Oat flour creates 40% more moisture than wheat flour because oat proteins bind water differently than gluten.
Healthy Banana Bread
Indulge in this delightful Healthy Banana Bread that combines the comforting flavors you love with a nutritious twist! Bursting with ripe bananas and wholesome oats, this moist treat is not only a fantastic breakfast option but also a perfect pre-workout boost or an anytime snack. Enjoy a slice packed with protein and the sweetness of honey, making it a guilt-free pleasure you’ll crave!
Prep
15
min
Cook
35
min
Serves
9
people
Level
beginner
The Story
This protein-pumped banana bread emerged from California's 1990s fitness obsession when bodybuilders in Venice Beach started smuggling protein powder into their grandmother's Depression-era recipes—turns out those muscle-bound beach warriors discovered that swapping regular flour for oat flour and cramming in whey powder created the world's first dessert that actually makes you stronger instead of softer.
Regional Twist
In Vermont's Champlain Valley, they swap the maple syrup for proper Grade A Dark Robust syrup and double the cinnamon, creating a breakfast bread that tastes like autumn decided to move in permanently.
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 1 cup (59 ml) chocolate chips
- 3 eggs
- 31 g protein powder
- 300 g ripe banana
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- baking powder (to taste)
- baking soda (to taste)
- cinnamon (to taste)
- honey or maple syrup (to taste)
- 160 g oat flour
- salt (to taste)
- vanilla (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Add bananas to a bowl and mash well.
- 2
Add eggs and vanilla to the mashed banana and mix, then add sweetener if using.
- 3
Add oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and protein powder (if using) and mix well.
- 4
Fold in chocolate chips and mix again.
- 5
Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment or lightly grease the pan.
- 6
Spread the mixture evenly into the pan and top with extra chocolate chips if desired.
- 7
Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes.
- 8
Cut into slices and enjoy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use bananas with 25-30% brown spots for optimal sweetness and moisture - the enzymatic breakdown of starches to sugars peaks at this ripeness level, reducing need for added sweeteners.ingredient25-30% brown spots
- ✓Mix wet and dry ingredients separately, then combine with only 15-20 gentle folds to prevent gluten development in the oat flour, which creates a dense, tough texture.technique15-20 folds
- ✓Test doneness at 28 minutes with a toothpick inserted 2 inches from center - the edges cook faster than center due to heat conduction, and overbaking removes crucial moisture from this low-fat recipe.timing28 minutes
- ✓Cool completely for 45-60 minutes before cutting because the protein powder continues to set as temperature drops, and cutting too early causes crumbling due to incomplete protein coagulation.timing45-60 minutes
- ✓Line your 8x8 pan with parchment extending 2 inches over edges - the low fat content makes this bread prone to sticking, and the overhang creates easy removal without breaking.equipment2 inches overhang
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
35
min
Serves
9
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
Oat flour creates 40% more moisture than wheat flour because oat proteins bind water differently than gluten.
Healthy Banana Bread
Indulge in this delightful Healthy Banana Bread that combines the comforting flavors you love with a nutritious twist! Bursting with ripe bananas and wholesome oats, this moist treat is not only a fantastic breakfast option but also a perfect pre-workout boost or an anytime snack. Enjoy a slice packed with protein and the sweetness of honey, making it a guilt-free pleasure you’ll crave!
The Story
This protein-pumped banana bread emerged from California's 1990s fitness obsession when bodybuilders in Venice Beach started smuggling protein powder into their grandmother's Depression-era recipes—turns out those muscle-bound beach warriors discovered that swapping regular flour for oat flour and cramming in whey powder created the world's first dessert that actually makes you stronger instead of softer.
Regional Twist
In Vermont's Champlain Valley, they swap the maple syrup for proper Grade A Dark Robust syrup and double the cinnamon, creating a breakfast bread that tastes like autumn decided to move in permanently.
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 1 cup (59 ml) chocolate chips
- 3 eggs
- 31 g protein powder
- 300 g ripe banana
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- baking powder (to taste)
- baking soda (to taste)
- cinnamon (to taste)
- honey or maple syrup (to taste)
- 160 g oat flour
- salt (to taste)
- vanilla (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Add bananas to a bowl and mash well.
- 2
Add eggs and vanilla to the mashed banana and mix, then add sweetener if using.
- 3
Add oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and protein powder (if using) and mix well.
- 4
Fold in chocolate chips and mix again.
- 5
Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment or lightly grease the pan.
- 6
Spread the mixture evenly into the pan and top with extra chocolate chips if desired.
- 7
Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes.
- 8
Cut into slices and enjoy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use bananas with 25-30% brown spots for optimal sweetness and moisture - the enzymatic breakdown of starches to sugars peaks at this ripeness level, reducing need for added sweeteners.ingredient25-30% brown spots
- ✓Mix wet and dry ingredients separately, then combine with only 15-20 gentle folds to prevent gluten development in the oat flour, which creates a dense, tough texture.technique15-20 folds
- ✓Test doneness at 28 minutes with a toothpick inserted 2 inches from center - the edges cook faster than center due to heat conduction, and overbaking removes crucial moisture from this low-fat recipe.timing28 minutes
- ✓Cool completely for 45-60 minutes before cutting because the protein powder continues to set as temperature drops, and cutting too early causes crumbling due to incomplete protein coagulation.timing45-60 minutes
- ✓Line your 8x8 pan with parchment extending 2 inches over edges - the low fat content makes this bread prone to sticking, and the overhang creates easy removal without breaking.equipment2 inches overhang