Banana bread is a timeless comfort food moist, fragrant, and easy to prepare. But if you’re mindful of nutrition or managing calorie intake, one question always comes up: How many calories are in banana bread?
The answer depends on serving size, ingredients, and even where you buy it. In this guide, we’ll break down banana bread calories per slice, per 100 g, and per loaf, compare homemade vs store-bought options, and show you how to make lighter variations without losing flavor.
Banana Bread Calories at a Glance
- Calories per slice (about 60 g): 185–240 kcal (depending on recipe)
- Calories per 100 g: 277–326 kcal
- Calories per loaf (900 g–1,000 g): 2,500–3,200 kcal
- Starbucks Banana Loaf (115 g slice): ~360 kcal
Key takeaway: banana bread is calorie-dense, thanks to its combination of flour, sugar, bananas, and fat.
Banana Bread Calories by Serving Size
Banana Bread Calories per Slice
Most homemade recipes yield slices weighing 55–70 g. On average, one slice provides ~200 calories, though richer recipes may exceed 250 kcal.
Banana Bread Calories per 100 g
A 100 g portion roughly 1.5 slices contains 277–326 kcal, based on USDA and recipe database references.
Banana Bread Calories per Loaf
A standard 9x5 inch loaf (900–1,000 g) delivers 2,500–3,200 kcal in total. Dividing evenly into 12–15 slices gives 185–240 kcal per piece.
Banana Bread Muffin Calories
A muffin-sized serving (65–80 g) usually ranges from 190–250 kcal, depending on fat and sugar content.
Banana Bread Calories by Recipe Style
The base recipe greatly affects calories. Here’s how different variations compare:
- Classic Banana Bread with Butter: ~200–230 kcal per slice
- Banana Bread with Oil (canola/coconut): 210–250 kcal per slice
- Low-Sugar Banana Bread: 150–180 kcal per slice
- Whole Wheat Banana Bread: ~200 kcal per slice (higher fiber, same calories)
- Oat or Almond Flour Banana Bread: 180–220 kcal per slice
- Greek Yogurt Banana Bread: 160–190 kcal per slice
- Vegan Banana Bread (no dairy/eggs): 180–200 kcal per slice
- Protein Banana Bread (with whey/pea protein): 170–210 kcal per slice
- Low-Calorie Banana Bread (<100 kcal per slice): possible with heavy substitutions, but usually smaller portions
What Affects Banana Bread Calories?
Several ingredients drive calorie variation:
- Bananas: ripe bananas add natural sugars and carbs; more bananas = higher calories.
- Flour: all-purpose flour vs whole wheat, oat, or almond flour can slightly shift calorie counts.
- Fat source: butter, margarine, or oil contributes 80–120 calories per tablespoon.
- Sweeteners: sugar, honey, maple syrup, or dates add 40–60 calories per tablespoon.
- Moisture & density: a dense loaf packs more calories per slice than a lighter loaf.
Mix-ins and Toppings That Add Calories
Banana bread is often customized with add-ins. Here’s how they change the calorie profile:
- Walnuts or pecans: +40–50 kcal per slice
- Chocolate chips: +50–70 kcal per slice
- Blueberries: minimal impact (+10–15 kcal)
- Peanut butter swirl: +60–80 kcal per slice
- Butter or cream cheese spread: +70–100 kcal per topping
Banana Bread Calories: Homemade vs Store-Bought
Starbucks Banana Loaf
One slice (115 g) contains ~360 kcal, 15 g fat, and 46 g carbs.
Costco/Kirkland Banana Nut Loaf
A serving provides around 310 kcal, with higher fat due to nuts.
Homemade Recipes (Allrecipes Database)
- Classic banana bread (15 slices): ~196 kcal/slice
- Banana banana bread (12 slices): ~231 kcal/slice
- Rich banana bread (10 slices): ~291 kcal/slice
- Chef John’s banana bread (12 slices): ~334 kcal/slice
Observation: store-bought slices are typically larger and higher in calories than homemade slices.
Banana Bread Macros: Carbs, Fat, Protein
- Carbohydrates: 30–35 g per slice (58–66% of calories)
- Sugars: 12–20 g per slice (natural + added)
- Fat: 7–11 g per slice (29–35% of calories)
- Protein: 2–4 g per slice (5–7% of calories)
- Fiber: 1–2 g per slice
Banana bread is carb-dominant, with moderate fat and low protein.
Banana Bread Calories Compared to Other Bakes
- Banana bread (200 kcal/slice) vs muffin (300–450 kcal) → lower, but still dense.
- Banana bread vs pumpkin bread: similar, but pumpkin bread is often slightly lower due to less fruit sugar.
- Banana bread vs zucchini bread: zucchini bread may be lower calorie if less sugar is used.
- Banana bread vs sandwich bread: white bread averages ~80 kcal/slice less than half of banana bread.
How to Calculate Calories in Homemade Banana Bread
Two reliable methods:
- Ingredient-based calculation: sum total calories of all ingredients, divide by number of slices.
- Weight-based estimation: weigh your slice and use 277–326 kcal/100 g as a benchmark.
How to Lower Banana Bread Calories
Want a lighter loaf? Try these adjustments:
- Reduce sugar: use very ripe bananas to replace added sugar.
- Swap fats: replace part of the butter/oil with applesauce or Greek yogurt.
- Use whole grains: oat flour or whole wheat for higher fiber and satiety.
- Portion control: bake mini loaves or muffins for built-in smaller servings.
- Add low-calorie bulk: incorporate zucchini or pumpkin for volume without calories.
Banana Bread Calories and Special Diets
- For weight loss: focus on portion size; banana bread is energy-dense.
- For high-protein needs: add whey, pea protein, or Greek yogurt.
- For low-sugar diets: replace sugar with stevia or monk fruit; reduce carbs with almond/oat flour.
- For vegan/gluten-free diets: calorie counts are similar, but ingredient swaps matter.
Storage, Moisture, and Calorie Counts
Freshly baked banana bread may weigh more due to moisture. Over a few days, slices lose water weight, slightly increasing calories per gram. Freezing slices preserves both weight and calorie accuracy.
Banana Bread Calories: FAQs
How many calories are in a slice of banana bread?
About 185–240 kcal for a 60 g slice.
How many calories are in 100 g of banana bread?
277–326 kcal, depending on recipe.
Is banana bread high in calories?
Yes, banana bread is calorie-dense because it combines flour, sugar, fat, and fruit.
How many calories are in homemade vs store-bought banana bread?
Homemade recipes average 196–291 kcal per slice. Coffee shop slices (e.g., Starbucks) are ~360 kcal.
Are there low-calorie banana bread recipes?
Yes, substitutions like applesauce, oat flour, or stevia can lower calories to ~100–150 kcal per slice.
Does adding nuts or chocolate change the calories a lot?
Yes, nuts or chocolate chips add 50–70 kcal per slice.
Conclusion
Banana bread is comforting, versatile, and delicious but it’s also calorie-rich. Whether you enjoy a homemade slice or a café loaf, knowing the calorie count helps you make informed choices. With a few recipe adjustments, you can enjoy banana bread that fits into any diet whether you’re aiming for weight loss, higher protein, or simply balance.
