As soon as it gets close to spring, I find myself wanting carrot cake. I don’t know why my mind seems to block it out the rest of the year. But as soon as it starts to warm up a bit, my mind starts drifting to carrot cake recipes!
We don’t really need a carrot cake sitting around at our house, so I figured I would go with the next best thing, carrot cake banana bread!
This quick and easy carrot cake banana bread is a healthy version of carrot cake. Instead of white flour, white whole wheat flour is used. Instead of lots of oil, yogurt and bananas are used. And finally, instead of lots of sugar, honey is used.
But don’t worry, all of those healthy swaps didn’t ruin the flavor! It still has that rich, slightly spicy flavor that we love about carrot cake.
The frosting on the other hand, isn’t so healthy. So, if you want to go the healthy route, skip the frosting. If you want to go the authentic carrot cake route, make sure to slather a thick layer on!
Then cut a couple of thick slices to enjoy while you wait for spring to finally arrive! Or if you live where there’s no such thing as winter, enjoy them while basking in the warmth and sunshine!
- 2¼ C white whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp allspice
- 1 C mashed ripe bananas, the riper the better
- ½ C plain or vanilla yogurt
- ¼ C honey
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 C shredded carrots
- 4 oz ⅓ of the fat cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp butter, softened
- 2 C confectioner's sugar
- ⅛ tsp salt
- Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9x5 inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together banana, yogurt, honey, olive oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Stir in shredded carrots.
- Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. To prevent top from getting too brown, you may want to cover loosely with aluminum foil after 25 minutes.
- Remove to a wire rack to cool and prepare frosting.
- Beat together cream cheese and butter until creamy. Beat in confectioner's sugar and salt until smooth, light and airy. Spread frosting over cooled bread.

Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
Dang you beat me to it! I have had carrot cake banana bread on my list of things to make before Easter. Except mine was going to be lazy using a boxed of carrot cake mix haha. Love that yours is from scratch!
Kellie @ The Suburban Soapbox says
I love this twist on banana bread, it’s perfect for Easter!!
taylor @ greens & chocolate says
I always crave carrot cake in the spring too! Funny how that happens. I love that you made this bread healthier…and that cream cheese frosting looks amazing!!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt says
That looks like the perfect carrot cake banana bread. So perfectly fluffy!
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
Oh, yes. Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is the best! As a kid I never liked it (because, carrots!) but as I’ve gotten older I’ve really learned to enjoy it, as long as there is cream cheese frosting!
sarah k @ the pajama chef says
sounds so delicious! great idea 🙂
Allison - Celebrating Sweets says
This sounds absolutely perfect. I love how easy it is to make healthier swaps with carrot cake and banana bread. I can’t wait to try this version!
Medha @ Whiak & Shout says
Two of my favorite baked treats in one loaf pan? I’m all about this 🙂
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
This looks absolutely PERFECT!!!
Megan - The Emotional Baker says
I’ve been craving carrot cake nonstop! I love this banana bread version – it’s gorgeous 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
This looks like such a great mashup, Jessica! And I’m loving that thick frosting on top. Just perfect!
Taylor@Food Faith Fitness says
I love this cake!
Karen @ The Food Charlatan says
There is just something about spring, right?? It totally makes it carrot cake season 🙂 Love this bread! Love that you used banana! Great idea. And please, DON’T skip the frosting on my slice 🙂
Ashley says
This is such a fun flavor for banana bread!! I love it! Plus, I’m on a huge banana bread kick right now so this needs to happen soon!
marcie says
This bread is the best of both worlds and is something I definitely plan to try!
Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures says
Delicious! I would like to eat this yummy bread for breakfast!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I’ll take two slices please! This looks amazing!