Whole Wheat Banana Bread with Coconut Cinnamon Streusel.
When the most exciting part of your day includes a thrice ran dishwasher, good banana bread is a huge thing.
I know. I make a good amount of recipes containing the words “banana” and “bread.” And “good amount” probably doesn’t even do my obsession justice. It’s simply that it’s one of my favorite snacks, and I love when a dessert can be classified as a snack because it’s a quick bread. Right? It’s not a treat. It’s a SNACK. Eat as much as you want. Of your snack.
Also, this is total comfort food for me. I used to love the days when my mom made banana bread, even if we consumed it like we hadn’t eaten in four days. Seriously… it lasted about five minutes? Maybe less. We were vultures.
Now, this is embarrassing.
In the last year, I’ve made banana bread tres leches cake and banana bourbon cupcakes. I made two different kinds of banana muffins, another cake that is upside down and caramelized and bread containing peanut butter and bacon (whaaaaat). I’ve put bananas in cookies and in oatmeal. I put it inside more cupcakes, this time with pretzels and peanut butter and stuffed inside other cookies deemed appropriate for breakfast. My favorite might have been this banana bread snack cake that tastes just like banana bread but takes less than half the time to make. And it has whole wheat flour so it’s incredible healthy. Uh huh.
Oh yeah… and I even fried banana bread into french toast. That was amazing. And not healthy at all.
Too much?
I’d say I have an issue.
But really, why is it that banana bread combos never get old? They just don’t. Well, not for me at least. I could make banana bread ten ways to Sunday and it still wouldn’t be enough.
So this bread: it’s made without butter but with coconut oil. It is incredibly moist (apologies – would you rather me say clammy or damp?) and soft. Thick slices are the way to go, FYI. And the struesel… oh mylanta the streusel. It’s so… struesely. I don’t know if I can ever eat banana bread without streusel again. I’m so screwed.
Coconut haters, don’t cry. The bread has no actual coconut inside of it and you can easily leave the coconut extract out. The coconut oil does NOT taste coconutty. You can also take the coconut out of the topping if you so desire. If you’re in the market for loving coconut though? Like, say you enjoy the flavor but hate the texture, and would reeeeeeeally love to love coconut? I suggest trying the unsweetened flaked coconut that I use in most of my recipes. It doesn’t have quite the squeak-between-your-teeth feeling (are you cringing?) that the more common, sweetened shredded coconut does and over time, it may convert you. It might just change your life. Maybe. I don’t know.
I just know that this bread is essential to my well being now. Trouble.
Whole Wheat Coconut Banana Bread with Coconut Streusel
Ingredients
- 1 2/3 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup loosely packed brown sugar
- 1/3 cup canned coconut milk
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted and slightly cooled
- 4 bananas, mashed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
streusel
- 2/3 cups brown sugar
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
- 2 teaspoons unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 9×5 loaf pan thoroughly with nonstick spray. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt, whisking thoroughly. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and brown sugar until smooth. Add in coconut milk and coconut oil, whisking until combined. Stir in mashed bananas, vanilla and coconut extracts until mixed. Slowly stir in dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Pour batter in the greased loaf pan.
- Combine all the streusel ingredients in a bowl and mix with your hands until butter is easily dispersed. You want the entire mixture to be moistened. Evenly sprinkle on top of the banana bread batter. Place loaf pan on a baking sheet and set in the oven. Bake for 75-85 minutes, or until center is set. If the streusel begins to brown, tent the bread with aluminum foil.
- Remove and let cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
I’m also streuseling everything from now on. It’s a verb.
137 Comments on “Whole Wheat Banana Bread with Coconut Cinnamon Streusel.”
Thank goodness I caught that whole closed comment thing. Mainly because I have too much to say about banana bread. That’s probably sad, right? Anywhooo – my mom hates banana flavored things – HATES. I think she’s out of her mind. Needless to say, she never made us banana bread growing up. However, she did hair out of our house and one of her clients (who came every month) would bring us banana bread, zucchini bread, and cookies. It was the best day of the month.
i’m on my second coconut/coconut oil recipe of…the week. I love it just as much as you do. And I did a banana bread series last summer. For 7 weeks, I had a new version each week. And lately…I have to force myself not to make it b/c like you, it’s comfort food for me, too! This looks crazy good and the streusel, oh yes!
I’m stealing all the topping- happening. Banana bread rocks
Oh my gosh, this looks AMAZING!! Now if I could just get my husband to save me some banana’s! I can’t get over the topping, I feel I could get that by itself!
You win. You always do.
You know what will take this already over the top bread…over the top (some more..)….
Roast your bananas in the oven first…brings out the flavour. So delicious!
I’m so making this bread this weekend!!Thank you for continually hating me and my hips! ;)
Oh my word! That streusel topping looks insane. I don’t think there is anything wrong with using bananas in everything. It’s kind of like using bacon in everything. It just works! Also, I certainly do not want to think of my banana bread as “damp”. Yuck!
There will never be enough banana recipes.
I’m pretty sure I need this in my life like YESTERDAY. Also… I’m kind of annoyed that my kids ate all the bananas at breakfast. This bread is gorgeous!!
Oh man, this looks SO good!
I’m in love with this recipe! I’m on a serious coconut buzz right now – I just can’t get enough so this recipe is perfect. Plus, I have 5 bananas that somehow went from bright green to dark yellow and black overnight. Those babies need to be whipped into some delicious bread. I love the streusel topping idea too – it really adds an elegant quality to the bread and makes it look so much more impressive. Can’t wait to bake!
I’m obsessed. The end.
OH my word, this looks perfect!!!
I didn’t eat many banana -baked goods growing up but I totally get it now. Started with a banana nut muffin for me and then it morphed into banana-choc chip bread and cookies and different combos on all these. You’re right – it does not get old. As long as the bananas are super ripe, it is usually heavenly! Your topping here looks delicious!
I love banana bread…especially warm right out of the oven. It’s dangerous to keep in my house! I’d love to try out that topping! But I have never found unsweetened coconut flakes…where do you buy it?
I can find them at all of my local grocery stores – you could definitely find them at Whole Foods or a health/organic store. If not, that link above to Bob’s Red Mill is where you can buy them online!
This sounds amazing. I die for anything with streusel toppinging
Looks incredible!
You won’t hear me complaining about your banana bread obsession any time soon! This one is particularly crave worthy thanks to the addition of coconut.
Um, yum.
Now I can get rid of all those frozen banana’s in my freezer!
I’ve never heard of streusel on banana bread! Yum.. and dangerous for fitting in to my pants.
You do not have issues. I could take banana bread in any form, any day of the week. And yes, next time, please describe the bread as clammy and offer it up with a stick of deodorant. ;)
It is easy to understand – we don’t eat the bananas and then the only two thinkable things to do are…
1 – bake
2- freeze for smoothies
WHO WANTS to do 2? No one! Bake, bake, bake those bananas into cakes :D
Loves great, Jessica!
Fresh out of the oven banana bread with melty butter on top has always been one of my favorites! Your streusel topping looks amazing and I can’t wait to try your recipe – I know my family will love it!
I’m a fan of banana bread and often make it when our bananas get dark. I’ve made it umpteen different ways but have never added coconut milk to it another favorite ingredient of mine. Great recipe!
Banana bread (or anything) rocks. Keep ’em coming!
I love putting coconut in my breads and the combination of coconut and banana is a wonderful combination! I love this recipe!
This looks delicious, I want to make this now!
There can NEVER be too many banana bread recipes in this world, so you just keep on posting them! I bake something “banana” almost weekly, and you’re right, the numerous ways to eat it just never go old. This bread looks awesome!
while banana bread isn’t one of my personal food vices, I have been lovvvving your use of coconut recently !!!! THAT is one of my favorite foods/flavors to play with :)
So many of my favorite things in one of my favorite things…banana bread. I love the addition of coconut, cinnamon, AND whole wheat. I know I’m going to love this!
Banana Bread…one of the greatest comfort foods EVER! Cannot wait to try this version. It looks IN-credible!
Also, I’m so happy to see someone else struggle for a synonym for “moist.” Sometimes, you just have to say it, no matter how much people hate it. :)
No complaints on more banana bread recipes!! This looks incredible and I LOVE using coconut oil for the moist (ew) texture!!
Banana bread with streusel?! Why is this not a thing yet. Jessica, you’re a banana bread revolutionary.
This minus the coconut would be amazing! (sorry coconut lovers hee hee)
pretty much everything about this bread is amazing. now i know what to do with our extra bananas!
How yummy is this?
Keep the banana recipes coming :) I am also really into coconut oil right now. I use it for everything from sautes to baked goods to salad dressing. Nom nom nom :)
Keep the banana recipes coming! Love them all!
Being a coconut lover, I will bookmark this for my next batch of spotty bananas. I haven’t made banana bread in too long!
You have no idea how many brown bananas are in my kitchen right now. Only problem is, I can’t find unsweetened coconut anywhere around here! I may need to order online.
you could still use sweetened in a pinch! it will probably be delicious.
OMG dying over this recipe but so sad I’m out of coconut oil. Probably because I use all of it up to take off my eye liner…oops. I must buy some coconut extract and get on this!
This bread looks amazing Jessica! I love using coconut oil in quick breads, it makes it so moist and gives it something just a little bit extra. :)
Love the coconut streusel. I’m thinking that coconut would make a lovely facial; any excuse to smear coconut on my face!
how pathetic is it that the first thing i thought was…when did she get a normal sized loaf pan?
I’d kill for this right now!!! lol
I’m definitely a new coconut convert – I love love love the flavor, but sometimes the texture is just too much for me. Thanks for the tip about the flaked coconut. I’m definitely going to check it out!
Every day I’m streuseling.
*insert music*
I am now hungry for a “snack.” Looks amaaaazing!
Made this scrumptious bread this morning. I had to make it ASAP, so I had to make a couple changes to avoid the store… 3 bananas, no coconut extract.. I assed some applesauce to make up for lost banana. 3/4 c coconut sugar in the bread, and 1/3 in topping, plus used trader joes newish sweetened coconut in the topping. Yuuuummmmm best ever.
OMG, so I think I am going to make this tonight in place of watching Nashville- love ANYTHING with banana and coconut! I might even toss in a few chocolate chips…. :)
I do not have coconut oil and may or may not be too lazy to run to the store after work- can I use olive oil instead?
I would use olive oil – you’d want a more neutral flavored oil, like canola or vegetables? Or you could use butter!
And suddenly my little bowl of oatmeal for breakfast seems so depressing… MUST MAKE THIS!
Thank goodness you extol the virtues and banana bread as snack, because it totally is. Banana Bread is one of those things that is pure comfort from start to finish. Making the bread is half the comfort!