Introduction

This Strawberry Cottage Cheese Banana Bread is a moist and flavorful twist on classic banana bread. Combining ripe bananas, creamy cottage cheese, and fresh strawberries, it makes for a deliciously tender loaf perfect for breakfast or a snack. Its natural sweetness and fruity bursts will have everyone asking for seconds.

A close-up view of two thick slices of strawberry oatmeal bread stacked on a white plate, showing a dense, moist texture with visible oats throughout. The bread is light golden brown with embedded pieces of bright red strawberry fragments peeking through the outer surface and inside. The strawberries create spots of vibrant red that contrast with the soft, grainy beige interior of the bread. The background shows a blurred kitchen setting with a white marbled surface beneath the plate. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

2 eggs (or 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce or 2 tbsp flaxseed meal mixed with 6 tbsp water)

2 ripe bananas, mashed (or 1 cup pumpkin puree or unsweetened applesauce)

2/3 cup cottage cheese (or Greek yogurt, ricotta cheese, or silken tofu)

1 tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract)

3/4 cup oat flour (or all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, or gluten-free flour blend)

1 cup almond flour (or coconut flour, adding more liquid if needed)

1/4 cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar, maple syrup, honey, or agave syrup)

1 ½ tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup diced strawberries (or blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, or chopped peaches)

2 tbsp sliced strawberries for garnish (or kiwi, mango, or other fruit)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare a loaf pan by lining it with parchment paper and greasing the sides.

Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the eggs, mashed bananas, cottage cheese, and vanilla extract. Stir until well mixed.

Step 3: In a separate smaller bowl, whisk together the oat flour, almond flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Step 4: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a thick batter forms.

Step 5: Fold in the diced strawberries gently to spread them evenly through the batter.

Step 6: Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and sprinkle the sliced strawberries on top for garnish.

Step 7: Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Step 8: Remove from the oven and let the bread cool in the pan. Once cooled, slice and serve.

Tips & Variations

For a dairy-free version, use silken tofu or a plant-based yogurt instead of cottage cheese.

Substitute almond flour with coconut flour, but add an extra splash of milk to keep the bread moist.

Add a handful of chopped nuts such as walnuts or pecans for extra crunch.

Use frozen berries if fresh strawberries aren’t available—just make sure to thaw and drain them well before folding into the batter.

If you prefer a sweeter bread, increase the brown sugar or add a drizzle of honey on top before baking.

FAQs

Can I use regular flour instead of oat flour?

Yes, all-purpose or whole wheat flour can be used as a substitute for oat flour. Just be aware the texture and gluten content might change slightly.

Will this bread be very sweet?

This bread has a mild, natural sweetness from the bananas, strawberries, and brown sugar, making it suitable for those who prefer a lightly sweetened quick bread rather than something very sugary.