High-Protein Banana Bread (Printable)

Wholesome banana bread rich in protein and flavor, combining Greek yogurt, bananas, and spices.

# What you need:

→ Wet Ingredients

01 - 3 medium ripe bananas, mashed
02 - 2 large eggs
03 - 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (2% or fat-free)
04 - 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
05 - 1/4 cup light olive oil or melted coconut oil
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Dry Ingredients

07 - 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
08 - 1/2 cup vanilla or unflavored whey protein powder
09 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
10 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Optional Add-ins

13 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
14 - 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mashed bananas, eggs, Greek yogurt, honey or maple syrup, oil, and vanilla extract until smooth and well incorporated.
03 - In a separate bowl, stir together whole wheat flour, whey protein powder, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
04 - Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain a tender crumb structure.
05 - Gently fold in walnuts, pecans, or dark chocolate chips if using.
06 - Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth the top surface evenly.
07 - Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Allow bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The Greek yogurt keeps it ridiculously moist while sneaking in 9 grams of protein per slice, so you actually feel full.
  • It comes together in 15 minutes of prep and tastes like you spent way more effort than you did.
  • Your kitchen smells incredible for hours, and somehow it's actually good for you.
02 -
  • Don't overmix the batter—I learned this the hard way when my first loaf came out dense and heavy, and I realized folding gently takes literally 10 extra seconds but changes everything.
  • The protein powder amount matters: too much and it tastes chalky, too little and you lose the nutrition benefit, so stick with the 1/2 cup measurement.
  • Bananas that are too green won't add sweetness or moisture—wait for those brown spots, they're not a sign to throw them away, they're an invitation to bake.
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend together more smoothly than cold ones—pull your eggs and yogurt out 20 minutes before baking if you have time.
  • If you forget to grease your pan, parchment paper is your lifesaver and also means you can peel it away while the bread is still warm without it sticking.
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