This banana bread recipe puts a unique twist on traditional banana bread – it features applesauce and yogurt! The applesauce adds extra moisture and is used as a replacement for oil, cutting fat and calories. The addition of Greek yogurt also adds moisture to the bread while helping it rise and creating that old-fashioned banana bread flavor.
If you have over-ripe bananas on the counter or stashed in the freezer, you were meant to bake a loaf of banana bread! Use the over-ripe bananas to create Banana Bread Recipe For Kids, Healthy Banana Muffins or this recipe below.
Banana bread is always best enjoyed fresh from the oven, but can easily be frozen in individual ziplock bags for grab-and-go snacks or packed for lunch. A slice of frozen banana bread makes for the ultimate ice pack in your child’s lunchbox.
Gather the equipment and ingredients to get started then follow the simple instructions.
Equipment
- 1 large loaf pan or 2 small loaf pans
- medium mixing bowl
- large mixing bowl
- small bowl
- fork
- stir spoon
- measuring cups and spoons
- oven mitts
- nonstick cooking spray
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 medium overripe bananas, mashed
How To Make
Follow the step-by-step instructions to make banana bread with yogurt and applesauce, checking out our favorite mix-ins to add to this banana bread recipe before baking!
Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray the loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine wet ingredients
Combine the Greek yogurt, brown sugar, granulated sugar, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl. Then, set-aside.
Combine the dry ingredients
In a medium-sized bowl combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.
Stir the wet and dry ingredients together, then add banana
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until they just start to come together. Add the mashed banana and gently stir.
This is the time to add any of your favorite banana bread mix-ins. Chocolate chips, shredded coconut, dried cherries, raisins, chopped apricots, walnuts or pecans are all great options to stir into the batter with the mashed banana.
Bake
Bake for 10 minutes at 400°F then turn the oven down to 350°F and continue cooking for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
The initial high baking temperature helps the bread to rise while creating the crust. Lowering the temperature then bakes the inside without burning the top creating a moist inside and crunchy outside.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Greek yogurt can be swapped for whole, 2% or nonfat yogurt or 1 cup sour cream if desired.
Banana bread will be dense if the batter has been over mixed. Stir the ingredients until just mixed then pour straight into the loaf pan. If your kiddos are helping in the kitchen, give them a specific number to stir as a kid-friendly way to prevent over stirring.
Store in the fridge wrapped in foil or plastic wrap and placed in a ziplock bag for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Turn into muffins by pouring the batter into a muffin tin. Then, bake at 400°F for 8 minutes, turning down to 350°F and baking for an additional 7 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean.
Healthy Banana Recipes
- Air Fryer Banana Chips
- Easy S’mores Banana Boats
- Spinach Muffins with Banana and Blueberries
- Banana Zucchini Bread
- Healthy Banana Muffins
- Banana Date Smoothie
- Peanut Butter Overnight Oatmeal
If you enjoyed these recipes make sure to leave a comment and a star rating below! Then follow me on social media and tag #createkidsclub if you make the recipe. I love seeing what you come up with!
Banana Bread with Applesauce and Yogurt
Equipment
- 9 x 5 inch loaf pan or 2 small loaf pans
- medium mixing bowl
- large mixing bowl
- small bowl
- fork
- stir spoon
- measuring cups and spoons
- oven mitts
- nonstick cooking spray
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 medium overripe bananas, mashed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray the loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Combine wet ingredients. Combine the yogurt, brown sugar, granulated sugar, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl.
- Combine the dry ingredients. In a medium-sized bowl combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Stir the wet and dry ingredients together, then add banana. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until they just start to come together. Add the mashed banana and gently stir. Do not over stir or the bread will become dense.
- Bake. Bake for 10 minutes at 400°F then turn the oven down to 350°F and continue cooking for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
Notes
Dairy-Free
Make dairy-free by choosing a dairy-free yogurt.Muffins
Turn into muffins by pouring the batter into a muffin tin. Then, bake at 400°F for 8 minutes, turning down to 350°F and baking for an additional 7 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean.Nutrition
Delicious Simple Family Recipes
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May says
The best!
DD says
Delicious recipe. Produced a lot of batter! I overloaded my loaf pan and made a bit of a mess in my oven so a suggestion would be to additionally make some muffins with the extra instead of keeping your fingers crossed that it won’t spill over.
Jodi Danen, RDN says
Hi Diana! Thanks for the feedback. I updated the post to specify using a large loaf pan or two small pans. My recipe turned out great in the pan I show in the post, but it must be larger than the one you used. Thanks so much!
DD says
AMAZING!!!! I’m making this recipe again, and noticed the update in your instructions. Thanks so much!
Jodi Danen, RDN says
I hope the updates were useful and I’m thrilled to hear you enjoy the recipe! 🙂
Rachel Lynn says
Suggestion: Give the measurements of the loaf pans you’ve mentioned, i.e. 9 in x 4 in.
Jodi Danen, RDN says
I added the measurement, thanks!
Annie B. says
This looks wonderful! I am planning to bake it with 2 and 3 year old children. Has anyone tried this recipe with no eggs and doubling the applesauce? Thank you for the recipe!