This is a healthy vegan gluten-free banana bread recipe that melts in your mouth and so easy to make. Pair it with a little nut butter and a cup of coffee for the best morning breakfast!
Simple Vegan Banana Bread
This vegan banana bread is so sweet and fluffy that you honestly won't even believe it is made without eggs or dairy. Trust me on that one!
We shared this loaf with several members of our family who claim they don't like vegan food and the feedback was incredible.
Try it! Make it for your non-vegan friends and family - they won't believe that it is made completely with plant-based ingredients. It has no eggs, dairy, or other animal products in it at all.
This recipe is full of ingredients that you probably already have at home and are already familiar with oatmeal and almond butter. I tested it times with a variety of ratios and finally made it absolutely perfect. Like so perfect you're going to want to eat it for every meal, okay?
Let's dive on in and make some really good vegan banana bread!
After the bread is in the oven, if you need another vegan dessert, try my Vegan Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies. They are a classic snickerdoodle cookie with a pumpkin twist.
Vegan Banana Bread Video
Ingredients In This Vegan Gluten-Free Banana Bread
The ingredients in vegan banana bread are simple and basic because nobody has time for fancy flours or ingredients that are hard to come by. Here is what I used in this simple sweet bread.
- Bananas - The riper they are, the better! Mash these up and enjoy the natural sweetness that comes from your bananas. I used three bananas, which made 1 ¼ cup mashed.
- Oat Flour - Make homemade oat flour by blending oats in the blender for 15 seconds! It's so very easy. Be sure to measure your oat flour after you've blended your oats, not before! You should have 1 ⅔ cup of oat flour at the end.
- Almond Butter - This is the glue that holds this recipe together and gives it extra moisture. You can also use peanut butter or any seed butter! You need ⅓ cup of it.
- Flax Egg - This is the other glue that holds this recipe together. Make your own flax eggs by combining 2 tablespoon of flax meal with 5 tablespoon of water and letting 'gel' for ten minutes.
- Coconut Sugar - This sugar helps give this bread a little more natural sweetness! You can also replace it with brown sugar. Use ⅓ cup or less if you want it to taste less sweet.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - When making vegan baked goods, apple cider vinegar reacts with baking soda and baking powder to help add lifting power. Don't skip this step or else your baked goods will be flat! You need to use 2 teaspoons for this bread.
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda: These two things will give the proper amount of lift to the bread. Use 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder and 1 teaspoon baking soda.
- Spices: I used a teaspoon of cinnamon because it really brings out the banana flavor. Then just add a pinch (¼ teaspoon) of salt to enhance the rest of the flavors.
- Mix-Ins: Add ¾ cup of your favorite banana bread mix-ins. I used chocolate chips, but you can use chopped walnuts or even some chopped pecans.
Kitchen Tools Required For This Vegan Gluten-Free Banana Bread
If you have ever made any type of quick bread before, you probably already have everything you need. Here is what I used:
- Loaf Pan - 8.5x4.5
- Parchment Paper
- Small Mixing Bowl
- Large Mixing Bowl
For measuring, you will need 1 cup, ⅔ cup, ⅓ cup, ¾ cup, ¼ cup, 1 tablespoon, 1 teaspoon, and ½ teaspoon.
How To Make Vegan Banana Bread
Start by making the flax egg. I used to be so intimidated by flax eggs, but it's actually such a simple thing to make. You just mix together your flax meal (which is just ground flaxseed) and water, and then just let it sit for about ten minutes. Here is a great tutorial if you're interested in learning more!
While the flax egg is setting, mash your bananas. Using a potato masher for this is one of my favorite tricks - it totally mashes up the bananas perfectly!
Mix together your mashed bananas, almond butter, coconut sugar, oil, vanilla, and apple cider vinegar.
In a separate bowl, mix together your oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir till combined. You'll then add in your flax eggs and any other mix-ins that you want! I love to use chocolate chips or nuts.
Pour into greased or parchment-lined loaf pan and top with banana slices if desired. Then bake and voila, you've got yourself an easy vegan banana bread ready for eating.
Recipe Tips
Below are some common vegan banana bread questions. Don't see the answer you're looking for? Leave a comment at the bottom of this post!
How do you ripen bananas quicker?
The best way to ripped your bananas is to just let them sit on your counter for a few days. If you want to speed up the process, place them in a brown paper bag and close it up tightly. They will ripen much quicker.
Why is my banana bread flat?
Make sure you used the exact amounts of apple cider vinegar, baking soda, and baking powder. Sometimes when you are off on either of those ingredients, the bread won't rise as well.
Are chocolate chips vegan?
No, not all chocolate chips are vegan. Some of them contain butter and milkfat. If you want to add chocolate chips to your vegan banana bread, I suggest buying organic vegan chocolate chips that are made with plant-based ingredients.
Storing leftovers
Vegan banana bread will last on the counter for up to five days. Just make sure you wrap it up in aluminum foil or place it into a sealed Tupperware container. You can also store it in the fridge to maximize freshness for up to one week.
This banana bread can also be frozen! To store in the freezer, I like to slice it into individual pieces and then store them individually wrapped in parchment paper. Then, take out slices as needed and let defrost on the counter! You can also freeze the entire loaf as is.
If you liked this recipe, you'll want to try these!
Here are some more of my favorite sweet quick bread recipes. Enjoy!
- Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Bread
- S'mores Banana Bread
- Paleo Banana Bread Muffins With Chocolate Chips
- Coffee Cake Banana Bread
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread
Vegan Banana Bread (Gluten Free)
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350F and line a loaf pan with parchment paper or nonstick spray. My loaf pan was 8.5 x 4.5.
- In a small bowl, make your flax egg by whisking together 2 tablespoon flax meal with 5 tablespoon water and letting it sit for ten minutes.
- Meanwhile, mash your ripe bananas in a large bowl.
- Once completely mashed, stir in your almond butter, coconut sugar, oil, vanilla, and apple cider vinegar.
- In a separate bowl, mix together your oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir till combined.
- Stir in your flax eggs, then add in any other mix-ins that you want. I added chocolate chips.
- Pour into prepared loaf pan and top with more chocolate, nuts, or banana slices.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cover with foil halfway through baking.
Molly says
I already reviewed this the first time but have made many times since and this is still my favorite chocolate chip banana bread!
Erin says
Hi Molly, so happy you loved it! 🙂
Arianna says
I added a cup of shredded zucchini (squeezed the moisture out) and my kids love it! This is one of our favorite recipes!
Erin says
Hi Arianna, such a good idea! 🙂
Emma Kate says
Absolutely loved this! Such an easy go-to recipe if i don’t have any eggs in the house but want some banana bread. So excited to have some for breakfast and for a snack!
Erin says
Hi Emma Kate, so happy you enjoyed it! 🙂
Jordan says
Do you think maple syrup could work instead of coconut sugar ?
Olivia says
I've made this banana bread a million times and its fantastic every time! Sooooo good!
Erin says
Hi Olivia, so glad you love it so much! 🙂
Jen says
Amazing
Erin says
Hi Jen, so glad you liked it!!
Kathryn says
With an egg intolerance, it can be hard to find tasty baked goods. This banana bread is AMAZING!
Erin says
Hi Kathryn, so happy you loved the bread!! 🙂
Amanda says
Oh my gosh, this banana bread is heavenly! I was recently put on a gluten and diary free diet, and I was so discouraged. But this banana bread gave me hope that I can still eat delicious food! I took it to my bible study and the whole thing got eaten, so I took that as proof you can't tell its vegan and gluten free.
Erin says
Hi Amanda, I am so glad you loved it!!
Steph says
I've made the pumpkin one twice already and can't wait to make ti again and try the banana one. It's so easy and delicious 🙂
Erin says
Hi Steph, so happy you loved it so much!!
Dale says
This recipe was delicious and a crowd pleaser. It was super easy to make. It did not last long in our house. Thanks Erin!
Erin says
Hi Dale, so glad you love it! Sounds like you need to make two loafs at once!
Jamie says
Super tasty! I subbed two chia eggs in place of the flax eggs and had no issues there. Recipe was great. It’s not overly sweet but just right. Highly recommend adding something crunchy on top, like some sort of nut!
Erin says
Hi Jamie, so glad you loved them and made them your own!!
Vi says
I've tried a lot of "healthier" banana bread recipes over the years and I keep coming back to this one! I love how chewy, and gooey, and moist the bread turns out. Highly recommend!
Erin says
Hi Vi, so glad you loved it so much! 🙂
Gabi says
This is my go-to banana bread recipe. Usually, I will add walnuts. Most recently, I turned this batch into little muffins! I could eat these every day😍
Erin says
Hi Gabi, so glad you liked it!!
Samantha says
Love all her recipes and this was the best vegan banana bread ever!
Erin says
Hi Samantha, so glad you loved it!
Molly says
Best banana bread EVER! Out of the many, many banana bread recipes I have made, this one is #1. I love the doughy texture, especially warm out of the oven...it's like a "cookie dough banana bread". It is going to be hard wanting to try other recipes after this. Thanks for making such perfect healthy recipes!
Erin says
Hi Molly, so glad you loved the bread so much!! 🙂
Alexis says
I made this banana bread yesterday and it is SO good! Tastes very close to the delicious (but not as nutritious) banana bread we had growing up 🙂 I subbed two eggs for the flax eggs and it turned out perfectly! Definitely need to try the pumpkin version too!
Erin says
Hi Alexis, so glad you enjoyed it and made it your own!! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Brigitte says
I’ve tried so many banana bread recipes and this is seriously one of the BEST ones out there. I always come back to it!
Erin says
Hi Brigitte, so happy you enjoyed it so much!