The Best Healthy Vegan & Gluten-Free Banana Bread Recipe
This Best Healthy Banana Bread recipe is a deliciously moist, vegan, and gluten-free treat that combines ripe bananas, oat flour, and warm spices. Sweetened naturally with coconut sugar and maple syrup, and enriched with vegan chocolate chips and walnuts, it’s perfect for a wholesome snack or breakfast.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60-65 minutes
- Total Time: 75-80 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (about 10-12 slices) 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas (1 ½ cups mashed banana)
- ⅓ cup coconut sugar
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup non-dairy milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp coconut oil (melted)
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups oat flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
Add-ins
- ⅓ cup vegan chocolate chips (plus more for topping)
- ¼ cup walnuts (chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal later.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, coconut sugar, maple syrup, non-dairy milk, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, and apple cider vinegar until the mixture is smooth and uniformly combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: To the wet mixture, add oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and vegan chocolate chips. Gently stir everything until just combined to avoid overmixing, which can affect the bread’s texture.
- Transfer to Pan and Add Toppings: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle additional vegan chocolate chips and chopped walnuts on top if desired, adding extra texture and flavor.
- Bake the Bread: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 60 to 65 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter.
- Cool the Bread: Remove the loaf from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Then transfer the bread onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing to maintain its structure and flavor.
Notes
- Use very ripe bananas for the best natural sweetness and moist texture.
- Oat flour can be made by grinding rolled oats in a food processor if you don’t have it on hand.
- Feel free to swap walnuts with pecans or omit nuts for a nut-free version.
- Ensure the non-dairy milk is unsweetened to keep the sugar levels balanced.
- Allow bread to cool completely before slicing to prevent crumbling.
- Store banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- This bread also freezes well; slice before freezing for easy serving portions.
Keywords: healthy banana bread, vegan banana bread, gluten-free banana bread, oat flour banana bread, dairy-free banana bread, plant-based banana bread, healthy baking
