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Vegan Banana Bread is made without using nuts or eggs and instead includes maple syrup, coconut oil, quick oats, and more! This moist, flavorful bread will knock your sugar cravings right out of the park.
A delicious and easy banana bread recipe
I’ve made a crazy amount of banana breads in my day. Seriously, you name it, I’ve made it. Blame it on the fact that I overestimate myself and buy large bunches of bananas that I don’t end up eating, or blame it on my sweet tooth. Either way, banana bread is just my thing.
A quick “banana bread” search on my website will prove this, as the search yields 12 recipes alone! You may have even tried one, such as my Vegan Gluten-Free Banana Bread, my Peanut Butter Banana Bread, or maybe even my Tahini Banana Bread.
Each recipe is extremely different but equally delicious. After taking a look at what I’ve created in the past, I realized that I’ve never created a good old vegan nut free banana bread! I decided that today was the day to change that.
I did a quick pantry inventory and was happy to see that I had everything I’d need for this recipe, all the way down to the overly ripe bananas sitting on my counter. After about an hour in the kitchen, this recipe was born.
You’re going to love it, both because it tastes delicious and is also very easy to make. Let’s dive in!
Ingredients used in this recipe
This dessert recipe is made with a handful of ingredients that are vegan, nut-free, and oh so delicious! Together they blend to create a moist, flavorful bread that’s sure to fix your sweet cravings and leave you feeling full and satisfied.
- Ripe bananas
- Maple syrup
- Vanilla
- Coconut oil
- Baking flour
- Quick oats
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Chocolate chips
Tools used to make the best banana bread recipe
The kitchen tools needed to create this recipe are pretty minimal. You’ll need two mixing bowls, a tool to mash the bananas (something as simple as a fork will work), a stirring utensil, and a bread pan.
How to make banana bread
This recipe is great because it requires very minimal effort on the chef’s part! It involves a bit of mixing, but that’s it. After everything is well combined, pop it in the oven and wait about 45 minutes. Your taste buds will thank you!
To make vegan banana bread, begin by mixing the oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
Set that bowl aside and get another large bowl. Mash your bananas until fairly smooth.
Next, stir in the oil, maple syrup, and vanilla.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and stir until well combined.
Finally, add in the chocolate chips.
Pour the batter into a greased bread pan. You can use any size, but I chose an 8×4 inch pan to achieve taller slices.
Top with more chocolate chips, and bake for 40-50 minutes.
Vegan banana bread substitution options
There are a handful of ingredients that you can substitute in your banana bread recipe. Check these out before heading to the store!
- Baking flour: I created this banana bread to be specifically nut-free, so I chose baking flour as an alternative to almond. However, if you’re not concerned about nuts, feel free to use whichever flour you’d prefer. Be sure to look up the specific measurements, as most flours will not substitute at a 1:1 ratio.
- Coconut oil: In place of coconut oil, you can use avocado, olive, canola, or whichever oil you’d prefer.
- Chocolate chips: Not feeling chocolate chips? Leave them out, or use one of the add-on ideas mentioned below!
Some sweet add-on ideas
I know, I know. Sometimes we crave banana bread but don’t necessarily want the chocolate! If that’s you, here are some different bread add-ons that you can consider. No matter what you choose, your bread is sure to turn out delicious and sweet.
- Crushed walnuts, pecans, or peanuts
- White chocolate
- Caramel or butterscotch chips
- Dried blueberries or cranberries
Tips for making chocolate chip banana bread
Misplaced your 8×4 bread pan? Bananas aren’t ripe enough? Don’t worry! Here are some tips to save your vegan banana bread.
Using a different pan size
I used an 8×4 bread pan for this recipe because I like to have tall slices. However, any size will work! If using something other than 8×4, you will need to adjust your cooking time accordingly. Keep an eye on the bread and remove from the oven once a toothpick comes out clean.
Adding your mix ins
I like adding chocolate chips to my batter and, once the batter is in the bread pan, sprinkling the extras on top! However, you can also use put your chocolate chips just on top if you’d like part of your bread to have only banana flavor. Part banana bites, part chocolatey bites!
Using rolled oats
Rolled oats can be used in this recipe (in place of quick oats) but will require an added step. Simply pulse rolled oats in a blender, and they’ll be good to go!
Using unripe bananas
If your bananas aren’t quite ready to be used in bread (meaning they’re not ripe enough and are still too “hard”), you can actually speed up the ripening process! Line a baking sheet with foil and bake your bananas (with the peels still in tact) until they turn black. After they cool, they’ll be ready to use for bread batter!
Try these bread recipes next
A great bread recipe does wonders for my mood! If you feel the same way, here are some more delicious bread recipes for you to try out. From pumpkin and zucchini to carrot and cinnamon roll, there’s something for everyone. Get to baking!
- Ginger Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Pumpkin Bread
- Zucchini Bread
- Carrot Cake Banana Bread
- Lemon Poppy Seed Bread
- Cinnamon Roll Bread
Photos by Moriah Sawtelle and recipe by Erin Antoniak.
Vegan Banana Bread (Nut Free)
Vegan Banana Bread is made without using nuts or eggs and instead includes maple syrup, coconut oil, quick oats, and more! This moist, flavorful bread will knock your sugar cravings right out of the park.
Ingredients
- 1 cup quick oats (or pulse rolled oats in a blender)
- 1 cup gluten free 1-1 baking flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
- 1/2 tsp cinnamonÂ
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/3 cups mashed banana, about 3 large bananas
- 1/3 cup melted coconut oil – measure after melted.
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 2 tsps vanilla
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips, with extra for on top
- optional: 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and grease 8×4 bread pan with nonstick spray and parchment paper.
- In small bowl, mix oats, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, mash bananas well. Then stir in oil, maple syrup, and vanilla.
- Add dry ingredients to wet and stir till combined.Â
- Fold in chocolate chips and optional nuts.
- Pour into greased bread pan. Top with more chocolate chips.
- Bake 40-50 minutes, cover with foil if getting too brown.
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Kate says
By far the BEST gluten/dairy/egg/nut free banana bread recipe I have tried, and I have literally tried 10-15 recipes. I have a ton of food sensitivities and this one is so good. Light on the sweetness (perfect for me), moist and dense (also perfect for me), and not gummy, which is hard to do while using a gluten free flour blend. This won’t last more than 2 days in my house!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kate, so so happy you loved it! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Kerry says
Another amazing recipe! My daughter in law is vegan so I am always looking for vegan options and honestly would like to mix in more plant based foods anyway. This was fantastic! 5 stars from everyone at our Easter celebration!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kerry, so happy everyone loved it!! 🙂
Christy says
This is my new favorite banana bread recipe. I’m so glad I found an egg free option that tastes moist and not dry and crumbly. It’s also perfectly sweet without using processed sugar.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Christy, so happy you loved it so much! 🙂
Haley says
I didn’t even mean to make the vegan banana bread; I was careless with my search. But wow! This is amazing and just as good. Will definitely make again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Haley, so glad you loved it so much! 🙂
Christina says
Is there another substitute for coconut oil? I’m out 😩
Erin says
Hi Christina, yes you can use any other oil you have! Let me know how it comes out!
Allie says
Every recipe i’ve made of Erin’s is SO GOOD! I’ve never been let down, and this banana bread lives up to those expectations. I make it weekly for my roommate and I 🙂
Erin says
Hi Allie, thanks so much for all your support! I am so happy you both love the banana bread too! 🙂
Melissa says
This is the best gluten free banana bread I ever made. It makes it even better it’s vegan!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Melissa, I am so happy you loved it!! 🙂
Felicia says
Delicious! My sister is vegan so I love making things that my whole family can enjoy. Everyone loved it!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Felicia, so happy you and your family loved the bread!!
Becca says
Best banana bread I have ever had! My friends always roll their eyes when I say I’m making something vegan but everyone raved about how incredible this was!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Becca, I am so glad you enjoyed it so much!
Lindsay says
Erin you have such a gift – this is AMAZING! I didn’t have chocolate chips but it doesn’t even need them. DELICIOUS! I used all purpose flour and it worked amazingly! Thank you!!
Erin says
Hi Lindsay, I am so happy you enjoyed them and made them your own!
Lindsey says
Really surprised that this is the ONLY recipe I’ve tried that was a complete failure. Seriously, so many others have become family favorites but not this one. I don’t know what happened but this one was a no go for me. It was really dense and dry and just completely unappealing all around.
★
Erin says
Hi Lindsey, so sorry the banana bread didn’t work out for you. Hope you’re able to try it out again and have a better result. Let me know how it goes.
Morgan says
SO AMAZING!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Morgan, thank you so much! Glad you liked the bread! 🙂
Marcela says
This banana bread is sooo good! I’ve made it twice and my family loves it! And trust me, they are picky!!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Marcela, thank you so much for your kind words! I am so glad everyone likes it! 🙂
Monica says
Love an egg free banana bread!!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Monica, so happy you like it!!
Allie says
This is literally the best banana bread recipe I have ever come across – I’ve made it twice already and I’m eagerly awaiting my bananas to brown so I can make it again!
Erin says
Hi Allie! Thank you so much for your kind words! I am so happy you love it! You can always help your bananas brown faster by putting them in a brown bag!
Emily says
Quick question- should I refrigerate these if I want to keep them for a few days?
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Emily, you don’t have to. You can keep it at room temperature!
Julianne says
SO YUMMY & easy!!! I didn’t pulse my rolled oats for some added chewiness. Divine. Love all your recipes!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Julianne, thanks for your kind words and so happy you enjoyed it!! 🙂
Johna says
Hi Erin! Do you know if I have to use baking flour or could I replace it will all purpose flour?
Erin says
It should work just fine!
Ana says
Hi there!
Thank you so much for sharing your recipes! Quick question.. do you think subbing agave syrup for maple would affect the flavour or overall end product?
Thank you 🙂
Erin says
I believe it should work great!!
Taylor says
could i use oat flour instead of gluten free??
Erin says
ive only tested gf but i think oat would be a good alternative.