Low-Fat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

This is one of the best "healthy" banana bread recipe I've found. With a few of my own adjustments to the ingredients I was able make it Weight Watchers friendly. I used whole wheat flour and applesauce to increase the fiber as well as reduce the calories. If you have never used applesauce for your baking needs it is a good substitute for most sweeteners and can replace oil. Applesauce acts as the fat because it keeps the flour from mixing completely with the wet ingredients and forming a rubbery texture. Most importantly it's moist and tastes delicious. That's what's on my table tonight!

Applesauce can replace the oil and most of the sweetener in the recipe.  It makes the bread moist and tastes great.   - See more at: http://theorganazi.com/2014/03/23/applesauce-banana-bread-recipe/#sthash.OsXmmDce.dpuf

Applesauce can replace the oil and most of the sweetener in the recipe.  It makes the bread moist and tastes great.   - See more at: http://theorganazi.com/2014/03/23/applesauce-banana-bread-recipe/

Applesauce can replace the oil and most of the sweetener in the recipe.  It makes the bread moist and tastes great.   - See more at: http://theorganazi.com/2014/03/23/applesauce-banana-bread-recipe/#sthash.OsXmmDce.dpuf

Applesauce can replace the oil and most of the sweetener in the recipe.  It makes the bread moist and tastes great. - See more at: http://theorganazi.com/2014/03/23/applesauce-banana-bread-recipe/#sthash.Rc2gut7S.dpuf

Applesauce can replace the oil and most of the sweetener in the recipe.  It makes the bread moist and tastes great. - See more at: http://theorganazi.com/2014/03/23/applesauce-banana-bread-recipe/#sthash.Rc2gut7S.dpuf

Low-Fat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread:
Makes about 12-14 slices
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes 

Ingredients:

• 6 ripe medium bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons light butter, softened
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 4 large egg whites
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup of semi-sweet morsels (I used Nestle Toll House)
• baking spray, coconut oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease one 8x5 inch loaf pan with baking spray. (You can make 2 separate loaves. This will reduce your baking time by 15 minutes)
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt with a wire whisk. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Add egg whites, bananas, apple sauce and vanilla, and beat at medium speed until thick.
4. Add flour mixture and chocolate chips (put additional chocolate chips aside to sprinkle on top, about 2 tablespoons), then blend at low speed until combined. Do not over mix.
5. Pour batter into loaf pan (sprinkle remaining chocolate chips) and bake on the center rack for 65 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Let the pan cool at least 20 minutes, bread should be room temperature before slicing.

Note:  On the Weight Watcher program one slice will be about 5 points (points decrease if chocolate chips are left out). Make sure your bananas are very ripe for best results.