Healthier Yogurt Banana Bread

Sharon123's Note:

This is an adaptation of Sour Cream Banana Bread which I posted, then found out it was a duplicate. The difference is you use yogurt instead of sour cream. You may use plain, or be adventurous and try vanilla, lemon, or your choice of flavors! Or go ahead and use sour cream if you wish. I even used part mayonnaise once in a pinch. For the nuts, use whatever nuts you wish. So here is the recipe,I hope you enjoy! I used to make this for the Colonial Pines Inn in Highlands, NC. It was always well received, and the customers could buy a loaf to take home, which they frequently did!

• Total Time: 1 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Yield: 1 large l ...

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup margarine (you may substitute half applesauce to make it healthier!) or 1/2 cup butter (you may substitute half applesauce to make it healthier!)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt or 1/2 cup sour cream
• 3/4 cup white flour (or try oat flour)
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour (or use all white flour if you wish)
• 1 tablespoon wheat germ (optional)
• 1 tablespoon wheat bran or 1 tablespoon oat bran
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 2-3)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

1. Grease one 5x9-inch loaf pan, or use 3 mini loaf pans. Some people even double the recipe and bake it in a bundt pan. Spray with cooking spray to coat pans.
2. Cream margarine, sugar, eggs and vanilla.
3. Add dry ingredients, then mashed bananas, nuts, and yogurt or sour cream. Add chocolate chips, if using. Mix well.
4. Bake at 350°F for 1 hour. If using mini loaf pans, cook for about 45 minutes. Enjoy!

Reviews

[The Flying Chef]

I made this yesterday and upped the recipe so that I could send it with my son whilst he is on the road with his basketball team. So really this isn't just being reviewed by me who of course kept a couple of slices behind to try.. :) It has been given a 5 star rating from an entire bus load of basketball players and their coaches about 28 people.. This loaf turned out so moist and totally delicious.. I used the yogurt, apple sauce over butter and added all the optional extras along with a little cinnamon.. What a fab banana bread recipe this turned out to be.. The funny thing is I hate banana's and even if they put a slice in a drink I can taste it and send it back but for some reason I love banana bread. This has gone way up there in my top 5 recipes for banana bread, in fact I would probably say this is my second favourite.. For my son and the team the addition of the chocolate was perfect and I chose to add it for this reason.. If I was just making for myself, I would omit and just make the rest as is, with the added cinnamon.. I too thought it did not rise as much as other banana breads I have made but I do not see why this has been mentioned in other reviews. For me the moist cake and taste alone, which to me is what you are looking for, is so superior, the rising of the cake itself does not matter as it is not like it is flat or anything.. Ok have prattled on but just wanted to get across how much we enjoyed this.. A big winner for us Sharon

[naturalhealthtaylor]

FABULOUS! I've made this bread twice now - doubling it each time - and we love it. I replaced the sugar with honey for the first batch but used sugar the second time around. I used applesauce to replace all the butter, oat flour instead of all purpose, Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and chocolate chips. The first two loaves were thoroughly enjoyed by all. I froze one of the loaves from the second batch and will share with my husband and mother-in-law when they come this weekend. This recipe will replace the one I've used for many years. The only thing that some people may not like is that it did not rise at all for me. I do not have a problem with that - it was easier to cut - but others will be bothered by no rising........perhaps there needs to be an increase in baking soda???

[Katzen]

Sharon, what a delicious and healthy loaf! I did use applesauce for the butter, acutally using one of the little cups one would normally use to toss in a lunch, which amounted to just under a 1/2 cup. I topped it up with some sunflower oil. Loved the nuttiness the wheat germ and oat bran brought. I used pecans only, no chocolate chips, and made mini loaves, for which I got three. My yogurt was vanilla nonfat. I topped it with Starrynews's spiced sugar for a sweet and cruncy (and delicious) top! Thanks so much for posting Sharon! Made for Veggie Swap 26!