PREP TIME: 15 MINS | COOK TIME: 50 MINS | TOTAL TIME: 1 HR 5 MINS | SERVES: 12
I enjoy this bread always! It’s a crossover between moist carrot cake and banana bread. My family’s most favourite bread with a luscious cinnamon cream cheese frosting that is to die for!
Ingredients
Want to save this recipe? Enter your email below and we’ll send the recipe straight to your inbox!
Dry Ingredients:
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c. quick oats
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 c. whole wheat pastry flour (or white whole wheat flour)
Wet ingredients:
2 tbsp melted and cooled coconut oil (any oil or melted butter/vegan butter will work)
2 medium very ripe bananas, mashed (¾ c. mashed banana)
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c. coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
1/3 c. almond or coconut milk
1/3 c. chopped pecans or walnuts, plus 2 tbsp for topping
1 heaping c. shredded carrots (about 2 large carrots)
Optional add-ins:
1/2 c. unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 c. raisins
Frosting:
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/3 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
4 ounces cream cheese, softened (reduced fat if you’d like)
How to make Healthier Carrot Cake Banana Bread with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 350 degrees F. Using nonstick cooking spray, grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan.
Step 2: Combine the whole wheat pastry flour, quick oats, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl and set aside.
Step 3: Place the mashed banana, coconut sugar, egg, and vanilla in a medium bowl until well mixed and creamy. Add the applesauce followed by the almond milk. Fold in the carrots.
Step 4: To the dry ingredients, add the wet and whisk until just combined. Make sure not to overmix the mixture. Lastly, fold in the melted coconut oil very gently and add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans.
Step 5: Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf pan. Place in the preheated oven and bake the bread for about 40 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean.
Step 6: Transfer the loaf pan to a wire rack and leave the bread to cool for about 15 minutes before removing it from the pan. Allow the loaf to finish cooling on the wire rack.
Step 7: For the cinnamon cream cheese frosting, beat the cream cheese with the powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon for about a minute on medium speed until smooth. Spread this on the cooled bread and sprinkle with 2 tbsp chopped walnuts and pecans.
Step 8: Slice the bread into 10 to 12 pieces. Serve and enjoy!
Notes:
You can use a combination of 3/4 c. all-purpose flour with 3/4 c. whole wheat flour in place of the whole wheat pastry flour.
You can easily make this vegan by using dairy-free cream cheese and a flax egg in place of a regular egg.
Use 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour for a gluten-free version.
Adjust the baking time if making this into cupcakes or muffins. Make sure to check in between 15 to 18 minutes of baking.
Make the bread a day or two in advance. Simply wrap it in plastic wrap to seal in the moisture. Defrost before serving.
Be as creative and add your favourite add-ins like shredded coconut flakes, raisins, walnuts instead of pecans, or pineapple.
Nutrition Facts:
Servings: 12 slices, Serving size: 1 slice
Calories: 210kcal, Fat: 7.5g, Saturated fat: 3.7g, Carbohydrates: 33.2g, Fiber: 4.6g, Sugar: 14.9g, Protein: 4.3g
Ingredients
- Dry Ingredients:
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 c. quick oats
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 c. whole wheat pastry flour (or white whole wheat flour)
- Wet ingredients:
- 2 tbsp melted and cooled coconut oil (any oil or melted butter/vegan butter will work)
- 2 medium very ripe bananas, mashed (¾ c. mashed banana)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 c. coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
- 1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
- 1/3 c. almond or coconut milk
- 1/3 c. chopped pecans or walnuts, plus 2 tbsp for topping
- 1 heaping c. shredded carrots (about 2 large carrots)
- Optional add-ins:
- 1/2 c. unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 c. raisins
- Frosting:
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/3 c. powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened (reduced fat if you'd like)