Easy Fresh Apple Banana Bread (Healthier Recipe)

Our Fresh Apple Banana Bread recipe is easy to make. It’s a healthier option than many of the banana bread recipes you’ll find. We’ve added whole grains using whole wheat flour to our dairy-free recipe, reduced the amount of refined sugar with maple syrup, and fresh apples replaced the oil and butter. This delicious easy quick bread recipe is tender and delicious and sure to become your go-to recipe.

We love the sweet banana flavor of ripe bananas. Besides Homemade Banana Bread, they’re delicious in Bananas Foster Cake, Banana Blueberry Muffins, or a delicious Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl.

During the fall season, We crave the flavor of apples so it was a no-brainer to combine the two flavors in this delicious apple banana bread recipe. The flavors of fresh apple, warm cinnamon, plump raisins, and chopped pecans are like bringing the fall harvest into a soft and tender healthy apple banana bread that’s easy to make.

We try not to waste food, so when I had some bananas threatening to go over to the dark side, it was a great time to use them up. I often use applesauce in my baked treats instead of oil and it also allows us to use less sugar in our recipes, so I decided to grate an apple instead of apple sauce. Finally, I added some raisins, pecans, and yummy spices that remind me of fall.

I ate a slice of this banana apple bread at every meal until it was gone. We enjoy eating sweet bread with savory meals and soups.

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This is a simple recipe that we mixed by hand. You’ll need mixing bowls, a 9×5 bread loaf pan, a whisk, and a spatula.

Ingredients for Apple Banana Bread

• All-Purpose Flour. You can use bleached or unbleached flour. One doesn’t act or taste any differently from the other. Unbleached flour is less processed since it doesn’t go through the step of bleaching it.
  
• White Whole Wheat Flour. We love adding some whole wheat flour because it noticeably improves the crumb of the bread. We don’t recommend replacing the all-purpose flour with all wheat flour because it creates a dense bread that can be drier since we don’t add additional dairy or oil.
• Leavening. Baking Powder, and Baking Soda.
• Warm Spices. Cinnamon, Ground Ginger, Nutmeg, Ground Cloves. Kosher Salt.
• Vanilla. We use pure vanilla extract. However, you can use imitation vanilla extract if that’s what you have.
• Egg Whites. Add structure to the bread. Optionally you can add the whole large eggs.
• Mashed Bananas. If you have bananas on the cusp of overripeness, you can mash them and measure cupfuls to freeze for later use in recipes. When you need a cup of banana, simply thaw at room temperature or microwave very briefly.
• Pure Maple Syrup. This adds so much flavor without adding refined sugar.
• Brown Sugar. The moisture in brown sugar improves this bread. Optionally you can replace it with white granulated sugar.
• Grated Apple. You could substitute it with applesauce.
• Raisins and Pecans. Optional add-ins that add flavor and texture.

Please note, that the printable recipe card has ingredient quantities, complete instructions, and nutritional information. The following is a quick overview of the recipe.

How to Make Apple Banana Bread

Preparation is key for the perfect Apple Banana Bread.

This recipe comes together quickly so it’s helpful to preheat your oven and prepare your pan with a coating of canola oil or non-stick cooking spray before you get started.

Mix the wet ingredients and spices.

In a large bowl, mash the bananas and then add the apples, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, egg whites, salt, and spices.

Mix the dry ingredients.

In a medium bowl, combine flours, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk together. Add raisins and pecans and toss to coat.

Combine the two mixtures.

Add the dry flour mixture to the banana mixture. Mix until just combined.

Bake your Banana Apple Bread.

Pour the Banana Apple Bread batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes away with just a few moist crumbs. Cool in the pan over a wire rack for 15 minutes and then remove the bread from the pan to finish cooling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I keep leftover Banana Apple Bread?

Place completely cooled bread in a freezer-quality plastic zipper bag and store it at room temperature for up to five days. If you store the bread before it’s completely cool, the steam will make it soggy.

Can I freeze Banana Bread with Apples?

Yes, this bread freezes beautifully. Freeze by wrapping the cooled bread in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil, a reclosable freezer-quality plastic bag, or an airtight container as a whole loaf or individual slices. Thaw for thirty seconds per slice in the microwave, or let the loaf sit at room temperature to thaw.

Can I use apple sauce instead of grated apples?

Yes. Your bread may be slightly more moist, and you may need to lengthen the baking time by a few minutes. If it’s more moist than you think it should be, you can add a tablespoon of flour.

How do I reheat Apple Banana Bread?

Ten seconds in the microwave should be sufficient. If you want bread warm enough to melt butter, you may need to add ten additional seconds. Alternatively, place a slice in the toaster if yours holds thick slices.

Hostess Tips and Tricks

Do not overmix this easy apple banana bread recipe when combining the wet and dry ingredient mixtures. Stir until just combined. Over-mixing will dry out the bread and make it tough, dense, or dry.

We recommend mixing everything in this recipe by hand using a wooden spoon instead of a mixer. This will keep the batter from being over-mixed.

If you have an extra banana, add it. If the batter appears too thick you can add 1 to 3 tablespoons of water.

Use a potato masher to mash up the bananas. You can also use this handy tool to mash avocados. It is not a single-purpose tool! If you don’t have one, you can use the back of a fork instead. 

Variations

The fun thing about quick breads is that you can make them with different kinds of fruit or veggies. For instance, this recipe could be made with shredded zucchini instead of apples. You could also use apple sauce instead of grated apples. Pureed carrots, pureed pumpkin, or even pureed sweet potato all make excellent quick breads. For a fun twist, add a handful of chocolate chips.

For more fall baking, check out our Apple Cake, Pear Pie recipe, or Cinnamon Raisin Bread. They’re amazing!

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

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Originally released on September 22, 2015, this Healthy Cinnamon Apple Banana Bread has undergone updates to enhance our readers’ experience by adding helpful tips and variations. No changes were made to the actual recipe.