The Best Healthy Vegan & Gluten-Free Banana Bread Recipe
This delicious and healthy banana bread recipe is both vegan and gluten-free, making it perfect for those with dietary restrictions. Moist and flavorful, it uses natural sweeteners like coconut sugar and maple syrup, along with wholesome oat flour and warm spices. Topped with vegan chocolate chips and crunchy walnuts, it makes for a perfect guilt-free treat or breakfast option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (about 10-12 slices) 1x
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan, Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas (about 1 ½ cups mashed)
- ⅓ cup coconut sugar
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup non-dairy milk (e.g., almond, oat, or soy 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 the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mash the bananas: In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly mash the ripe bananas until smooth with some small lumps remaining for texture.
- Combine wet ingredients: Add the coconut sugar, maple syrup, non-dairy milk, vanilla extract, apple cider vinegar, and melted coconut oil to the mashed bananas. Mix well until all wet ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until evenly combined.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bread light.
- Add chocolate chips and walnuts: Fold in the vegan chocolate chips and chopped walnuts, reserving some chocolate chips to sprinkle on top for presentation.
- Pour batter into pan: Transfer the batter into the prepared loaf pan and evenly spread it out. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips over the top.
- Bake: Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool: Remove the banana bread from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve: Slice and enjoy your healthy vegan and gluten-free banana bread as a nutritious snack or breakfast treat.
Notes
- Ensure bananas are very ripe for optimum sweetness and moisture.
- Oat flour can be made by grinding gluten-free oats in a food processor if you don’t have it on hand.
- Store banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- This banana bread freezes well—slice before freezing and thaw slices as needed.
- For extra moisture, brush the top with a little melted coconut oil after baking.
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