This high-protein banana bread is soft, moist, and packed with flavor. You’d never guess it’s gluten-free and made from healthy, protein-packed ingredients like cottage cheese, eggs, and protein powder. If you’re looking to use up your overripe bananas and hit your protein goals at the same time, then this banana bread recipe is for you!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Use up your overripe bananas sitting on the countertop. Banana bread is the perfect option to make when you have overripe bananas that need to be used up before they go bad. The riper– the better for this recipe.
- Hit your protein goals with ease. If you’re trying to incorporate more protein into your diet, then this is the perfect recipe for you! With 15 grams of protein per slice, you can easily hit your macro goals with this delicious high-protein banana bread.
- This recipe is healthy and delicious. This is a sweet treat that you can feel good eating— since it’s made from healthy ingredients like bananas, cottage cheese, eggs, unrefined sugar, and coconut flour. You can satisfy your sweet tooth and still feel amazing afterwards knowing that you’re fueling your body with nourishing ingredients.
- The kids will love it. Trying to sneak more protein into your kiddo’s diets? They will absolutely love this soft and sweet high-protein banana bread. This is a sweet treat you can feel good about feeding to your kids.
- You’d never guess it was gluten free! This banana bread comes out moist and soft, and you’d never be able to tell that it’s made from naturally gluten-free coconut flour. The texture is out of this world!
How Much Protein Per Slice?
When you’re craving something sweet, instead of eating a sugary treat from the bakery around the block, try this high-protein banana bread. If you slice each loaf into 10 slices, you’ll get approximately 15 grams of protein per slice!
Protein provides the building blocks for our body. And unfortunately, most people are not eating adequate amounts of protein per day. Protein strengthens our bones, repairs our tissues, supports hormonal and metabolic health, and helps us to build and maintain muscle.
So sneaking some extra protein into your sweet treats (like in this banana bread recipe) will help you reach your protein goals with ease.
Ingredients
Bananas- If you have overripe bananas sitting on the counter waiting to get used, then this is the perfect recipe for you. You can use just-ripe bananas as well, but the riper the banana, the sweeter the flavor will be!
Butter- I use unsalted butter for this recipe and add in a dash of salt into the batter. You can substitute with salted butter if that’s all you have on hand— just make sure to skip the added pinch of salt.
Cottage cheese- Full fat cottage cheese is going to work best for this recipe. I don’t recommend substituting with low-fat.
Eggs- Eggs not only add extra protein to this recipe but are used as binder to hold the bread together.
Whey protein powder- You can use your favorite unflavored grass-fed whey protein powder in this recipe, or can substitute with vanilla protein powder for extra flavor!
Sugar- I use coconut sugar to make this banana bread, but you can substitute with any sugar you have on hand. I always recommend sticking to using unrefined sugar options, like coconut sugar, date sugar or maple sugar, since they’re much better for our health and taste just as delicious!
Coconut flour- You’d never guess that this banana bread is made with naturally gluten-free coconut flour. For the best texture, I don’t recommend substituting with other gluten-free flour options.
Cinnamon- You can’t have banana bread without the warm spicey flavor of cinnamon. You can also add pumpkin spice seasoning to this banana bread loaf during the fall season to spice it up (pun intended!)
Vanilla extract- Vanilla extract brings that sweet vanilla flavor and aroma that we all know and love in our baked goods.
Baking soda- Make sure to use baking soda and not baking powder to achieve the perfect rise.
Salt- A dash of sea salt helps perfectly compliments the sweet banana flavor and makes it pop.
How to Make High-Protein Banana Bread (Gluten Free)
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease 2 loaf pans and set aside.
2. Add bananas to a large mixing bowl and mash with a fork. Then add melted butter, cottage cheese, eggs, vanilla, and sugar of choice and mix together until smooth.
3. Stir in whey protein, coconut flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt until just combined.
4. Pour into pans. Smooth the tops. Add sliced banana for garnish. Bake loaves for 45–55 minutes.
5. Let cool fully before slicing. Serve with butter and flaky sea salt and enjoy!
How to Store
For best flavor and texture, I recommend storing your banana bread at room temperature. Allow the banana bread to cool entirely, then place in an airtight container. Store in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight for 3-4 days.
For longer storage, you can place your banana bread loaf in the refrigerator. Wrap the loaf to minimize air exposure and place in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 10 days.
High-Protein Banana Bread (Gluten Free)
Equipment
- 2 large loaf pans
Ingredients
- 6 ripe bananas mashed
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 6 large eggs
- 1 cup whey protein powder unflavored or vanilla
- 1 cup coconut sugar or sugar of choice
- 1 cup coconut flour
- 3 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tsp cinnamon
- 3 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
Optional
- 1 banana sliced, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease 2 loaf pans and set aside.
- Add bananas to a large mixing bowl and mash with a fork. Then add melted butter, cottage cheese, eggs, vanilla, and sugar of choice and mix together until smooth.
- Stir in whey protein, coconut flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt until just combined.
- Pour into pans. Smooth the tops. Add sliced banana for garnish. Bake loaves for 45–55 minutes.
- Let cool fully before slicing. Serve with butter and flaky sea salt and enjoy!
Notes
Want to Learn How to Make More Healthy Recipes From Scratch?
Once you start swapping store-bought staples for healthier, homemade alternatives– you won’t ever go back! There is nothing better than creating wholesome meals for your family that are nourishing and delicious! Which is why I created a recipe guide full of healthier, from-scratch versions of your favorite kitchen staples that you and your family will love. Grab a copy today, and fill your kitchen with delicious and simple recipes just like this one!
Did you make my high-protein banana bread recipe? Let me know in the comments! And to explore the latest recipes on the blog, check out my recent posts: