Whip up some delicious loaves of whole wheat banana bread flavored with brown sugar and the goodness of whole grains. This recipe could easily become your new favorite way to use ripe bananas.
These whole wheat banana bread mini loaves are every bit as moist and flavorful as you would think. They are easy to make and are perfect as an easy breakfast or snack.
This banana bread is a wonderful way to use up overripe bananas. Or a perfect excuse to buy extra bananas just for baking.
So whether you are looking to increase your whole grain intake, or you are just wanting to make something delicious, you are in the right place. This whole wheat banana bread recipe is sure to please!
Maida Heatter’s Banana Bread
This came from Maida Heatter’s Cakes book. I spent a year baking a recipe a month from her book back in 2016.
Over that year, I really came to trust her as she gave so much detail and ever single bake was fabulous. So, I knew her whole wheat banana bread recipe was going to be delicious.
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I love using whole wheat flour where I can and the bit of nutty flavor it gives along with the brown sugar really made this loaf a delight. Instead of baking one 9″ loaf, I baked three mini loafs.
Then I sliced them into nice thick slices and packed them up for a camping trip. They were a perfect snack after a long day hiking, canoeing and playing in the creek.
Maida suggests that this loaf tastes even better if you wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight. She also suggests toasting it under a broiler.
I just sliced it up once it was cooled and brought it camping with us. Not a single person complained about it just the way it was!
Can I Use Frozen Bananas?
Yes! If you keep a bag of frozen bananas in the freezer, this is the perfect recipe to use them in. Just pull them out and let them defrost in your mixing bowl.
And remember, the riper the banana, the better. The super spotty brown ones that are to soft to eat as a plain banana work best.
Possible Mix-ins
We like this banana bread just the way the recipe is written. However, you can make it your own or try adding some of the following:
- chopped pecans or walnuts
- chocolate chips
- more spices like cinnamon, allspice, ginger, or cardamom
Whole Wheat Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 dash grated nutmeg
- ½ cup butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 3 ripe bananas mashed
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9-inch loaf pan (or 3 mini loaf pans).
- In a small bowl, stir together the 1 cup whole wheat flour, ½ cup all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ¾ teaspoon salt and 1 dash grated nutmeg.
- In your mixer, cream ½ cup butter. Blend in the ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 large egg and ¾ cup light brown sugar. Beat well.
- Mix together ¼ cup buttermilk and 3 ripe bananas in a small bowl.
- Alternate adding the flour mixture and banana mixture until everything is incorporated. Stir only as much as you need to in order to get it all mixed in.
- Pour into prepared pan and bake for 50-55 minutes (or 40-45 for the mini loaves) or until it tests done when a toothpick is inserted.
- Cool in the pan for about 20 minutes and then turn out and cool completely on a wire rack.
Notes
- You can use soured milk in place of the buttermilk if you would like. Just add ½ teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar to ¼ cup of milk and let sit for a few minutes before using.
- If you are going to eat the banana bread within 4-5 days, you can keep it in an airtight container or plastic bag at room temperature. For longer storage, wrap well in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.
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Super-good! Moist, flavorful, baked in no time! This is my new favorite banana bread recipe and I will be recommending it to friends.
Thanks!
I'm woefully behind at getting my most youthful into cooking freely. Not surprisingly – Smarty is exceptionally moving!
Good idea on finishing up my whole wheat flour… now gotta find me some bananas!
It's perfect! I can't wait to bake another loaf!
I'm going to have to experiment with my banana bread and try it with whole wheat. Plus, it makes the "bread" a bit healthier too! I might be having chocolate cravings, but now I'm also thinking bananas. I may just be hungry 😉
I love trying variations of banana bread, this one was really good. Not too sweet and it had a nice warm flavor from the brown sugar and whole wheat. I'll definitely be making it again!
Beautiful, Carlee! I wouldn't even mind the whole wheat in this! 🙂
Thank you! It really is very nice in the banana bread, the flavor and texture were great!
Wow…this sounds so delicious!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thank you!
I can never resist banana bread, and yours looks amazing!
I love trying all kinds of banana bread too, this one is definitely worth making! Thanks, Courtney!
Your bread turned out really nice. I love a good banana bread. I am so excited for the next cookbook!
Thank you! It really did turn out deliciously. I can't wait either, I already baked one cake and it was amazing!
Another wonderful recipe to use up ripe bananas…thank you! Sounds like the ideal snack to take camping.
It was a perfect camping snack. Thanks!