This Healthy Banana Bread with White beans is one yummy recipe. I posted this a while back and have since updated the recipe slightly (1 more banana and a wee bit more salt.) If you’re looking for a moist, filling and healthy alternative to “traditional” banana bread, you’ve gotta check this one out.
The recipe is based on one from this pretty cool cookbook: Spilling the Beans – Cooking and baking with beans and grains every day.
(I realize that “cool” is not usually a term to describe anything with beans but you know. I am a dietitian so beans are pretty fabulous in my world #ineedtogetoutmore 🙋♀️)
Fun fact: the cookbook itself was published back 2011 but I got it when my best friend moved to Malaysia (insert me sobbing like a toddler 😢) and she passed it on to me. Guess you don’t want to lug a bunch of extra weight when you’re moving halfway across the world so cookbooks didn’t make the cut.
A Healthy Banana Bread with White Beans is a perfect snack to prevent "hangryness"
And when I was flipping through the cookbook, deciding what to make, the banana bread really stood out. So do the Black Bean Brownies. Yum, right?
It kinda blows my mind when you look at the difference between store-bought banana bread and something like this Banana Bread with White Beans.
When you compare to a “traditional” banana bread (let’s say at a very popular coffee shop), you’re looking at a whole of NON-nutrition.
Per slice, the banana bread will set you back:
- 380 calories
- 17 grams of fat
- 29 grams of sugar
And it’s only providing you with 2 g of fibre and 5 g of protein 🙁
When you're looking for snacks to keep you fueled up and satisfied, look for some with healthy carbs and protein - this one has both!
And it kinda seems like well hey, it’s not a doughnut. It’s banana bread! It must be healthy. Apparently not 🙅♀️
But this Healthy Banana Bread with White Beans can be a part of your healthy lifestyle with its source of fibre, protein and antioxidants from the blueberries (or dark chocolate – depending on what you add in.) All for under 200 calories per slice.
Remember that when it comes to making changes to your lifestyle, it doesn’t matter how slowly go, just that you do not stop. (A very smart person said that. Confucius back in oh about 420 BC.)
I hope you love the Healthy Banana Bread with White with Beans!
~April
PS. Looking for more healthy banana bread-like recipes? Check out this recipe for my Best Ever Banana Chocolate Chips Muffins. Presumptuous title, yes. Deserving? Definitely.
Healthy Banana Bread with White Beans
Ingredients
- 2 large very ripe bananas
- 1 cup of canned white beans (cannellini beans) drained and rinsed
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1 tsp of vanilla
- 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 3/4 cup white flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup of blueberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and brush sides of an 8x4 inch loaf pan with oil or spray with non-stick spray.
- Add bananas, beans, sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth (chunks are ok!) Pour into a large bowl.
- Add the flours, baking soda and salt and stir to combine.
- Add the blueberries and stir to combine.
- Pour this mixture into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for about 55 minutes. It's done when the top is springy to the touch and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Sounds delicious. Can’t wait to try it 😊
I often put bananas that are overripe in my freezer for future use in a recipe just like this one!
Thanks Francine! I hope you like it. Me too-my freezer is full of those brown bananas 😁
I will try this, just use an egg substitute 🙂 thanks April
Awesome Gerarda! Hope you love it🙂
I only had spelled flour at home and no blueberries. I added half of a chopped banana to it and a few chopped walnuts and almonds. It’s in the oven now. 😋
Nice Nadine! Sounds like a yummy combo 🙂
It was. My 8 year old son ate 3 big slices. He said it’s sooo delicious. Next time I add frozen blueberries.
I baked on low for 1h10min and it was perfect. Thank you for such a great recipe that is so versatile.
That’s awesome! I wish my 7 year old would eat it lol You’re so welcome and thank you for letting me know the delicious variation.
I just made it! Delicious but my blueberries all sunk to the bottom….
Any idea how much fibre per slice?
Hi Leslie-Jo – so glad you liked it! Oh no! Sorry about that re: the blueberries 🙁
Maybe next time you could try tossing the blueberries with a very small amount of flour (~1 Tbsp) before adding them to the batter. The light coating of flour around the berries will absorb some of the fruit’s liquid, making them less likely to sink. Hopefully that will help!
Fibre is approx. 4g per slice. Thanks again for commenting and trying it out 🙂
This is a great recipe! I didn’t have any blueberries but I put in about a 1/3 cup of chopped walnuts which tasted great. I am glad I discovered this recipe because I have a weakness for baked goods such as muffins and quick breads, although I know they tend to be high in fat and sugar. I love the fact that it uses those white beans.
Also I also discovered that it freezes well ( just slice first); this is helpful for those of us who live alone.
Hey Cathy! Thanks so much for commenting! So glad you like the banana bread and I love that you added the walnuts in there. Also, super good to know it freezes well. Thanks again!