Protein Banana Nut Bread

Turn brown bananas into protein banana nut bread for a tasty way to get more protein! Moist, tender, and nutty, you’ll want to sneak a second slice.

We always end up with brown bananas. One week, everyone likes bananas, and the next week, they all sit on the counter untouched.

First, we turned them into Caramelized Banana Bread. Then we added chocolate for Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread.

Now, we’re bumping up the protein with this yummy protein banana nut bread recipe.

PROTEIN BANANA NUT BREAD

Why make protein powder banana bread?

• Protein! If you’ve realized you need more protein in your meals, recipes specifically formulated to boost the protein are a great choice.
• A new take on a classic. If you’re bored with your standard banana bread recipe, try this one instead!
• Way to use up overripe bananas. Banana bread is always a favorite.
• Macro-friendly. This protein banana bread has way less carbs and fat than traditional banana bread, making it easy to enjoy a slice and still meet your nutrition goals.
• Yummy! And protein banana nut bread is the perfect combination of sweet bananas and nutty flavor.

If you’re looking to eat a little extra protein, but you still want to enjoy your baked goods, this recipe of banana nut bread is for you!

BANANA PROTEIN LOAF INGREDIENTS

We’re using pantry staples and typical baking ingredients that you probably already have to make this easy banana nut bread recipe.

• Ripe Bananas. Of course! The riper your bananas are, the sweeter your finished banana protein loaf will taste.
• Egg. One large egg helps hold everything together. A flax egg would probably work here as well.
• Greek Yogurt. Plain or vanilla Greek yogurt adds moisture, tang, and protein. I used Oikos fat-free vanilla yogurt.
• Vanilla Extract. Vanilla helps add depth to the flavor. Here’s how to make your own.
• Oat Flour. Use rolled oats or quick oats to make oat flour, or use ready-made oat flour from the store. Oat flour contains more protein than wheat flour.
• All-Purpose Flour. An equal amount of oat flour and all-purpose flour keeps this protein banana bread from turning out too dense.
• Protein Powder. Plain or vanilla protein powder works best here. I like this one.
• Baking Soda + Baking Powder. We’re using two leavening agents here to keep this protein banana nut bread light and fluffy. Baking soda reacts with the bananas, and baking powder activates with liquid and heat. Both keep baked goods tender and help with the rise.
• Salt. A bit of salt added to baked goods helps bring out the sweetness.
• Cinnamon. Cinnamon also tricks your taste buds into thinking something is sweeter than it is without adding sugar.
• Nuts. Chopped walnuts or pecans make the perfect crunchy topping for the banana nut bread recipe. You can fold them into the batter if you prefer.

HOW TO MAKE HIGH PROTEIN BANANA BREAD

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray a 4”x8” loaf pan with nonstick spray or line with parchment paper.

Step 2. In a large mixing bowl, mash banana bits until they’re nearly a puree (or use a stand mixer with the whisk attachment). Add the remaining wet ingredients – egg, yogurt, and vanilla extract – and stir well.

Step 3. If you’re using rolled oats or instant oats, measure the oats into a blender and process until they resemble a fine flour. Add to the wet ingredients.

Step 4. Add the remaining dry ingredients – all-purpose flour, whey protein powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon – and stir JUST until combined.

Step 5. Pour the batter into the loaf pan and top with the chopped nuts, pressing them gently into the batter.

Step 6. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes for a warm slice or room temperature for snacks later on.

Store leftover protein banana nut bread in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. For longer storage, cut into individual slices and wrap each piece in plastic wrap. Place them in a freezer bag to freeze. Pull out one slice as needed!

EASY BANANA NUT BREAD RECIPE TIPS

• Use the right bananas. Opt for bananas that have plenty of brown spots on the peels – that means they are very ripe and sweet.
• Choose your mashing technique. For a smooth loaf, use a mixer to completely puree the bananas. For banana chunks, roughly mash with a fork.
• Add sweetener if necessary. If you use plain Greek yogurt or your bananas are not quite as ripe, you may want to add 2-4 Tablespoons of your preferred sweetener to balance the flavor.
• Watch the color. Protein breads often brown faster on the outside. If the protein banana bread looks overly dark but the center is still wet, cover the loaf loosely with aluminum foil for the last 10-15 minutes of baking.

SERVE WITH SIMPLE BANANA NUT BREAD RECIPE

Toppings:

This simple banana nut bread recipe has great flavor on its own, or you can add butter or another spread:

• Peanut butter (add a few chocolate chips too!)
• Another nut butter, like almond butter
• Your favorite jam – Strawberry Jam would give this the feeling of a PB&J

Make it a Meal:

• Have a slice of protein banana bread alongside The Best Scrambled Eggs.
• Add a bowl of Greek Yogurt and some fresh fruit for a no-cook meal.
• Serve with Breakfast Sausage or Bacon for even more protein – prep them ahead of time for a grab-and-go breakfast!

HIGH PROTEIN BANANA BREAD

I formulated this recipe for easy banana nut bread specifically with an extra protein boost in mind.

• Oat Flour. Oat flour has more protein than wheat flour. Replacing up to half of the all-purpose flour in a typical quick bread recipe with oat flour is an easy way to boost the protein.
• Greek Yogurt. Adds moisture and tang, and you also get a protein boost. ½ cup of Greek yogurt adds 10-12 grams.
• Protein Powder. Replacing part of the dry ingredients in banana bread with protein powder also adds quite a bit of protein, and it’s why we can call this a HIGH PROTEIN banana bread recipe. You can make this substitution in other baking recipes, too – swap up to ⅓ of the flour for protein powder.
• Nuts. Adding a sprinkle of chopped nuts is an easy way to bump that protein up, too. ¼ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans adds 4g of protein and a yummy nutty flavor.

Remember that this protein banana nut bread also has half as much fat and carbs as a standard banana bread recipe!

RECIPE FOR EASY BANANA NUT BREAD FAQS

MORE HIGH PROTEIN RECIPES

• Protein Pancakes
• Nutella Collagen Homemade Protein Bars
• High Protein Oatmeal
• Homemade Protein Shakes
• Cottage Cheese and Eggs
• Egg Bites Recipe