Juicy, quick to make and simply delicious – banana bread is very popular. But what sounds so healthy can quickly become a calorie bomb, depending on how it is prepared. For this reason, we will tell you which ingredients and tips you can use to bake healthy banana bread.
Banana bread has become increasingly popular in recent years . The juicy cake was a must for every brunch or Sunday coffee. At the latest during the Corona pandemic, baking banana bread was a popular pastime during the lockdown.
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This is how your banana bread will be healthy
Although the combination of “bananas” and “bread” sounds extremely healthy, depending on the preparation and the choice of ingredients, banana bread is nothing more than a cake and not a light snack. But don’t worry – if you avoid these following ingredients, your delicious banana bread will be much healthier.
1. No added sugar
You can safely omit refined sugar from your banana bread. The sweetness in the bananas is enough, especially if you use ripe fruit. If you still like it sweeter, you can use honey, agave syrup or dates. However, you should be careful when sweetening, because the healthier alternatives are not entirely low in calories. A teaspoon of honey or agave nectar has about 30 calories. Alternatively, you can also grate a sweet apple and mix into the batter.
2. Do not use wheat flour
Instead of wheat flour, use high-fiber alternatives such as wholemeal, spelled or rye flour. You save calories if you use coconut flour or almond flour. If you even want to avoid flour altogether, you can use oatmeal , which is rich in healthy minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium and is high in fiber and protein.
More on this: These 12 low-carb flours are suitable for baking >>
3. Don’t use too much butter
Butter ensures a soft, juicy consistency and a full-bodied taste. However, butter is anything but healthy as it consists almost entirely of saturated fat, which has a negative effect on our cholesterol levels. If you want to avoid butter or eat vegan, you can use healthier alternatives such as coconut oil or replace some of the butter with sugar-free applesauce or low-fat quark.
4. Don’t give up nuts
Hazelnuts, walnuts or pecans provide the extra bite in banana bread. The small powerhouses are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fiber. They give us energy and ensure that we get full faster from banana bread. However, you should not add too many nuts to the dough due to their high calorie and fat content. About 50 grams is enough.
5. Add berries
Healthy berries like blueberries , raspberries or currants give your banana bread an extra fruity and sweet touch. The berries not only provide you with vitamins and minerals, but also with secondary plant substances that have an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect and are therefore particularly beneficial to your health.
