This banana bread has no oil, no butter and no sugar. Ripe bananas and Medjool dates give it all its sweetness, and a spoonful of mayo replaces the butter, so the crumb stays soft and moist.
Walnuts add crunch and a few dark chocolate chips add a little indulgence. You’d never guess it’s the healthier version!
Healthy Date & Walnut Banana Bread
Ripe bananas and Medjool dates sweeten this soft, moist banana bread, with crunchy walnuts and a few dark chocolate chips. No oil, no butter, no sugar.
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas
- 7 Medjool dates, pitted
- ½ cup (about 115g) mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
- 2 eggs
- 125g plain flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 100g walnuts, roughly chopped
- A handful (about 50g) of dark chocolate chips
Method
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 170°C and line a loaf pan with baking paper.
- Soak the Dates: Cover the dates with hot water and leave for 10 minutes. Drain, then mash into a smooth paste.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients: Mash the bananas in a large bowl. Add the mayo, eggs and date paste, then whisk until smooth.
- Add the Dry Ingredients: Sift the flour with the salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add it to the wet mix and fold gently until just combined. Don’t overmix, or the loaf will be dense.
- Fold in the Extras: Stir in the walnuts and chocolate chips.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake for about 50 minutes. It’s done when a toothpick in the centre comes out clean and the top feels firm.
- Cool: Let it cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Enjoy!
Tips
- The riper the bananas, the better. Brown, spotty ones give the most sweetness.
- Toast the walnuts in a dry pan for 2–3 minutes first for a deeper, nuttier flavour.
- If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover it with foil for the last 15 minutes.
- No mayo? Use the same amount of Greek yogurt instead. Full-fat works best and keeps the loaf just as soft and moist.
Prefer a classic version? Try my Banana and Walnut Bread too.
Storage
Keep it in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or slice and freeze for up to 3 months.
Allergy information: Contains eggs, walnuts and gluten (wheat). Mayonnaise contains egg, Greek yogurt contains milk, and dark chocolate chips may contain milk. Always check the labels of the products you use.
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