Simple Low-Fat Banana Bread Recipe

WW Recipe of the Day: Simplest Ever Low-Fat Banana Bread

Do you ever feel like everything has become too complicated? Do you crave more simplicity in your life?

I do. In all areas of my life. But especially in the areas of food, cooking, eating and weight management.

I’m feeling the urge to slow down and simplify my kitchen life. To focus on the basics and expand out naturally from there. I’m starting with banana bread 🙂

I love all things banana, but what I make most often with overripe bananas is banana bread.

It seems like every time I make banana bread I feel compelled to try a new recipe so I’ve accumulated several banana bread recipes through the years. But none has ever satisfied me as much as this simple naturally low-fat banana bread.

It’s from The Fannie Merritt Farmer Boston Cooking School Cookbook (affiliate link) (1959), a classic my mother received as a wedding present in 1961. Splattered and dog-eared after decades of use, she still treasures it, so several years ago I found one of my very own on Amazon. If you want to cook and bake like your mother, grandmother, and great grandmother did, then you will want this book!

Recipe Notes

What I love about this banana bread recipe is its simplicity. Just 7 basic ingredients: ripe bananas, eggs, flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and nuts.

Calling for none of the typical modern-day low-fat baking ingredients like egg whites or applesauce, the only fat in the recipe comes from the egg yolks and walnuts. You can always make it richer by adding oil, buttermilk, yogurt or milk.

For the best banana bread, make sure your bananas are very very ripe.

And be sure to fluff up your flour well and measure it by lightly spooning it into the measuring cup and then leveling it off with a knife.

According to the cookbook’s notes, each cup of flour should weigh between 4 and 4.5 ounces. I’ve had much better baking success since I began weighing my flour with my digital kitchen scale (affiliate link).

How Many Calories and WW Points in Simple Low Fat Banana Bread?

I don’t think you’d ever guess that this banana nut bread is low fat. If you like pure and simple banana bread, heavy, moist and dark, you’ll love this.

According to my calculations, each slice has about 187 calories.

To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)

6 SmartPoints (Green plan)
6 SmartPoints (Blue plan)
6 SmartPoints (Purple plan)
5 PointsPlus (Old plan)

One slice will be 4 WW Points when made with Truvia baking blend (affiliate link) and 3 WW SmartPoints with Swerve sugar replacement (affiliate link) sweetener.

This turns into a serious points bargain when compare it to Starbuck’s Banana Nut Bread, which according to my Weight Watchers tracker, will set you back 16 Points. Enjoy!

20 Yummy Additions and Recipe Variations:

• The Cookbook’s notes say that some people like to add to 2 tablespoons melted butter to the batter for a bit of added richness. Oil would work as well.
• Use half whole wheat flour and half all-purpose flour.
• Substitute brown sugar for granulated sugar or use a combination.
• Add a teaspoon of vanilla.
• Spice it up with a teaspoon of cinnamon or cardamom or 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg or allspice.
• Add 1-2 teaspoons of instant coffee or espresso powder.
• Skip the nuts or vary them. Walnuts, pecans and macadamia nuts are my favorites.
• Stir in a cup of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries or cranberries.
• Add a handful or two of chocolate chips (I prefer the mini ones) or peanut butter chips.
• Add a handful or two of dried cranberries or chopped dried apricots or chopped dates.
• Add the zest of a lime.
• Add a handful of shredded coconut.
• Stir in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of your favorite nut butter.
• Swirl 1/2 cup Nutella through the batter before baking.
• Make tropical banana bread by blending in diced dried pineapple, shredded coconut, macadamia nuts and lime zest.
• Add 1/2 cup raisins that have been soaked in rum.
• Add more richness with the addition of 1/4 to 1/2 cup of oil, buttermilk, yogurt, or milk.
• Stir in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of rum, bourbon, Kahlua or Baileys.
• Add a streusel topping: combine 1/3 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour and cut in 2 tablespoons of butter. Sprinkle on top before baking.
• Sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of course sugar on the loaf before baking.

If you like this simple 7-ingredient recipe for banana nut bread, be sure to check out some of my other easy, healthy Weight Watchers friendly recipes including Low-Fat Applesauce Banana Bread, Easy Banana Bread “Impossible” Pie Made Lighter, Low-Fat Chocolate Banana Bread, Chocolate Chip Banana Bran Bread and Banana Cashew Mini Muffins

If you are on the lookout for another lightly sweetened quick bread, check out this new favorite Honey Raisin Rye Bread!

If you’ve made this Walnut Banana Bread, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

Source: The Fannie Merritt Farmer Boston Cooking School Cookbook (affiliate link) (1959)

More Healthy Banana Bread Recipes for Weight Watchers

• Easy 3-Ingredient Banana Bread
• Skinny Healthy Banana Coconut Date Muffins
• Low Fat Banana Cake
• Banana Cranberry Muffins
• Skinny Chocolate Banana Muffins
• Moist Banana Nut Bread
• Skinny Banana Oatmeal Muffin and Bread Recipes