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    MJ & Hungryman » Baby/Kid-Friendly Recipes

    Banana Date Bread

    By Min On November 4, 2017, Updated May 25, 2020

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

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    loaf of banana date bread with three slices laid flat with a toddler hand reaching for one

    Soft and moist, this healthy banana date bread is perfect for babies, toddlers, and adults! It's super EASY to make with minimal, nutritious ingredients. Enjoy for breakfast, snack, dessert, or even as a first birthday cake!

    three slices of banana date bread stacked on a wooden board
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Step By Step Instructions
    • Tips on How to Make the Perfect Banana Bread
    • Serving Suggestions for Babies
    • Storage Suggestions
    • More Baby-Friendly Finger Foods
    • Banana Date Bread

    I first developed this flourless banana bread when we started our baby led weaning journey. I did a lot of baking and coming up with all kinds of nutritious finger foods for my baby that he could easily grab and hopefully eat! The beginning stage is so rough, no?

    Since then, I must’ve made this bread…let’s just say A LOT! I’ve made it for my close friends and family, playdates, women’s group meetings, birthday parties, etc., and now it’s achieved the "you MUST bring it to every gathering" status.

    I don’t mind because it’s SUPER easy to whip up with ingredients that I always have on hand ;).

    You may also be interested in: 2 Ingredient Date Syrup

    Ingredients

    all the ingredients laid out on a white background

    Just want to highlight the main ingredients:

    Bananas: the more ripe they are, the sweeter and more moist the bread will be. And of course, it will taste more banana-y, which is what you want in a banana bread, right? ;).

    But if you want the bread to be less sweet, then you can choose less yellow/brown or spotted ones. I wouldn't recommend ones that have ANY hint of green though.

    If the bananas are ready before you're ready to bake, just peel and toss into the freezer so they will be there when you need them! You seriously have to try these eggless banana muffins next ;).

    Here's a fun infographic I thought you might enjoy! For more, check out my Instagram page @kidfriendly.meals.

    infographic with 3 bananas showing the difference between green, yellow, and brown ones

    Dates: I recommend using medjool dates. They are larger, more moist, and sweeter than the other varieties. But any will work. I like to purchase in bulk and keep them in my freezer to enjoy as a quick snack or add to baked goods as an alternative to refined sugar.

    Note: if you want the bread to be less sweet, then you can add less.

    Oats: I LOVE to use them in place of flour. They're a great source of essential nutrients for babies and toddlers, including soluble fiber, iron, and zinc. They also lend a soft and fluffy texture to baked goods.

    If you're confused about all the different types of oats that are out there, check out my 3 ingredient banana cookies post!

    Walnuts. This is optional but HIGHLY recommended. It's a great way to add healthy fats and additional protein to the bread as well as texture. And now you've got yourself a banana nut bread!

    Be sure to finely chop them for babies.

    Step By Step Instructions

    process shots on the left all the ingredients in a blender and on the right after blending with walnuts stirred in

    1. Add the oats first into the food processor/blender followed by the rest of the ingredients, minus the walnuts. Blend until smooth.

    2. Stir in walnuts, if adding.

    process shots with uncooked bread batter in a pan and on the right cooked bread in a pan

    3. Pour into a greased or lined loaf pan.

    4. Bake!

    Tips on How to Make the Perfect Banana Bread

    loaf of banana date bread with three slices laid flat with a toddler hand reaching for one
    • I like to describe this delicious treat as a cross between cake and bread. If you want it to be more bread-y, perhaps you can try adding more oats or other types of flour. But try this recipe as is first! 
    • Soak the dates in warm water for at least 30 minutes before adding to the blender! It'll result in a smoother consistency.
    • I highly recommend greasing the loaf pan with butter for a clean release after baking and for flavor! Yum!
    • To check for doneness, insert a toothpick in the middle and make sure it comes out clean.
    • Don't let it cool in the pan for too long as the bread will continue to cook and get soggy. Wait at least 10 minutes and transfer to a wire rack to cool COMPLETELY. Then slice. You can of course nibble on the end pieces while you wait, which is the hardest part of all this! ;).

    Serving Suggestions for Babies

    This banana date bread is such a delicious breakfast, snack, or dessert for the entire family, including your baby.

    If you wish to cut back on the sweetness you can use less dates. But be sure you're using pretty ripe bananas to ensure that the bread will still be moist or add less oats.

    It's delicious as is but for an added boost of nutrition, top with nut/seed butter, Greek yogurt, butter, cream cheese...

    Here are some actual examples of how I served this bread to my son when he was a baby. I was able to find examples with pretty much the same ingredients but served in an age-appropriate way.

    two bear suction plates with banana date bread, roasted beets, scrambled eggs, and zucchini sliced in different ways

    On the left (@ 8 months): banana bread topped with mashed avocado. Cut into finger strips

    On the right (@10 months): bread topped with almond butter and chia seeds. Once he developed his pincer grasp, I started cutting his food into smaller pieces.

    Here's more information on how to serve the right food size and texture depending on your baby's age.

    Storage Suggestions

    On the counter: Slice and transfer to a ziploc bag or an airtight container for 1-2 days.

    In the refrigerator: up to 5 days. You can enjoy cold or warm in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.

    In the freezer: you can slice and freeze individually. I like to use the flash freeze method. You can also freeze the entire loaf of banana bread. To do so, let it cool completely, wrap in plastic wrap, and then place in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag. Into the freezer it goes!

    So many people have made this for their child's first birthday as well!

    May be interested in: Healthy First Birthday Cake without Sugar

    More Baby-Friendly Finger Foods

    I originally shared this healthy banana bread recipe in my first e-cookbook. And just seeing how SO many of you guys are loving it and have used the recipe as your first birthday smash cake (topped with Greek yogurt), I wanted to share it here on my blog as well.

    If you and your baby love this recipe, hope you check out my Baby Led Weaning Beginner Bites. You'll find 29 more baby-friendly, easy, and nutritious, veggie-forward finger foods to try!

    Here are some examples from the cookbook:

    a collage of six images of baby friendly finger foods from my first ecookbook

    Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!

    three slices of banana date bread stacked on a wooden board

    Banana Date Bread

    Soft and moist, this healthy banana bread is perfect for babies, toddlers, and adults! It's super EASY to make with minimal, nutritious ingredients.
    5 from 73 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 10 slices
    Author: Min | MJ and Hungryman

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups (150g) rolled oats
    • 3 large ripe bananas
    • ¾ cup (4-5) dates, pitted See note
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ cup finely chopped walnuts, optional

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350F. Grease or line an 8.5x4.5 inch loaf pan.
    • Into a food processor/blender, add the oats then the rest of the ingredients minus the walnuts. Blend until smooth.
    • Stir in the walnuts, if adding.
    • Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
    • Bake for 30 minutes or so, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy!

    Notes

    • I like to describe this delicious treat as a cross between cake and bread. If you want it to be more bread-y, perhaps you can try adding more oats or other types of flour. But try this recipe as is first! 
    • Soak the dates in warm water for at least 30 minutes before adding to the blender! It'll result in a smoother consistency.
    • I highly recommend greasing the loaf pan with butter for a clean release after baking and for flavor! Yum!
    • It's delicious as is but for an added boost of nutrition, top with nut/seed butter, Greek yogurt, butter, cream cheese, etc.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 142kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Potassium: 347mg | Fiber: 4g | Vitamin A: 97IU | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1mg
    Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Diet Gluten Free
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Tag me @KidFriendly.Meals today!

    Did you make this Banana Date Bread for Babies? Follow me on Instagram post a photo and tag me, post a photo on my Facebook page, or save it to Pinterest. I love to see what you’re making! 

    More Baby/Kid-Friendly Recipes

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      No Bake Oatmeal Balls (with Peanut Butter)
    • A close up shot of sliced carrot cake.
      Eggless Carrot Walnut Cake
    • Two waffles with yogurt and fresh strawberries.
      Fluffy Strawberry Waffles
    • Stacked pancakes with maple syrup dripping down.
      Easy Carrot Pancakes

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    About Min

    Thank you so much for stopping by! I am Min, a Registered Dietitian, a Christ follower, a wife, and a mom to our two miracle babies! Currently, I’m having a ton of fun feeding their tummies and sharing our baby led weaning journey! Follow me on Instagram if interested in seeing daily menu as well as tips and tricks.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Haley says

      October 08, 2022 at 7:20 am

      Hi! I only have 2 bananas. Would this still work?

      Reply
      • Min says

        October 10, 2022 at 7:49 pm

        HI! I would try to follow the recipe. It may work but won't be as sweet and will be drier

        Reply
    2. Abby says

      August 30, 2022 at 8:29 am

      5 stars
      Such an easy delicious recipe!! I even added a few chocolate chips! So yummy!

      Reply
      • Min says

        August 30, 2022 at 6:13 pm

        Yay! I love adding chocolate chips too!

        Reply
    3. Enni says

      June 27, 2022 at 9:07 am

      5 stars
      So easy to make with ingredients already on hand. it's yummy for baby and adults (me!). Have just gotten more bananas to make more of this bread! My daughter is turning 1 in 2 weeks and looking for ideas for variations.

      Reply
    4. Hui Min says

      May 30, 2022 at 9:05 am

      5 stars
      My 4 year old said that this is not just delicious… it’s fantastic! All 3 kids - 7yo, 4yo and 11months old love this banana date bread! Thank you so much for your recipes… you made baking so easy and nutritional that something so sweet can be so guilt free! Will it still work if I add grated carrots? I know you have another banana carrot muffin recipe but this one seems much easier 😜

      Reply
      • Min says

        May 31, 2022 at 5:59 am

        This makes my heart sing!! Thank you so much for sharing! And sure you can add them!

        Reply
    5. Jess says

      May 01, 2022 at 6:14 pm

      Oh my! These are SO good! Just made a batch of muffins instead of a loaf and they turned out so lovely and puffy! My 17mo and I will polish these off in a couple days 🙂

      Reply
      • Min says

        May 01, 2022 at 8:40 pm

        Not lying this is what I ALWAYS make for playdates (mainly because my mama friends ask for it haha). So glad you guys love it too!

        Reply
    6. Sandra says

      February 28, 2022 at 9:25 am

      5 stars
      Delicious!! So quick and easy to make. My husband, over year old and me love it!! I love that it doesn't have a ton of fat in the ingredients so that it's appropriate to add any butter or full fat yogurt/cream cheese.

      Reply
      • Min says

        March 02, 2022 at 8:10 pm

        So glad you guys are loving this recipe! Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    7. Diana says

      February 08, 2022 at 11:39 am

      How much water should i added? Its not on the ingredients

      Reply
      • Min says

        February 08, 2022 at 12:55 pm

        You're not adding it to the recipe. It's to soak the dates so they're softened before adding to the blender

        Reply
    8. Natalia says

      January 19, 2022 at 7:40 am

      Hi can I baked on an airfryer instead of an oven?
      And can I replace the dates with honey? Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Min says

        January 19, 2022 at 7:50 pm

        Hi! You can replace dates with honey but not sure about the airfryer. I don't own one either so I apologize for not being able to offer any suggestions

        Reply
    9. Slgi Choi says

      November 19, 2021 at 2:02 pm

      5 stars
      Best banana bread ever!
      I am sharing this recipe to everybody I know. They get so excited to learn your website. Anyways this is really tasty, even for adults. I mean,, I am quite a baker so I have tried and made 100 banana breads in my life and this is REALLY good. I don’t like too sweat stuffs so this is actually perfect sweetness for me and incredibly moist!!! How?? I guess the oil component comes from the Oats..

      Reply
      • Min says

        November 20, 2021 at 7:45 pm

        So glad to hear!!

        Reply
    10. Svenja says

      November 11, 2021 at 12:37 pm

      5 stars
      So juicy and super easy. I always blend the oats first, take them out again and add the wet ingredients on the bottom of the blender and the dry ones last. Otherwise it doesn't cope and the ingredients don't get mixed properly.

      Reply
    11. Anna says

      November 11, 2021 at 1:52 am

      5 stars
      Very good recipe I also love eating this banana bread! I made it for my daughter's first birthday she loved it! You can add more banana or put less oats if you want it to be a bit more moist.

      Reply
      • Min says

        November 11, 2021 at 10:24 am

        I'm learning that a lot of families are enjoying this on their baby's first birthday! So neat!

        Reply
    12. Cali says

      November 10, 2021 at 11:14 am

      This is hands down the best banana bread recipe that I've made for my kids. We have this on weekly rotation and my kids love it - breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack. Makes great lunch food as leftovers. Keeps well in or out of fridge. We skip the walnuts because the school is nut-free, but sometimes add raisins or chocolate chips (after blending, before pouring into the mold). Makes great mini- or regular sized muffins.

      Reply
      • Min says

        November 10, 2021 at 7:29 pm

        So happy to hear! Will have to try them as muffins too!

        Reply
    13. Nicola Fernandes says

      November 10, 2021 at 11:03 am

      5 stars
      This is my GO TO. For birthday cake or treats. Kids love it and grandparents love it. Easy to whip up. I always heat it up when I serve it.

      Reply
      • Min says

        November 10, 2021 at 7:24 pm

        Love it!

        Reply
    14. DANUBIA Santos says

      October 12, 2021 at 9:47 pm

      5 stars
      I’m not a mom but I have a very fit lifestyle and u loooove your recipes !!! I made this banana bread today and my husband and I loooooved it!!! Thanks for the effort you put into your website and recipes !! Xoxo

      Reply
      • Min says

        October 18, 2021 at 3:52 pm

        SOO glad to hear! Thanks so much for being here and for trying out my recipes. This one's one of my husband's fav too!

        Reply
    15. Meilian says

      October 09, 2021 at 7:25 am

      Hi, would a flax egg work in this recipe?

      Reply
    16. Cecilia says

      September 28, 2021 at 7:57 am

      5 stars
      We LOVE this recipe at our house! Would it work as muffins?

      Reply
      • Min says

        September 28, 2021 at 6:25 pm

        Haven't tried but I bet it will work!

        Reply

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    I am MJ, a registered dietitian and a mom of 2. I truly hope you’ll enjoy all the recipes and tips that I share on what and how to feed your child!

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