Fat Free Banana Bread


Fat free banana bread that does not taste fat-free.

banana breads

It is so soft and buttery.

I’m trying really hard not to say “moist” because I know everyone hates that word!

This bread actually wasn’t supposed to be fat-free. In fact, I was quite upset upon discovering—midway through preparing the recipe—only about a teaspoon’s worth of coconut oil lingered in my sad little jar. (Note to self: gather all ingredients before starting to cook a recipe. Will I ever learn?)

Since I’d already begun, I wasn’t going to put the recipe on hold; my heart stomach was set on banana bread! Option one was to use olive oil. However, I worried the oil’s strong flavor might affect the taste of my not-yet-tested banana bread recipe.

Option two was to make a Single-Serving Banana Bread.

But I really wanted a whole loaf. And I also wanted a new recipe so I could post about it, which is always more exciting than when I post about a recipe I’ve already published. Many lovely bloggers and readers assured me on twitter that fat-free would be fine. So I made a few changes and hoped for the best… I never imagined the results would be so good!

banana breads

For maximum enjoyment: Eat this for breakfast, while still in your pjs!

Fat Free Banana Bread

(Makes 10-12 slices)

  • 2 c spelt, white, or arrowhead mills gf flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 3/4 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/3 c milk of choice OR oil
  • 1 and 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup, agave, or honey (Or, here’s a Sugar-Free Version.)
  • 1 and 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
  • pinch uncut stevia OR 1 tbsp additional agave/maple syrup
  • 1 and 2/3 c tightly-packed, mashed banana (measured after mashing)
  • 1/3 cup berries of choice, or more banana (I actually used 1 full cup of sliced strawberries. The resulting bread was extremely gooey, but I loved it that way!)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine dry ingredients, and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine wet ingredients and mix into dry. (Mix by hand, and don’t overmix.) Pour into a greased loaf pan and cook for 35-50 minutes, depending on how gooey you want it. (Tip: If the top is cooked but the inside is still gooey, put tin foil over the top and continue to cook.) After removing from the oven, let cool for ten minutes before slicing. After the first day, this bread is best stored in the fridge. Or cut into slices and freeze for later.

Nutrition Information at a Glance:

  •  130 calories
  • 0 grams of fat
  • 0 mg cholesterol
  • Fiber depends on the flour you use

Add around 20 extra calories for the Polka-Dot Banana Bread.

fat free banana bread

banana bb

Question of the Day:
Do you ever lower the fat in a recipe or substitute applesauce for the oil?

I know many people are conscious of fat, so I try to offer lower-fat options whenever possible in my recipes. Yet, my own diet is actually pretty high in fat. I think “fat” has gotten a bad name. It sounds so negative, and society likens it to the devil. But, especially if you’re young and healthy, cutting out healthy fats (such as oils and nuts) can wreak havoc on your organs, skin, and hair.

As for this particular banana bread? It really does taste wonderful on its own. However, my slice didn’t stay fat-free for long. I painted that baby in a nice, thick coat of peanut butter. It was delicious!

Meet Katie

Chocolate Covered Katie is one of the top 25 food websites in America, and Katie has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, Fox, The Huffington Post, and ABC’s 5 O’clock News. Her favorite food is chocolate, and she believes in eating dessert every single day.

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287 Comments

  1. kaila@ healthy helper blog! says:

    I have been seriously craving some banana bread! This look delicious!!!

  2. Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says:

    This is a must try ASAP! …. I sub things allll the time! I’m not much of a rule follower 😉

  3. Faith @ For the Health of It says:

    I love the apple sauce sub trick – vegan baked goods can come up super dry and crumbly, and that’s one of my favorite ways to combat the dryness!

  4. Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather says:

    I’m a big fat lover too, but that wouldn’t keep me from trying a fat free home made banana bread. Way to improvise!

  5. Emma (Sweet Tooth Runner) says:

    Mmmm I LOVE banana bread, and I’m so glad you’ve posted a recipe for it!! I know a CCK banana bread will be be better than any other 🙂

    Haha I usually ADD fat to recipes! Peanut butter makes EVERYTHING better! 😀

  6. Anja says:

    Can’t wait to hear about the blind date either! And btw moist moist moist! Ha, I said it three times in a row. Hehe. I loooove that word because it describes the consistency in a perfect way. Have fun!

  7. Iris says:

    I often use applesauce in place of some of the fat in gluten-free baking because it helps gives recipes a moister crumb. Your bread looks beautiful!

  8. Ashley says:

    IM so glad to see a Banana recipe!! Not that I dont love pumpkin, but I need a little change. Your pics looks gorgeous as usual.

  9. Megan says:

    I used to be so scared of fat when I was more into my ED. Now, I love it! Also, cooking with oil works and tastes so much better than cooking spray! Some recipes I lower the fat in using applesauce or yogurt if the fat source is not very healthy. I have learned how essential fat is; the brain is primarily made of fat! Besides, no one can deny the health benefits of nuts, seeds, and other sources of mono-saturated fat. More peanut butter please!!!

  10. steph - vegfortworth says:

    I pretty much always sub applesauce for some or all of the oil. I just don’t need a lot of fat in my diet. It goes straight to my butt. 😛