Get bananas in a bread and they're like that person in the room that has to be the center of attention. You know the type I'm talking about? it's ALWAYS all about them. That's bananas - their flavor completely takes over everything! Bananas are really the narcissists of the fruit world, if you think about it.
That's why I love this banana bread with the rum, coconut and lime glaze! All the other stuff in this bread is able to fight for its rightful position, putting that banana flavor in its place, so it's not all about the bananas. If you are looking for unique banana bread recipes, without an overpowering banana taste, then this Tropical Banana Bread with Lime Glaze is the one for you!
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🥘 Ingredients
The tropical coconut, rum and lime flavors in this tropical banana bread recipe really balance the banana flavor!
For this recipe, you'll need:
- all-purpose flour
- whole wheat flour
- baking soda
- salt
- brown sugar
- unsalted butter
- eggs
- ripe bananas
- Vanilla non-fat Greek yogurt
- amber rum
- vanilla extract
- flaked sweetened coconut
- powdered sugar
- fresh limes
*See recipe card for quantities
This banana bread with Greek yogurt is considered quick bread because it uses baking soda, not yeast, as it's leavener. And that's what a quick bread is: any bread, such as muffins or corn bread, leavened with baking powder or baking soda and NOT yeast. Also, it's a sweet bread that doesn't require rising time and can be baked as soon as the batter is mixed. My Date Nut Loaf and Healthy Carrot Loaf are also extremely popular quick bread recipes you'll probably want to try as well!
📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Rum: You can substitute 1 tsp rum extract (affiliate link) for the amber rum if you prefer a non-alcoholic version. It's available at most grocery stores. However, you'll need to substitute for the remaining amount of liquid with water, white grape juice, pineapple juice or apple juice. (3 tbsps minus 1 tsp)
- Butter: You can use salted butter, but be sure to skip the salt in the recipe
- Greek Yogurt: You can use plain non-fat Greek yogurt instead of vanilla, but you'll need to add another 2 tablespoon of brown sugar and an additional teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Brown Sugar: you can substitute white sugar for the brown sugar, but just add a teaspoon of molasses as well.
- Mini loaves: You can make these into min loaves as well. You'll need to bake them for about half the amount of time or until a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean
- Coconut: You could use toasted coconut
🍽Equipment
You'll need a large bowl, a whisk, an electric mixer and a 9x5 loaf pan for this banana loaf. *See recipe card for recommended equipment links and photos
🌡️Storage
- Fridge: The loaf can be stored in a sealed airtight container or freezer Ziplock bag for up to 4 days in the fridge.
- Freezer: This banana loaf freezes well for up to 3 months. You can leave it in the loaf pan to freeze, if you prefer (I do this sometimes). Simply cover the loaf with Glad Press n' Seal (affiliate link) or plastic wrap and slide the entire loaf into an extra large Ziplock freezer bag. Or you can use a loaf pan that comes with a lid. I would still put that into a Ziplock bag, just to ensure it stays as fresh as possible.
💭Top Tip
Peel your bananas, BEFORE you freeze them. It took me years, lots of minor frostbite from peeling frozen bananas and having frozen bananas as painful as frozen hockey pucks fall out of the freezer onto my toes, before I discovered this very logical way of freezing bananas!
🌡️ Storage
- Fridge: The loaf can be stored in a sealed airtight container or freezer Ziplock bag for up to 4 days in the fridge.
- Freezer: This banana bread recipe freezes well for up to 3 months. You can leave it in the loaf pan to freeze, if you prefer (I do this sometimes). Simply cover the loaf with Glad Press n' Seal (affiliate link) or plastic wrap and slide the entire loaf into an extra large Ziplock freezer bag. Or you can use a loaf pan that comes with a lid. I would still put that into a Ziplock bag, just to ensure it stays as fresh as possible.
👪 Serving Size
This tropical-tasting banana bread recipe serves 10. However, you can double or triple this recipe by adjusting the serving size on the recipe card. Just click on the serving size (it's highlighted in blue) and select the number of servings you’d like. You'll need extra loaf pans. *You can freeze the extra loaves (see storage, above).
And if you love this tropical flavor, try my Banana Nice Cream (with coconut and lime)
If you're looking for banana bread ideas with real ingredients then this healthy Tropical Banana Bread will blow you away! You'll still know bananas are in there, but they won't be running the entire flavor show; and isn't that the way it's supposed to be?
⭐ Reviews
Did you make this recipe? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!
📋 Healthy Tropical Banana bread (with lime glaze) recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup butter softened
- 2 large eggs
- 4 medium ripe mashed banana
- ¼ cup vanilla non-fat greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons amber rum * or substitute 1 teaspoon rum extract for non-alcoholic version and add additional amounts of liquid (see variations and substitutions)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup flaked sweetened coconut
Glaze
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lime juice
- ½ teaspoon lime zest
Garnish
- sweetened coconut flakes (if desired)
- lime zest (if desired)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F (175 degrees C) and spray a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Combine flours, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add banana, yogurt, rum, and vanilla; beat until blended.
- Add dry ingredients to banana mixture; beat at low speed just until moist. Stir in ½ cup coconut.
- Pour batter into greased loaf pan coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon coconut, if desired.
- Bake at 350° F/176 degrees C for 55-60 minutes (I cooked it 10 minutes longer, as it wasn’t quite done) or until a cake tester/wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan.
Glaze
- In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, lime juice, and zest stirring with a whisk; drizzle over warm bread. Cool completely on wire rack.
Garnish
- Garnish with additional coconut flakes and lime zest, if desired.
Dana
I am so so so in love with the idea of a tropical banana bread. Such a great idea! I've been hankering these brighter flavors as I anticipate warmer weather. I can't wait to make this!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Dana! I know what you mean about hankering for brighter/tropical flavours! So good to be out of this cold snap finally 🙂
Chef Sous Chef
I love the addition of rum to baking. It definitely provides a tropical feel to this banana loaf!
Terri Gilson
thank you! yes, I love the rum too....
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
I love a good banana bread, but I must say, you really caught my attention with the tropical flavours! It's exactly what I need right now as winter hangs on around here!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Leanne... Yes, the tropical flavours really keep the bananas from overpowering the bread!
Colleen
I know exactly what you mean about the banana time frame! My freezer is full of bananas, too, because of that. But why didn't I ever think to peel them first? Thanks for that, and the loaf sounds yummy, Terri!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Colleen! Yes, when I discovered the 'peeling before freezing' thing, I wondered why I hadn't thought of it before. I guess we just keep doing what we've been taught to do and have always done 🙂
Kristen
Terri what an awesome idea! I would have never thought of this combo, but it makes perfect sense. I’m making this on the weekend.
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Kristen! Hope you enjoyed it 🙂
Kim
This looks delicious! (That glaze! YUM!) I am the exact same way about bananas - I have a VERY small window of opportunity to eat them, before they become banana bread.
Terri Gilson
Hi Kim -Thank you! Yes, thank god for freezers and banana bread or I'd toss so many bananas!
Bernice Hill
You and I are exactly the same with the bananas, any brown and into the freezer they go. I only learned recently to peel them first, thanks to my daughter's nice cream infatuation!
I have two 'distressed' bananas on my counter top right now, perfect for this recipe!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Bernice! Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Jo Vanderwolf
The tip about peeling bananas before freezing them changed my life lol Soooo much easier.
Brilliant combo of flavors too. Rum, lime, coconut, AND banana?? Get in my belly! 🙂
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Jo! I know how you feel - that banana hack changed my life too :)!