Southern Living's Cream Cheese Banana Nut Bread Healthier Vers

Indulge in the comforting flavors of Southern Living's Cream Cheese Banana Nut Bread—now with a healthier twist! This recipe transforms the classic into a guilt-free delight by incorporating wholesome ingredients like overripe bananas, reduced-fat cream cheese, and whole wheat flour. A touch of unsweetened applesauce and Greek yogurt keeps the loaf irresistibly moist, while natural sweeteners like coconut sugar and honey enhance its richness without overpowering. Infused with a hint of cinnamon and loaded with optional chopped nuts for crunch, this banana nut bread is perfect for breakfast, a snack, or dessert. Ready in just over an hour, it's a heartwarming treat that's as nourishing as it is delicious. Perfect for those searching for healthier banana bread recipes, this loaf is sure to become a family favorite!

Nutriscore Rating: 67/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:60 mins

Total Time:75 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 3 large Overripe bananas, mashed
• 4 ounces Reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
• 0.25 cup Plain Greek yogurt (2% fat or fat-free)
• 0.25 cup Unsweetened applesauce
• 0.5 cup Coconut sugar or brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Honey or maple syrup
• 2 pieces Large eggs
• 2 teaspoons Pure vanilla extract
• 1.5 cups Whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon Baking soda
• 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.75 cup Chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
• 1 as needed Nonstick cooking spray

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, mash the overripe bananas with a fork until smooth.

Step 3

Add the softened reduced-fat cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and unsweetened applesauce to the bananas. Mix until well combined and creamy.

Step 4

Stir in the coconut sugar (or brown sugar), honey (or maple syrup), eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth and evenly incorporated.

Step 5

In a separate bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt. Stir the dry ingredients together to ensure even distribution.

Step 6

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet banana mixture, gently folding the batter together until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Step 7

If using, fold in the chopped walnuts or pecans for added texture and flavor.

Step 8

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.

Step 9

Bake in the preheated oven for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Step 10

Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Step 11

Slice and enjoy your healthier version of cream cheese banana nut bread!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1142.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2645.6

Total Fat 99.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 22.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 434.7mg	0%
Sodium 3199.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 389.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 39.3g	0%
Total Sugars 202.0g
Protein 68.8g	0%

Vitamin D 80IU	0%
Calcium 360.5mg	0%
Iron 15.8mg	0%
Potassium 4031.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 32.9%

Protein: 10.1%

Carbs: 57.0%