The primary time I dreamt up this loaf, I used to be getting ready to go to the grocery retailer and observed the overly ripe bananas on the counter. An fascinating concept 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.
In case you’ve been a fan of AK for some time now, you understand that this unbelievable carrot cake banana bread is an all-time reader favourite. Do this bread out for Easter with your loved ones. Higher but, double it and hold an entire loaf for your self! Belief me, you’ll need to.
What makes this carrot cake banana bread more healthy?
The most important problem was determining how one can make this bread with extra healthful elements, however nonetheless make it really feel slightly indulgent and style actually unbelievable, too! One way or the other I pulled it off and the recipe simply works superbly. The style is deliciously moist, completely spiced, and it seems 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 possibly can additionally strive utilizing my paleo powdered sugar for it.
- Stuffed with complete grains. It’s additionally made with complete grains from complete grain flour and oats, making it an amazing, fiber-filled snack to get pleasure from anytime.
- Full of nutritional vitamins. Whats up, vitamin A, Okay, potassium and antioxidants from carrots!
- Decrease in fats. I changed among 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 in!
Every thing you’ll must make this carrot cake banana bread
This bread makes use of easy elements that you just possible have already got at residence, making it the proper fast bread to throw collectively very quickly in any respect. You’ll want:
- Flour: as an alternative of all-purpose flour, I used complete wheat pastry flour for an additional increase of complete grains and fiber.
- Oats: get that barely chewy texture of carrot cake from fast oats!
- Bananas: ensure you use additional ripe bananas with a lot of brown/black spots to sweeten the bread.
- Coconut sugar: this recipe solely requires a 1/2 cup of coconut sugar in the complete recipe. Be at liberty to sub with brown sugar if that’s what you might have available.
- Applesauce: I changed many of the oil with applesauce to maintain this bread moist and add scrumptious taste.
- Coconut oil: we are going to, nevertheless, add some coconut oil for a lift of fats.
- Milk: you’ll want so as to add extra 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 extra 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 slightly crunch and increase 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.
Optionally available ingredient swaps
In case you’re lacking among the elements listed below are just a few straightforward swaps you may make:
- DIY fast oats. In case you 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 utilize 1/3 cup honey or pure maple syrup instead of the coconut sugar in the event you’d like.
- Sub the coconut oil. Any oil, melted butter, or melted vegan butter will work.
- Preserve 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 an alternative 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 effectively on this recipe! Get all of our suggestions and tips for making a flax egg right here. Be sure you use a dairy-free cream cheese within the frosting as effectively!
Suggestions & tips for making this carrot cake banana bread
- Observe the recipe. The easiest way to make sure the success of this straightforward carrot cake banana bread is to comply with the recipe and use the precise elements as written (except I notice particular substitutes).
- Use a room temperature egg. In case your egg is simply too chilly, you threat the little little bit of coconut oil coagulating. To carry your eggs to room temp, merely place them in a bowl of heat water for 3-5 minutes earlier than you utilize them.
- Don’t overmix the batter. In case you overmix the batter, you’ll find yourself with a bread that’s extra dense and gummy as an alternative of fluffy and comfortable.
- Use recent baking soda. In case your baking soda is older than 3 months, I recommend grabbing a brand new one for finest 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.
Wish to make carrot cake banana muffins?
It’s straightforward! 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 happy to strive my wholesome carrot cake muffins!
Make it forward of time
This carrot cake banana bread could 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 finest the subsequent day.
Learn how to retailer carrot cake banana bread
- To retailer: this bread could 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 fully and both lower 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 just a few 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.
Advisable 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! In case you make it I’d like it in the event you would go away a remark and a ranking to share the way you appreciated it. Take pleasure in, xo!
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125 Ridiculously Good For You, Typically 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 identical to a cross between moist carrot cake and your favourite banana bread. This straightforward 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!
Elements
- Dry Elements:
- 1 ½ cups (170g) complete wheat pastry flour (or white complete wheat flour)*
- ½ cup (48g) fast oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Moist elements:
- 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
- Optionally available add-ins:
- ½ cup (80g) raisins
- ½ cup (42g) unsweetened shredded coconut
- For the frosting:
- 4 oz (112g) cream cheese, softened (diminished 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 elements: In a big bowl, whisk collectively complete 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 effectively mixed and creamy. Add in applesauce and almond milk, then fold in carrots. Add moist elements to the dry elements 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 heart comes out clear with just a few crumbs connected. Mine took about 55 minutes in an 8×4 inch loaf pan. In case you use a 9×5 inch pan, it’s possible you’ll must test 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 fully.
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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 clean. 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 an alternative of a daily egg.
To make gluten-free: I have never examined it, however I’d recommend 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 could 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 finest the subsequent day because the pure sugars launch.
Be at liberty so as to add in different favorites comparable to: shredded coconut flakes, raisins, walnuts as an alternative of pecans, or pineapple.
Diet
Serving: 1sliceEnergy: 245calCarbohydrates: 33.9gProtein: 4.5gFats: 11.2gSaturated Fats: 6.4gFiber: 4gSugar: 17.4g
Initially printed: 2015. Up to date and republished March 11, 2021, republished on April 4, 2022, and republished with new images on April 1st, 2026.