The primary time I dreamt up this loaf, I used to be getting ready to go to the grocery retailer and seen the overly ripe bananas on the counter. An fascinating thought got here to me: “What if I mixed my love for banana bread with carrot cake? Might this be a factor?”
In my thoughts, completely.
If you happen to’ve been a fan of AK for some time now, you recognize that this unbelievable carrot cake banana bread is an all-time reader favourite. Do that bread out for Easter with your loved ones. Higher but, double it and preserve a complete loaf for your self! Belief me, you’ll need to.
What makes this carrot cake banana bread more healthy?
The largest problem was determining how you can make this bread with extra healthful substances, however nonetheless make it really feel a little bit indulgent and style actually unbelievable, too! In some way I pulled it off and the recipe simply works superbly. The style is deliciously moist, completely spiced, and it appears like an precise deal with. This recipe is:
- Naturally sweetened. This more healthy carrot cake banana bread recipe is baked with unrefined sugars and is of course sweetened with simply ripe bananas, applesauce, carrots and a few coconut sugar. I take advantage of powdered sugar within the cinnamon cream cheese frosting, however you can additionally strive utilizing my paleo powdered sugar for it.
- Full of entire grains. It’s additionally made with entire grains from entire grain flour and oats, making it an important, fiber-filled snack to take pleasure in anytime.
- Full of nutritional vitamins. Howdy, vitamin A, Ok, potassium and antioxidants from carrots!
- Decrease in fats. I changed a few of the oil with applesauce, which nonetheless retains the bread tremendous moist and scrumptious. I’m all about incorporating wholesome fat, which is the place these scrumptious walnuts and the shredded coconut are available!
Every thing you’ll have to make this carrot cake banana bread
This bread makes use of easy substances that you just probably have already got at house, making it the right fast bread to throw collectively very quickly in any respect. You’ll want:
- Flour: as a substitute of all-purpose flour, I used entire wheat pastry flour for an additional enhance of entire grains and fiber.
- Oats: get that barely chewy texture of carrot cake from fast oats!
- Bananas: be sure you use further ripe bananas with plenty of brown/black spots to sweeten the bread.
- Coconut sugar: this recipe solely requires a 1/2 cup of coconut sugar in all the recipe. Be at liberty to sub with brown sugar if that’s what you have got readily available.
- Applesauce: I changed a lot of the oil with applesauce to maintain this bread moist and add scrumptious taste.
- Coconut oil: we’ll, nevertheless, add some coconut oil for a lift of fats.
- Milk: you’ll want so as to add further moisture with milk. Almond milk or coconut milk are nice dairy-free choices.
- Eggs: we’re including one egg to the bread to assist it bake correctly.
- Carrots: gotta have freshly grated carrots for the carrot cake taste! Additionally they give the bread further sweetness and moisture.
- Baking staples: get that cozy taste from cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract, then bear in mind so as to add salt and baking soda.
- Combine-ins: I like so as to add chopped walnuts for a little bit crunch and enhance of wholesome fat, however see under for much more enjoyable choices!
- For the frosting: you’ll simply want cream cheese, powdered sugar, cinnamon, and a little bit of vanilla extract to make the sunshine & fluffy cinnamon cream cheese frosting.
Non-obligatory ingredient swaps
If you happen to’re lacking a few of the substances listed below are a couple of simple swaps you may make:
- DIY fast oats. If you happen to don’t have fast oats, merely place 1/2 cup old school rolled oats in a blender and pulse for 20-30 seconds till the oats break down a bit.
- Swap your sweetener. You should use 1/3 cup honey or pure maple syrup instead of the coconut sugar when you’d like.
- Sub the coconut oil. Any oil, melted butter, or melted vegan butter will work.
- Hold it refined sugar free. Be at liberty to strive utilizing my paleo powdered sugar within the frosting!
- Add your favourite mix-ins. Shredded coconut, raisins, pecans as a substitute of walnuts, or pineapple would all be scrumptious.
Can I take advantage of a special flour?
Can I make it vegan?
Sure, I believe a flax egg would work properly on this recipe! Get all of our ideas and tips for making a flax egg right here. You should definitely use a dairy-free cream cheese within the frosting as properly!
Ideas & tips for making this carrot cake banana bread
- Observe the recipe. One of the simplest ways to make sure the success of this simple carrot cake banana bread is to comply with the recipe and use the precise substances as written (except I observe particular substitutes).
- Use a room temperature egg. In case your egg is just too chilly, you danger the little little bit of coconut oil coagulating. To deliver your eggs to room temp, merely place them in a bowl of heat water for 3-5 minutes earlier than you employ them.
- Don’t overmix the batter. If you happen to overmix the batter, you’ll find yourself with a bread that’s extra dense and gummy as a substitute of fluffy and mushy.
- Use recent baking soda. In case your baking soda is older than 3 months, I counsel grabbing a brand new one for greatest baking outcomes.
- Line your loaf pan. I like to recommend lining your loaf pan with parchment paper AND spraying it with nonstick cooking spray in order that your bread comes out simply.
Need to make carrot cake banana muffins?
It’s simple! Flip this bread into muffins or cupcakes by merely making the batter as directed, then dividing it right into a muffin tin lined with muffin liners. Bake the muffins for round 15-20 minutes till a tester comes out clear.
In any other case, be at liberty to strive my wholesome carrot cake muffins!
Make it forward of time
This carrot cake banana bread might be made a day or two forward of time! Simply wrap in plastic wrap to seal in moisture and frost earlier than you serve. Banana bread is all the time greatest the following day.
Easy methods to retailer carrot cake banana bread
- To retailer: this bread might be left wrapped at room temp for two days, then I like to recommend transferring it to the fridge for as much as 1 week.
- To freeze: let the loaf cool utterly and both reduce it into slices earlier than putting it in an hermetic container or freezer-friendly bag within the fridge or freeze the entire thing for as much as 3 months. I like to recommend frosting the bread earlier than serving. To thaw the entire loaf, merely let the carrot cake banana bread thaw at room temp for a couple of hours. You are able to do the identical with the person slices, or you’ll be able to reheat them within the microwave for about 30 seconds.
Really useful instruments
Get all of my kitchen necessities right here!
Extra carrot cake recipes you’ll love
Get all of our superb easter recipes right here!
I do know you’re going to LOVE this carrot cake banana bread recipe! If you happen to make it I’d adore it when you would go away a remark and a score to share the way you appreciated it. Get pleasure from, xo!
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125 Ridiculously Good For You, Generally Indulgent, and Completely By no means Boring Recipes for Each Meal of the Day
Carrot Cake Banana Bread with Thick Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
by
Scrumptious more healthy carrot cake banana bread that tastes similar to a cross between moist carrot cake and your favourite banana bread. This simple carrot cake banana bread recipe is lightened up with applesauce, dairy free milk and coconut sugar, and topped with an unbelievable cinnamon cream cheese frosting!
Substances
- Dry Substances:
- 1 ½ cups (170g) entire wheat pastry flour (or white entire wheat flour)*
- ½ cup (48g) fast oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Moist substances:
- 2 medium very ripe bananas, mashed (¾ cup mashed banana)
- ½ cup (77g) coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
- 1 massive egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ cup (56g) melted and cooled coconut oil (any oil or melted butter/vegan butter will work)
- ¼ cup (63g) unsweetened applesauce
- 1 heaping cup (100g) shredded carrots (about 2 massive carrots)
- ⅓ cup (80g) almond or coconut milk
- ⅓ cup (37g) chopped pecans or walnuts, plus 2 tablespoons (14g) for topping
- Non-obligatory add-ins:
- ½ cup (80g) raisins
- ½ cup (42g) unsweetened shredded coconut
- For the frosting:
- 4 oz (112g) cream cheese, softened (lowered fats if you would like)
- ⅓ cup (38g) powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
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Preheat oven to 350 levels F. Spray 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
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Whisk the dry substances: In a big bowl, whisk collectively entire wheat pastry flour, fast oats, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; put aside.
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Combine the batter: In a medium bowl, combine collectively mashed banana, coconut sugar, egg, and vanilla till properly mixed and creamy. Add in applesauce and almond milk, then fold in carrots. Add moist substances to the dry substances and blend till simply mixed — DO NOT OVERMIX. Gently fold in melted coconut oil and ¼ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans, plus the raisins and coconut (if utilizing).
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Bake: Pour into ready loaf pan and bake for 40-55 minutes or till toothpick inserted into middle comes out clear with a couple of crumbs hooked up. Mine took about 55 minutes in an 8×4 inch loaf pan. If you happen to use a 9×5 inch pan, you might have to examine the bread at 40 minutes.
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Take away from oven and place pan on wire rack to chill for quarter-hour. Take away bread from pan and place on wire rack to complete cooling utterly.
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Make cinnamon cream cheese frosting: Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and cinnamon collectively on medium velocity for a minute or till easy. Unfold over cooled bread. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans. Minimize into 10-12 slices and revel in!
Recipe Notes
To make vegan: Use dairy-free cream cheese and a flax egg as a substitute of an everyday egg.
To make gluten-free: I have never examined it, however I’d counsel attempting a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour.
To make into muffins or cupcakes: divide the batter right into a muffin pan lined with muffin liners and bake for 15-18 minutes.
Bread might be made a day or two forward of time, simply wrap in plastic wrap to seal in moisture and frost earlier than you serve. Banana bread is all the time greatest the following day because the pure sugars launch.
Be at liberty so as to add in different favorites similar to: shredded coconut flakes, raisins, walnuts as a substitute of pecans, or pineapple.
Diet
Serving: 1sliceEnergy: 245calCarbohydrates: 33.9gProtein: 4.5gFats: 11.2gSaturated Fats: 6.4gFiber: 4gSugar: 17.4g
Initially revealed: 2015. Up to date and republished March 11, 2021, republished on April 4, 2022, and republished with new photographs on April 1st, 2026.
