Moist, naturally sweet, and packed with juicy blueberries, this low calorie blueberry banana bread is a healthier twist on a classic. Perfect for breakfast, snacking, or lunchboxes—without the guilt.
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It wasn't really a special I don't think. $6 for a punnet of blueberries is hardly a bargain but for some reason, that particular week I was powerless to resist.
I had banana and blueberry bread on the brain and I knew I wouldn't stop thinking about it until I was eating a warm slice.
Well a week later I still hadn't made the loaf and the blueberries were threatening to turn bad on me so I popped them in the freezer for later. Turns out later was a month later. Better late than never right?
When I was doing the Michelle Bridges 12 week challenge (I put on A LOT of weight on a 5-week trip to Europe), one of my favourite recipes was the low calorie banana bread. It didn't taste exactly like the full-fat version but it was close enough and I was 'allowed' it so I was happy.
Back to the blueberries. What I really wanted was a low calorie blueberry banana bread - something a little healthier that I could eat every day for morning tea with no guilt (not that I usually feel guilt over eating deliciousness).
The texture is quite wet and not at all cakey like regular banana bread, probably because there's no butter or oil, but that's the only way this differs from the original.
I added just enough spice to give it that lovely warmth and you won't even notice that there's no sugar. The honey, apple sauce and banana are all the sweetness you'll need.
I'd probably use wholemeal flour instead of white next time but as I was out of it, white mixed with some rolled oats did the job just nicely. I sliced it up, wrapped the pieces individually and popped them in the freezer and have been zapping a piece for morning tea every day since. Enjoy!
What about you? Do you buy things with the intention of making a certain recipe and then never get around to it?
Recipe
Blueberry banana bread - low calorie
Ingredients
- 2 free-range eggs
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¾ teaspoon bicarb soda
- ½ cup apple sauce
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 cup mashed banana 2-3 bananas
- 100 g blueberries
- 1 cup SR Flour
- ½ cup rolled oats
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C fan forced.
- Spray a loaf tin with oil and line with baking paper so that it hangs over the long sides of the tin.
- Beat the eggs and honey in the bowl of an electric mixer until thick (about 1 minute).
- In a bowl or jug, mix the bicarb soda into the apple sauce (it will froth).
- Add the cinnamon, allspice and apple mixture to bowl, beat and then add the mashed banana.
- Add the blueberries, flour and rolled oats in one go and mix just until combined.
- Pour the batter into the tin and bake for approximately 30-35 minutes or until it a cake tester comes out clean and it springs back in the middle.
- Leave the cooked bread in the tin for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
Nutrition
Raul says
It sounds like not enough flour. Did it work out ok? Most recipes I find have almost double that amount of flour! :-)
Kelinda says
I love this recipe!!!! I have made it 4 times now and also once as muffins baking for 17minutes.
The kids love it in their school lunchboxes, I love it as a daily snack whiile on my weightloss journey.
Claire says
Thanks Kelinda. Great idea making muffins.
Cass says
Claire if I use wholemeal flour do I still use oats?
Claire says
You could do either or... probably best to replace the oats with the same amount of wholemeal flour.
The Café Sucre Farine says
Hi Claire, hope you're having fun! Love your bread and the fact that it's quite legal! It makes me so mad if I buy ingredients and they go bad before I can use them up. I hate to admit that does happen from time to time in my kitchen :)
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Blueberries with banana sounds wonderful!
Stephanie@Henry Happened says
Good thing you were able to freeze the blueberries - I sometimes buy things for recipes I don't make & end up with something to throw out... Anyway, this sounds like the perfect guilt-free breakfast!
Jess says
Oh my goodness -this is so beautiful and the texture looks spot-on. It's so nice to have lower guilt alternatives in the baked-goods category. When I'm being "good" I miss baking so much, but this is such a great solution!
Lisa the Gourmet Wog says
Yum Claire, I love banana bread, a low fat version is certainly a bonus. I hear you on the blueberry price, my daughter is obsessed with them and can easily eat half a punnet every day. It's an expensive snack!
Claire says
Oh wow that does make it expensive but at least she wants fruit!
Crys says
What an amazing recipe - and website! Claire, do you know how many calories per slice are in this bad boy? I'm doing the 12WBT too and want to count ...
Claire says
Hi Crys. Thank you! If you cut it in 10 slices (a good sized serve) it's about 160 per slice. 12 slices, which is doable but a little stingy in my opinion - 137 calories per slice.
Crys says
Awesome, thanks! I'm making this for my Mum's birthday (she's also on the 12WBT), and I reckon she'll think it's the best gift ever!
Claire says
No problem Crys! I hope she likes it!
JJ - 84thand3rd says
This sounds great, very little honey for a whole loaf too. I buy things all the time then let them languish in the crisper until they go into the freezer or get used for something completely different than my original plan - as long as I don't throw them out its ok though! ;D
Claire says
It's still really sweet too JJ! It's totally ok if they get eaten in some manner!
Hotly Spiced says
That's a lovely looking banana blueberry bread. Yes, blueberries are now just too expensive so I look for them in the frozen aisle and when they're on special, I grab a few boxes. I've heard that the Michelle Bridges 12-week program works very well. And who wouldn't put on a lot of weight if they had five weeks in Europe! xx
Claire says
That's a good idea Charlie! I always have frozen raspberries in the freezer but must start stocking up on blueberries. I would have been disappointed with myself if I hadn't! x
The Life of Clare says
I did the 12 week body transformation too. I last 4 weeks into it, and had lost all the weight I wanted to and realised that I just needed to be more careful. However, like you I did really enjoy most of the food. I never remember this cake though!
Claire says
I somehow lasted the whole way Clare! I really like the theory behind it. It helped me seriously expand my eating repertoire at least but I could never stick to a regime like that again.