!
I love that you stockpiled pumpkin (total hero) and this bread looks amazing! We are still catching up on Walking Dead so I just have to avoid social media forever until we are caught up 🙂
Omg Amy catch up so we can talk about it. Puhleeeeeez!!!!