This Banana Bread with Honey is a delicious way to cut excess sugar without sacrificing flavor! It’s so easy to make and a great way to use up ripe bananas. And the honey makes for the sweetest, moistest banana bread you’ll ever taste. Serve it for everything from a simple breakfast to a sublime dessert.
Why I Love This Healthy Banana Bread Recipe
My boys love banana bread, and so do I. Sometimes we just sit down together and end up eating almost an entire loaf. But as a mom I’m concerned about the amount of sugar in most banana bread recipes. That’s why I decided to try a more natural sweetener like honey.
The results are amazing! This delicious banana bread is so much moister and tastes even more amazing than regular banana bread. Something I didn’t think was possible. And apparently my boys agree, because each loaf gets demolished almost instantly!
This is going to be your new "classic banana bread recipe". Serve it for an easy breakfast or as a great afternoon snack. It also makes a delicious dessert option!
- Sugar is in everything! It’s so nice to make a breakfast bread once in a while that doesn’t have granulated or brown sugar.
- This delicious recipe is easy peasy to make.
- Each loaf gets demolished pretty much instantly.
- Perfect for breakfast or snacks or any time of day or night.
- Easy way to use up overripe bananas.
Recipe Ingredients for Honey Banana Bread
This simple recipe use fresh ingredients for the best banana bread and most amazing flavor.
Butter - Salted or unsalted and slightly soft. For a healthier bread, see butter substitution options below.
Honey - Replace a portion with maple syrup or agave nectar if desired.
Eggs - Take these out first while you gather the rest of the ingredients.
Vanilla extract - Make sure it’s in-date for the best flavor.
All-purpose flour - Use your favorite gluten-free flour for a GF recipe.
Baking soda and baking powder - Use fresh for best rise results.
Salt - Any variety.
Bananas - Ripe and soft enough to be mashed.
How to Make Banana Bread with Honey
Make this delicious banana bread recipe in just a few simple steps.
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 350° F. Coat a 9×5 loaf pan with cooking spray and set the prepared pan aside.
Step 2
In a large bowl, mash 3 bananas. Add the butter, honey, eggs and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Mix well using a wooden spoon.
Step 3
In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and mix well.
Gradually add the mixed dry ingredients to the wet ingredients bowl until combined.
Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan and use a rubber spatula to make even. Top with 1 banana, sliced in half lengthwise (optional).
Step 4
Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Allow to cool on a wire rack before slicing.
How to Prep Honey Banana Bread Ahead of Time
- The best way to prep ahead is to make the banana bread and store until ready to serve. Reheat if you want to serve it warm.
OR - You can make the batter, refrigerate it, and bake the bread later (let the cold batter sit at room temp for 20 minutes first).
Banana Bread Add Ins
Use your favorite additional mix-ins to zhuzh up this banana bread even more!
- Chocolate chips or peanut butter chips
- Chopped walnuts
- Fresh or dried fruits like strawberries or blueberries
- More banana slices
Banana Bread Toppings
- Brown Sugar Crumb Topping
- Streusel Topping
- Caramel Sauce Drizzle (I like to do this in a zig-zag pattern)
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Fresh Fruit and Whipped Cream
Substitutes for Butter in Baking
You can use a 1:1 ratio of olive oil or refined coconut oil to sub for butter in many baking recipes, You can also use Greek yogurt, applesauce, pumpkin puree, margarine or any type of nut butter.
What Does Honey Do In Baking
Honey is a great natural sweetener and alternative to refined sugar with better health benefits. Plus, honey keeps baked goods moist and fresher longer. Honey will also add a deeper flavor and color than regular white sugar.
If you are subbing honey for sugar in a baking recipe you will want to decrease the amount of other liquid ingredients called for in the recipe
Recipe Notes & Tips
- You can sub almond extract for the vanilla flavoring in a 1:1 ratio. You can also use a little banana extract for even bigger banana flavor.
- Use Greek yogurt, applesauce, pumpkin puree, margarine or any type of nut butter to sub for the butter in the recipe.
- Use your favorite add-ins like chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or extra banana slices or other fresh fruit.
- You can use flax eggs instead of regular eggs.
- Substitute almond flour or oat flour for a gluten free version.
What To Do With Banana Bread
Eat thick slices solo with butter or peanut butter, turn it into a sweet sandwich bread, make irresistible banana bread French toast.
You can also turn this into a dessert with ice cream and chocolate sauce or some fresh berries and whipped cream.
How to Store Leftover Banana Bread
If your family is anything like mine, this isn’t something you’ll need to worry about.
Store leftover banana bread in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature or 1 week in the refrigerator.
You can also freeze banana bread for up to 1 year! I like to slice the loaf and place a piece of parchment paper between each before wrapping in plastic wrap and placing in a freezer safe bag. Allow frozen banana bread to thaw at room temperature, or reheat the slices in the toaster.
What To Do With Ripe Bananas Besides Bread
Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
Banana Blueberry Overnight Oats
Applesauce Banana Pancakes
Banana Peanut Butter Breakfast Cookies
Banana Bread With Honey Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 3/4 cup honey
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 bananas ripe, mashed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and coat a 9×5 pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mash 3 bananas using fork tines. Add the butter, honey, eggs and vanilla extract. Mix well using a wooden spoon.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and mix well. Gradually add to the butter-sugar bowl until combined. Pour into the prepared pan and use a rubber spatula to make even. Top with 1 banana, sliced in half lengthwise (optional).
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Notes
- You can sub almond extract for the vanilla flavoring in a 1:1 ratio. You can also use a little banana extract for even bigger banana flavor.
- Use Greek yogurt, applesauce, pumpkin puree, margarine or any type of nut butter to sub for the butter in the recipe.
- Use your favorite add-ins like chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or extra banana slices or other fresh fruit.
- You can use flax eggs instead of regular eggs.
- Substitute almond flour or oat flour for a gluten free version.
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