This banana bread recipe is a lighter version that uses applesauce in replace of oil or butter. Perfect for anyone who may be watching their calorie or fat intake. The applesauce keeps this banana bread sweet, moist and delicious.

Banana bread with applesauce - no oil or butter!

You won’t even notice there’s no oil or butter in this banana bread recipe. It comes out sweet and moist with the sticky sweet banana bread top that everyone loves. The secret is applesauce which can be substituted for oil in baked recipes. The ratio for substitution is 1:1. For example, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of oil, you can substitute it for 1 cup of applesauce.

You’ll save so many calories and fat!

1/2 cup of vegetable oil is 964 calories and 109g of fat.
1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce is only 51 calories and 0.1 grams of fat.

Boost the nutrition of your banana bread even more with flax seeds, walnuts and apple sauce

Flax seeds:

Packed with heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
High in fiber and protein.
Good source of vitamins and minerals such as thiamine, copper, molybdenum, magnesium and phosphorus.

Walnuts:

Contains vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and folate.
Full of healthy polyunsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids.
Can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and decrease the risk of getting cancer.

Apple sauce:

Great substitute for oil if you are watching your fat or calorie intake.
Contains phytochemicals which are antioxidants that may reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
Full of soluble fiber that promotes good bacteria in the gut and digestive health.

Best part is, no one will even notice you used applesauce!

Banana bread with applesauce – no oil or butter!

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1

Course Breakfast

Servings 12 slices

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup flax seed meal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of nutmeg
3 ripe bananas about 1 and 1/4 cup mashed
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup apple sauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup walnuts chopped

Instructions

Preheat oven to 385 °F or 196 °C.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, flax seed meal, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup flax seed meal, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, Pinch of nutmeg
In another large bowl, mash bananas. Then whisk together brown sugar, eggs, apple sauce and vanilla extract.
3 ripe bananas, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup apple sauce, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently fold to combine. Add walnuts and fold just enough to mix them in.
1 cup walnuts
Distribute batter into an 8 x 4 inch loaf pan.
Bake for 45 to 55 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool before slicing.