Simple Healthy Banana Bread

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray or line it with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth. You should have about 1 ½ cups of mashed bananas.

Add honey (or maple syrup), eggs, unsweetened applesauce, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Mix until well combined.

In another bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir the dry ingredients until well mixed.

Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet banana mixture until just combined. Do not overmix.

If using, fold in the walnuts or chocolate chips gently into the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.