Healthy Pumpkin Banana Bread

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Soft, fluffy and tender, this Healthy Pumpkin Banana Bread is made with whole wheat flour and sweetened with just a little coconut sugar and chocolate chips. This banana pumpkin loaf is also oil-free and dairy-free!

If you love banana bread and pumpkin bread, you’ll love this mash up of pumpkin banana bread. Adding both mashed banana and pumpkin puree makes for an unbelievably moist bread and the subtle hint of banana pairs well with the warming flavours of pumpkin spice.

Close up view of slices of chocolate chip pumpkin bread on a white platter.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Dairy-free. The recipe calls for almond milk, omits any butter and uses plant-based chocolate chips.
Oil-free. Instead of using oil as the necessary fat in this bread, I opted to use natural almond butter. It helps makes this bread tender and moist.
Not overly sweet. Other than a 1/4 cup of coconut sugar and some chocolate chips, this bread is naturally sweetened with banana and pumpkin.
Easy to make. You don’t need an electric mixer. Just two bowls, a whisk and a spatula.

Details on a few ingredients

Ingredients to make pumpkin banana bread arranged in individual dishes.

Pumpkin – You’ll need pure pumpkin, also called pumpkin puree, for this bread. I don’t recommend substituting with pumpkin pie filling as it is already sweetened and flavoured with spices.

Banana – Mashed banana adds a hint of banana flavour, moisture and natural sweetness. For the best flavour, make sure your bananas are quite ripe and spotty.

Pumpkin spice – You can buy pumpkin spice or pumpkin pie spice, but I find they all have a different taste due to the different combination of spices used. This homemade pumpkin pie spice recipe is my go-to.

Almond butter – For moisture and added fat (since we’re leaving out any butter or oil), you’ll need natural, drippy almond butter. If it has hardened in the fridge, let it come to room temperature so it mixes with the other ingredients easily.

Whole wheat flour – To make this bread a little more wholesome, I used whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose white.

Coconut sugar – Since the mashed banana and chocolate chips sweeten the bread, you only need to add a 1/4 cup of coconut sugar. You can substitute lightly packed brown sugar in place of it if you prefer.

Chocolate chips – You can use any kind you like, but to keep this bread dairy-free, I used plant-based chocolate chips.

How to make pumpkin banana bread

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.

In a large bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients.

Wet and dry ingredients mixed together in separate bowls.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until just combined. Be careful not to over mix.

Stir in the chocolate chips.

Pumpkin banana bread batter in a bowl with chocolate chips stirred into it with a spatula.

Pour the batter into a loaf pan that has been greased and lined with overhanging parchment paper.

Bread batter in a loaf pan with chocolate chips arranged on top.

Bake at 350F for 48-52 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean (or with just a few crumbs).

Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes before removing from the loaf pan and transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Pumpkin banana bread baked up in a loaf pan.

Recipe variations

Instead of almond milk, try using cashew milk or oat milk. If you don’t need this bread to be dairy-free, you can even use dairy milk.
Substitute natural peanut butter for the almond butter.
In place of coconut sugar, you can use loosely packed brown sugar.
Leave out the chocolate chips and add chopped walnuts or pecans.

Storage instructions

This pumpkin banana bread should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature, where it should last for 3-4 days.

To freeze, let the bread cool, then wrap it in plastic wrap and place in a resealable bag or freezer-safe container. Store in the freezer for 3 months. Defrost at room temperature before slicing.

Frequently asked questions

Can this healthy pumpkin banana bread be made with white flour?

I’ve only tested this recipe using whole wheat flour. White flour isn’t as absorbent as whole wheat flour, so a 1:1 substitution will not work in this recipe.

Can pumpkin pie filling be used in place of pumpkin puree?

Pumpkin pie filling already has sugar and spices added, so it will make this bread too sweet and spicy. Be sure to use pumpkin puree or pure pumpkin.

Can homemade pumpkin puree be used?

I haven’t tested this pumpkin bread with homemade pumpkin puree. As it can sometimes be a little watery compared to store-bought canned pumpkin, just be sure to drain any excess liquid if you decide to try it.

Can this bread be made vegan?

I haven’t attempted making this bread with an egg replacement such as a flax egg. If you’re looking for a vegan pumpkin bread, you can try this recipe for healthy pumpkin bread.

What size loaf pan is best to make this bread?

You’ll need a 9×5 inch loaf pan for this recipe. If you use a 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan, there will be too much batter for the pan and the bread will not rise properly.

Can this recipe be made into muffins?

I haven’t tried making this loaf recipe into muffins, but this recipe for whole wheat pumpkin muffins is pretty similar!

Banana pumpkin bread on a white platter and cut into slices.

Key recipe tips

Weigh the ingredients. If you have a kitchen scale, I’ve included measurements in grams for many of the ingredients. Since cup measurements can vary, this provides greater accuracy when measuring ingredients for recipes.

Measure the flour correctly. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, you’ll want to measure your flour using the spoon and level method. If you measure your flour by scooping it out of your flour container, it’ll be packed and you’ll end up with too much flour for the recipe.

Room temperature ingredients. Since natural almond butter is stored in the fridge, you’ll want to bring it to room temperature so it mixes easily with the other wet ingredients. I also like to bring my egg and almond milk to room temperature.

Don’t over mix the batter. Just stir the wet and dry ingredients together until incorporated. If you over mix, the bread may turn out a bit chewy and dense.

Be careful not to under bake. This bread has a lot of moisture in it so be sure to bake it until a toothpick comes out clean. As ovens can vary, I suggest checking on the bread at around 45 minutes. It could take up to 55 minutes for the loaf to fully bake.

More pumpkin recipes

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below!

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