This moist and fluffy cottage cheese banana bread is a protein-rich twist on the classic recipe. Sweetened naturally with ripe bananas and honey or maple syrup, it’s the perfect snack or breakfast.
Loaf pan linerThese are really handy, I still like to grease the liners, though - just to be safe!
Ingredients
Wet Ingredinets
1cupCottage cheese240g, I recommend 4% fat
2mediumvery ripe bananas170g
2largeeggs
½cuphoney or maple syrup150g
1teaspoonvanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
2cupswholewheat flour280g
1teaspooncinnamon
½teaspoonsalt
1teaspoonbaking soda
To Decorate (optional)
1smallbananacut in half lengthwise
2tablespoonchocolate chips
Mix In's (optional but strongly recommended)
½cupchocolate chips80g plus extra to sprinkle on top
½cup chopped walnuts50g
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Position the oven rack to the middle of the oven. Line a 9x5-inch (23x13 cm) loaf pan with parchment paper, letting the excess hang over the long sides to form a sling for easy removal later.
Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt until well combined.
2 cups wholewheat flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt
Blend the wet ingredients: In a blender, combine the ripe bananas, cottage cheese, honey (or maple syrup), eggs, and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth and lump free, scraping down the sides as needed to ensure everything blends evenly.
1 cup Cottage cheese, 2 medium very ripe bananas, 2 large eggs, ½ cup honey or maple syrup, 1 tsp vanilla extract
Combine wet and dry ingredients: Pour the banana-cottage cheese mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir gently with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Optional mix-ins: If you'd like to add some chocolate chips or walnuts, gently fold them into the batter.
½ cup chocolate chips, ½ cup chopped walnuts
Fill the pan: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. If necessary, use a spatula to gently spread the batter to the edges of the pan. Sprinkle some extra chocolate chips on top.
For optional decoration, gently place a halved banana on top of the batter. Sprinkle brown sugar on top for caramelization. Note: Skip this step if you plan to freeze the banana bread, as the banana topping may not hold up well after freezing.
Bake: Place the loaf pan in the oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean with just a few moist crumbs. Start checking around 45 minutes, as oven times may vary.
Cool: Once baked, transfer the pan to a wire rack and cool for 10 minutes. Afterward, remove the bread from the pan and let it cool on the wire rack for another 20-30 minutes before slicing. This extra cooling time allows the bread to finish setting up, so it’s easier to slice.
Video
Notes
Storage: Store in an airtight container - It will stay fresh for up to four days.Trouble shooting: If your banana bread turned out too dry, too soggy or burned make sure to check out my trouble shooting tips in the full post to help you find a solution. Dietary Adaptions: Looking to make this recipe higher in protein, lower in calories or gluten free? Check out my substitution tips. Details on how to do this can be found in the full blog post.Nutrition Analysis:For the nutrition analysis I used "Good Culture 4% cottage cheese" and "King Arthur Wholewheat flour. I also included the 80g of chocolate chips and 50g of walnut however I omitted the additional banana on top from the calculation.Remember, though, that a recipe is much more than its nutritional content, and these numbers shouldn't solely dictate your food choices.Additional Nutrition InformationThis is a nutrient-dense snack option. While healthy means something different to everyone, I love this banana bread as a pre-workout snack or as an afternoon pick me up. If you want to add more protein, I recommend heating the banana bread in the microwave for 10-20 seconds and serving with a dollop of greek yogurt on top. For more nutrition information and tips, visit www.marialuceydietitian.com and come say hi on Instagram and YouTube I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! 😊The owner of this website is not liable for this estimation.