I had shared my one-bowl banana bread which was very much loved by everyone. My daughter loves the banana bread too. But I used to feel guilty giving it all the time. So I was on a mission to make it healthier. Finally, I have nailed the recipe for the best heathy whole wheat banana bread. I have used whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour to make this bread healthier, similar to my Chocolate Zucchini Bread, Whole Wheat Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins and Healthy Carrot Muffins. And you know with little kids, you just cannot bake without adding some chocolate chips on top. I tried to balance that with adding some walnuts in this one, to keep the health quotient high.
Is banana bread healthy for you?
Well, in my book yes! Bananas are a good source of potassium and can help in fighting off anemia. They contain a good amount of soluble and non-soluble fibers. They loaded with vitamins and minerals like manganese, iron, magnesium, iron, folate, and B6. It also keeps your heart healthy and lowers blood pressure as well. And here I combine the bananas with whole wheat flour, avocado oil (in place of butter) and maple syrup (in place of sugar). That definitely makes this a no-guilt Healthy Banana Bread! Also check out the healthy Double Chocolate Banana Bread made with whole wheat flour.
How to make Banana Chocolate Chip Bread with whole wheat flour?
I always have three or four banana sitting in my fruit basket. So, whenever, my 6 year old daughter has a craving for sweet, I just go for this banana bread. To make this whole wheat banana bread, it is important that your bananas are ripe and have brown spots all over. The browner they are, the better it is as they will add to the extra flavor of the recipe. I also add walnuts to this recipe to make it more nutritious and to give a crunch to the otherwise moist and soft wheat banana bread. This is a very easy recipe that does not require an elaborate process or too many appliances. All you need is a large bowl to mix the ingredients and an oven to bake. The process of making this banana bread slightly differs from the regular version as it contains whole wheat flour and chopped walnuts. You can also substitute pecans for the walnuts in this recipe. So, let’s get cracking and baking:
You need to pre-heat the oven at 350°F (175°C). Also, grease a 9×5 loaf pan or use a parchment paper and cover the pan insides. Take a large bowl and add the peeled banana. Mash them well, but if you like them a little bit chunky, then just mash them coarsely. Add oil, maple syrup, eggs, vanilla extract, yogurt and mix well. Now add the salt and baking soda, and then the whole wheat flour. Fold it all gently with the wet ingredients. Do not overmix. At last you can add the chopped walnuts along with chocolate chips. I used mini chocolate chips. Save some to top in the baking pan.
Once the batter is well mixed, pour it into the prepared pan, spread it evenly, and slide it into the oven for baking. You can also sprinkle some walnuts or chips over the top for that extra flavor.
Bake the whole wheat banana bread for 45 minutes. Stick a toothpick inside the bread to check if it is done. If the toothpick comes out clean, your healthy banana bread is ready. If not, leave it in the oven for a few minutes and repeat the test once again.
Once it is ready, remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for a bit. Then take the banana bread out of the pan and place it on a wire rack to cool. Slice and enjoy it any time of the day!
Look at that texture. No one can tell this banana bread was made with whole wheat flour.
Tips to get the best whole wheat banana bread:
Make sure your bananas are ripe when making this recipe because brown bananas are sweeter than the green ones. You can mash the bananas well if you want a smooth and moist banana bread or you can leave them a bit chunky too. You can use agave syrup in place of maple syrup too. It is best to have all the ingredients be at room temperature before you start mixing. Once you have added the dry ingredients, do not mix too much. Just fold in the flour gently. I have used semi-sweet mini chocolate chips for this banana bread recipe, but you can use normal sized chocolate chips as well. To keep your banana bread moist, wrap it in a plastic wrap and store it your kitchen counter or refrigerator.
Oh…and I love to spread some peanut butter on a slice of banana bread. So good!
How can I store this wheat banana bread?
The best way is to keep Banana bread you are going to enjoy in 2-3 days is on the kitchen counter. Once the banana bread is cooled, cover it with a plastic cling wrap or in an airtight container. You can also store this wheat banana bread for up to 3 months in the freezer. Just wrap it in a plastic or freeze warp and keep it in a ziplock bag before freezing. Take it out of the freezer and let it come to room temperature and then enjoy a delicious slice. You can also warm it in the microwave for 10 seconds to get the fresh out of the oven taste! Hope you enjoy this delicious Banana Bread with chocolate chips!
