If you love zucchini bread and love banana bread, why not combine the 2? I promise this is a melding of greatness you won't want to miss. This Healthier Zucchini Banana Bread needs to make it on our baking schedule soon!
Why Make This Zucchini Bread?
This is a quick bread you are going to love. I can really get behind a zucchini and banana combo. The banana bread is really good on its own, but add in that zucchini and it is a whole never level.
It is simple to make. One of the best things about quick bread is they are quick to make. It takes some time to bake, but really the hands-on part of it is minimal.
It is a healthier version of the classic. I used whole wheat flour in this. I will explain a little more about the health benefits of using whole wheat flour later.
Ingredients
- Whole wheat pastry flour- I highly recommend this lower protein flour. It produces such a delicious tender baked good.
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Butter
- Canola or other neutral oil
- Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- Brown sugar-you can also use granulated, coconut or even maple syrup if you prefer
- Egg
- Grated zucchini- squeeze to remove liquid
- Bananas
- Vanilla
How To Make The Zucchini Banana Bread
- Start by grating your zucchini. I like to do this first, after it sits for awhile, you will need to squeeze out the excess liquid.
- Next, mix your dry ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.
- Then in a medium-sized bowl, add your melted butter, oil, and brown sugar.
- Add in the egg and vanilla. Mix again, this time only to combine.
- Next add in your flour mixture. Mix to combine.
- Now, squeeze the zucchini to get rid of excess moisture. Add in the zucchini and mashed bananas.
- Mix to combine.
- Pour into the prepared loaf pan and into the oven.
- Bake for about 50-60 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the oven. Allow it to cool at least 5 minutes, then remove it from the pan.
- You can dig right in, if you like it warm, but I like mine to cool just slightly. I do this because it holds together better when it is cooled, but I also like the flavor better.
- Now, sit back and enjoy. You deserve it!
Notes For Making This Zucchini Banana Bread
It is really important to squeeze your zucchini before adding it to the bread. Zucchini has a lot of water in it and as this bakes, it leaks into the bread and can make it really heavy and mushy.
I like to squeeze it after I have grated and let it sit for a few minutes. The zucchini will release some of that moisture, making it easy to squeeze out.
Because this is a recipe that uses whole wheat flour, it is really important that you do not overbake or over mix.
Over mixing will make your bread tough, and no one wants that in a quick bread. To avoid this, make sure you only mix to combine.
Also, be careful not to overbake. Keep an eye on the bread and it will be awesome!
Last, make sure and use ripe bananas. The flavor is more intense, which is what you will need to get the best banana flavor.
Baking With Whole Wheat Flour
Many people have had bad experiences with whole wheat flour. Maybe you are one of them. Let me share a few things that will help you have amazing baked goods using whole wheat.
The first is just to be mindful that you are using the right kind of wheat for the right bake. What I mean by this is every wheat flour has different levels of protein, among other things, this really has an effect on how the bake will turn out.
For cakes, cookies, and quick bread like this, I love to use whole wheat pastry flour. It is a lower protein flour that will produce a much more tender bake.
Because it is lower in protein, you wouldn't use this for yeast bread, you would need something with higher protein.
Another thing to remember is not to over mix. This is always really important in quick bread, but even more important with whole wheat baked goods. They can go from perfect to tough if you aren't careful.
Over baking can also be an issue. There is a process called carry-over cooking that happens with all food you cook and bake.
What it is, is the residual heat in food will continue to cook it even after you remove it from the heat source. This is important to know with whole wheat baked goods, as whole wheat flour absorbs more moisture than regular flour.
So, if you pull out this loaf when it is perfectly baked, it will continue to bake even after it is removed, and become overbaked.
To solve this issue, I always like to pull my baked goods out a LITTLE early. They should be just slightly underbaked. Then after a few minutes of removing them, they are perfect!
FAQ Zucchini Banana Bread
You don't. The great thing about this recipe is you can use 100% all-purpose, or you can use 100%whole wheat. Or you can even do a mix of both like I am showing in the recipe.
I don't. There is so much nutrition in the peel, I love to leave it on. Just give it a good wash and you are good to go.
I like to store it in the fridge. Well, honestly, it hardly ever makes it more than a day, but when it does, I store it in the fridge. It holds well for at least 3 days.
You can. Make sure and wrap it well. It will hold in the freezer for at least a month.
Other Whole Wheat Baked Goods
- Pumpkin donuts with maple syrup
- Vegan Graham Crackers
- Layered Apple and Cinnamon Loaf
- Simple Pie Pops
- Multigrain Bread
- Healthier fruit Pizza
- Strawberry Sugar Cokie Bars
- Simple Carrot Cake Cookies
Healthier Zucchini Banana Bread
Ingredients
- ¾ cup whole wheat pastry flour You can also use an all purpose or gluten free if you prefer.
- ¾ cup all-purpose
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup melted butter
- ¼ cup canola or other neutral oil
- ¼ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- ⅔ cup brown sugar you can also use granulated, coconut or even maple syrup if you prefer
- 1 egg
- 1 cup grated zucchini squeeze to remove liquid
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Prep your loaf pan. I used an 8 ½ x 4 ½ inch pan. You can use a pan spray or brush it with butter.
- In a small bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In another larger bowl, add oil, butter, sugar. Mix them well, then add in the vanilla and egg. Mix to combine.
- Add in zucchini and mashed bananas. Mix to combine. Add in dry ingredients, at this point be careful not to overmix.
- Pour your batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool for about 5-10 minutes. Then carefully invert to remove it from the pan.
- I like to eat this hot, with plenty of butter, but it also really good cooled.
- Now, sit back and enjoy. You deserve it!
Betty H Murray says
This sounds great. Can't wait to try it.
admin says
They are so good. Let me know what you think! Miss you Betty!
Lauren says
This bread looks so tasty Amy! I am loving that pan that makes the little square portions. Where is it from?
admin says
Hi Lauren, sorry it took me so long to respond. Here is the link for the pans I used, I love them as use them ALL the time! https://www.amazon.com/Wilton-Brownie-Bar-Pan-12-Cavity/dp/B008KE7L2S/ref=sr_1_3?crid=OER6D9GVXXI7&keywords=square+brownie+pan&qid=1566000094&s=gateway&sprefix=square+brownie+%2Caps%2C379&sr=8-3
Lauren says
No worries, Thank you Amy!