🍌 Banana Bread Recipe for Weight Gain: A Comprehensive Guide
1. Introduction
Looking for a banana bread recipe for weight gain? Whether you’re trying to build muscle, recover from illness, or simply add healthy calories, this guide analyzes ingredients, nutrition, and methods to create a rich, weight‑gain optimized banana bread—with a focus keyword density of about 2% (“banana bread recipe for weight gain”).
2. Why Use Banana Bread for Weight Gain
Traditional banana bread is calorie‑dense: a store‑bought slice (~100 g) often has ~421 kcal, ~15.8 g fat, ~68 g carbs and only ~5 g protein (Healthline).
Better news: ripe bananas bring natural sugars, potassium, vitamin B6. To gain weight, we need high calories + healthy macros.
3. Recipe Overview
This banana bread recipe for weight gain uses:
- Overripe bananas for moisture and sweetness
- Wholegrain or almond flour for protein/fiber
- Protein powder and Greek yogurt for muscle‑building calories
- Healthy fats: butter, coconut oil, nuts
Each slice delivers ~between 350 kcal to 450 kcal depending on portions.
4. Ingredients (Loaf ~10–12 slices)
- 3–4 overripe bananas (mashed, ≈360 g)
- 1/2–¾ cup protein powder (whey or plant)
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour or almond flour
- 1/3–1/2 cup Greek yogurt or yogurt + eggs
- 1/2 cup butter or coconut oil, melted
- 1/3–1/2 cup natural sweetener (honey/maple syrup) or brown sugar
- 2 eggs (optional: plus more butter if omitting eggs)
- 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon
- Optional mix‑ins: chopped nuts, seeds, chocolate chips
Read Also: Banana Bread Recipe
5. Why These Ingredients Support Weight Gain
- Bananas: high-calorie carb source, potassium, B6, fiber to help energy and digestion (Healthline, EatingWell, Ambitious Kitchen, Hurry The Food Up, Cookie and Kate).
- Protein powder & yogurt: boost protein to ~14–25 g per slice as shown in high‑protein banana bread recipes (Chocolate Covered Katie, The Big Man’s World ®, Clean & Delicious, Eat With Clarity).
- Whole‑grain or almond flour: added fiber, healthy fats, nutrients compared with refined flour (YouTube).
- Butter or oil + nuts: dense with healthy fats to raise calorie content.
6. Step‑by‑Step Directions
- Preheat oven to 175–180 °C (350 °F); line a 9×5″ loaf pan.
- In one bowl, mash bananas. Whisk in melted butter, sweetener, yogurt, eggs, vanilla.
- In another bowl, combine flours, protein powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon.
- Gently fold wet into dry until just combined. Stir in optional nuts/chocolate.
- Pour batter into pan. Bake ~40–50 min until a toothpick comes out mostly clean; if browning too quickly, tent with foil.
- Turn off oven at end, leave loaf inside 5 min before removing. Cool completely before slicing (EatingWell, Chocolate Covered Katie).
7. Nutrition Analysis
- Calories per slice: ~300–400 kcal (depending on mix)
- Protein: ~14–25 g (with protein powder and yogurt)
- Carbs: ~30–50 g (from bananas, flour, sweetener)
- Fats: ~10–18 g (from dairy/oil, nuts)
Compared with traditional banana bread: this banana bread recipe for weight gain is higher calorie, higher protein, and higher healthy fats.
8. Tips to Maximize Calories for Weight Gain
- Use full‑fat Greek yogurt or add extra butter/oil.
- Sprinkle nut butter or honey on each slice before eating.
- Add ground seeds or peanut butter swirls into batter.
- Include add‑ins like chocolate chips or dried fruit.
- Serve warm topped with nut butter or cream cheese for extra calories.
9. Key Benefits
- Nutrient‑rich: bananas, nuts, whole grains offer vitamins, minerals, fiber (Chocolate Covered Katie, Healthline, Cookie and Kate).
- High in protein and fat supports muscle mass and energy.
- Flexible: vegetarian, gluten‑free (using gluten‑free flour), dairy‑free options.
- Portable snack: great post‑workout, breakfast or snack.
11. Sample Serving Suggestions
- Pair a slice with a protein smoothie or milk for extra macros.
- Use as part of a breakfast platter: eggs, fruit, banana bread.
- Freeze slices; toast and spread peanut butter for a calorie‑dense snack.
12. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I lose weight with banana bread?
Typically, calorie‑dense banana bread isn’t ideal for weight loss, but lower sugar/flour versions with portion control can help (rimarecipes.com, Cookie and Kate, The Big Man’s World ®). For those looking to add healthy mass, this banana bread recipe for weight gain is ideal.
Q: Is banana bread healthy?
Traditional versions are high in sugar and refined carbs (Healthline). This updated banana bread recipe for weight gain uses nutritious swaps for more balanced macros.
13. Summary and Final Thoughts
This banana bread recipe for weight gain provides a delicious and effective approach to adding healthy calories into your diet. With protein‑rich ingredients, nutrient dense flours, bananas, and healthy fats, you can enjoy up to ~400 kcal per slice—ideal for building mass or recovering energy.

Banana Bread Recipe for Weight Gain
Equipment
- 1 Mixing Bowl One for dry, one for wet
- 1 Loaf Pan (9×5) Standard banana bread size
- 1 Oven Preheated to 350°F (175°C)
- 1 Spatula For mixing and folding
- 1 Measuring Cups For accurate measurement
- 1 Toothpick To check doneness
Ingredients
- 3–4 whole Overripe Bananas Mashed~360g
- 1/2 -3/4 cup Protein Powder Whey or plant-based
- 1 cup Whole Wheat Flour or almond flour
- 1/2 cup Greek Yogurt Full-fat preferred
- 1/2 cup Butter or Coconut Oil Melted
- 1/3–1/2 cup Maple Syrup or Honey Or brown sugar
- 2 large Eggs Room temperature
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Cinnamon Optional for flavor
- 1/2 cup Chopped Nuts or Chocolate Optional mix-ins
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease or line a 9×5” loaf pan.
- In a bowl, mash bananas. Mix in butter, sweetener, yogurt, and eggs. Whisk until smooth.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour, protein powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Gently fold dry mixture into wet mixture until just combined. Don’t overmix.
- Fold in nuts or chocolate chips if using.
- Pour the batter into the loaf pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean.
- Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Let it cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- For extra calories: serve with peanut butter or full-fat cream cheese.
- Store in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze individual slices.
- Customize with seeds, dried fruit, or swirls of nut butter.