Protein Banana Bread
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This protein banana bread is moist and fluffy, and it’s made in just one bowl. Each slice packs in 25 grams of protein!
I consider myself an expert on adding protein to baked goods and desserts, and this protein banana bread has been a long time coming. I actually intended to add it to my first cookbook (high-protein desserts, figure), but it wasn’t ready before publishing, so it didn’t make the cut. Since then, I tested this countless times to make sure it looks and tastes like banana bread, but with the addition of protein powder. Even my picky family can’t tell the difference!
Each serving packs 25 grams of protein thanks to the protein powder, enriched flour (higher protein), and almond flour. My partner and I love a warm slice with peanut butter after the gym, but we’ve definitely sneaked them as a last-minute breakfast (they tick all the food groups!).
What readers are saying
★★★★★ – “SO MOIST LOVE IT. I did the tip of adding more protein powder and less flour work perfectly. I love that I can change the protein powder flavor! I also added semi-sweet chocolate chips cause … yum! Love this recipe.” – Gina
Key Ingredients
Here are the main ingredients in my high-protein banana bread. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card.
- Ripe bananas. Overripe bananas are a must- they make the bread extra moist and sweet.
- Vinegar. White or apple cider. This reacts with the self-rising flour, giving the bread some rise and fluffiness.
- Self-rising flour. Skip the expensive pre-made blends and make your own (it’s just all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder). I tested this recipe with oat flour and found the loaf to be a little too dry for my liking.
- Almond flour. I tested this with blanched almond flour and almond meal, and found that almond flour made a more tender and fluffy loaf.
- Protein powder. I like using vanilla-flavored protein powder, but unflavored works too. I tested this with casein, pea, and brown rice, and they all baked just fine. In terms of brands, I swear by Optimum Nutrition, Dymatize, and Growing Naturals. I really don’t recommend whey protein powder, as it tends to dry out baked goods.
- Sugar or alternative. White, brown, coconut sugar, or sugar-free options, like a brown sugar substitute. I did test it with liquid sweeteners (honey or maple syrup), and it worked fine. Just reduce the amount by half.
How to make protein banana bread
Step 1- In a large bowl, combine the wet ingredients. Next, add the dry ingredients and mix until a smooth batter remains.
Step 2- Transfer the batter to a greased loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes or until a skewer comes out mostly clean from the middle.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Do not overbake the banana bread, as it will continue to bake as it cools down. Once a toothpick comes out mostly clean, it’s ready to be removed from the oven. A few moist crumbs are fine.
- If your banana bread browns too quickly, cover the top with tin foil after 15-20 minutes. This might not happen to you; it depends on the brand of protein powder and how your oven bakes. My oven doesn’t need it, but my sister, parents, and tons of my friends who regularly bake this do.
- Make banana protein muffins. Bake it in muffin liners and reduce the cooking time to 18 minutes.
- Feel free to fold through fun mix-ins to change up the texture. Try walnuts, pecans, dark chocolate chips, peanut butter, nut butter, white chocolate chips, or even dried fruit.
Frequently asked questions
No, I don’t recommend it. I tested nearly every kind on the market (whey, casein, brown rice, pea, and blends) and found most worked, except for whey. Whey dries out the baked goods and tends to make the batter sticky. Please don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Like traditional banana bread, if you overmix the batter, you push air into the mixture, which, in turn, yields a dense, rubbery loaf. The key is to mix everything until just combined. If there are a few pockets of flour, don’t stress.
Yes, you can. My initial trials didn’t use protein powder, so I could judge the bake time and texture. If you don’t want to use protein powder, replace it with equal amounts of self-rising flour.
✅ Nutrition reviewed
Nutrition information has been reviewed by registered dietitian Felicia Newell, MScAHN, RD, CPT.
Protein Banana Bread
Video
Ingredients
- 2 medium bananas mashed
- 1 cup milk I used unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tablespoon vinegar apple cider or white
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup self rising flour * See notes
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1 1/4 cups protein powder ** See notes
- 1/2 cup brown sugar substitute or any sweetener of choice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the mashed bananas, milk, vinegar, and vanilla extract and mix until combined. Gently add the self rising flour, almond flour, protein powder, sugar of choice, and mix until smooth.
- Transfer the batter to the lined pan and bake for 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean from the center.
- Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool completely, before removing from the pan and slicing.
Notes
- Protein content: I used a protein flour, which brought each slice of banana bread to 25 grams of protein per slice.
- Protein powder: I had success with casein, brown rice protein powder, and pea protein powder.
- TO STORE: Leftovers should always be stored in the refrigerator, covered. The banana bread will keep well for up to one week.
- TO FREEZE: Place slices in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Nutrition
More baking with protein powder
- Protein brownies
- Protein mug cake
- Protein cookies
- Protein muffins
- Protein donuts
- Protein cupcakes
- Or any of my recipes with protein powder
Originally published February 2022
Can you pack this to travel for a 3-4 hour ride?
Yeah for sure!! I always pack some when we go to our studio house (2 1/2 hours away) and usually forget its there until snack time : )
Thank you!! I made a triple batch, it is SO delicious and addictive! And healthy:)
Hi! Can I swap out some of the flour for more protein powder?
I haven’t tried but feel free to experiment and see!
I only have whey protein. Is there any way I can adjust the recipe to work with whey?
I never had success with whey, but it could also be the brands I used. Feel free to experiment and see.
Can I swap out some of the flour for more protein powder?
I made some minor changes to the recipe based on what I had and what I thought would make it still work for me.
It was really tasty!
Differences= 3 bananas; 2% milk, no almond flour; hearty 1/4 cup protein powder; regular brown sugar & mixed in the chocolate chips.
Yummy with a bit more protein.
best protein banana bread recipe ever!
Omg…moist, filling, flavorful! Not to mention 25gms of protein per slice! Loving this recipe and zero wasted over ripe bananas!!!!SOLD.
I have made this twice, and it is delicious. I put peanut butter between two slices and call it lunch!
This is absolutely out of this world! Made a loaf and ate it all myself! Ate it for breakfast and it kept me full a satisfied all morning. Was wonder why you always Linda pan with parchment paper instead of greasing and flouring the pan? I have a difficult time lining the pan neatly with parchment paper.
I made half a batch which gives me 6 muffins. I used spelt flour instead of APF coz that’s what I have & it turns out really moist and nice (1 cup Spelt flour minus 2 tbsp to be replaced by protein powder). I used the vanilla flavoured protein powder from PlantFusion. Used only 1 tbsp of sweetener. If batter seems dry, add in 1–2 tbsp of Greek Yogurt.
One of the best protein muffins! Thanks for e awesome recipe!
If you grease the pan and cut the corners of the parchment paper at a diagonal toward the middle of the paper it makes it easier
This recipe turned out perfect as muffins in 17 minutes! I made my own self rising flour with King Arthur GF flour + baking powder + salt, and followed the rest of the recipe exactly. They were not the moist texture that banana bread usually is, but nonetheless soft and delicious!
Love that!!!
The bread tastes amazing. I would like to have a lighter bread like your picture.
C An coconut flour substitute almond flour?
Not for this recipe, sorry!
It’s rare that I take the time to review a recipe I found on the internet but this is hands down amazing! Moist, no protein flavor, cakey, no added sugar, and no eggs, for my LO who has an egg allergy. Thank you so much for putting this delicious recipe out!!!
You are so welcome, K!
BEST protein banana bread recipe!!!!! I saw this on Instagram and knew I had to make it!
Race reviews Arman, nice work! I’d love to try it but was wondering if there’s a sub for the almond flour for an allergy friendly version? Thank you so much ☺️🫶🏻🩷
You could try sunflower seed flour!
*rave! Autocorrect is crazy 🤪
Thank you so much Arman 🙏🏻🩷 I have some pumpkin seed flour so figure it’s probably similar to sunflower seed flour so will give it a whirl!! Have a great conference 🤗💕🩷💕
Thanks, Cerys! Yes, pumpkin seed flour and sunflower seed flour is a great alternative to almond flour.
Where do the 10g of fat come from?
The almond flour 🙂
This is such a good protein banana bread. Tastes like real banana bread.
Thanks, Holly. We love it too!
Best protein banana bread recipe I’ve ever made!!! It’s just too good.
Is there a good substitute I could use instead of the vinegar? It’s the only ingredient I don’t have right now
Lemon juice or lime juice 🙂