Best Healthy Banana Bread Recipe | Vegan + Gluten free

This healthy banana bread recipe is ultra moist, fluffy and Easy to make with a handful of wholesome ingredients. Great for breakfast, snacking and meal prep! (Vegan, gluten free, nut free, oil free & refined sugar free).

It's Monday, time to get this (banana) bread! Say hello to the newest addition to the collection of banana bread recipes in the world: this my friends, is my very best healthy banana bread recipe.

Saying something is the best is a bold statement, but I promise you that this recipe delivers. I've made my fair share of gluten free banana breads and so many of them were dense and gummy but this version is anything but that. It's everything you love about classic banana bread but made with wholesome ingredients:

• it's crumb is dense yet still super fluffy
• it's ultra moist
• it's rich in banana flavour
• it's perfectly sweetened

And what makes this recipe different from most is that it's also:

• vegan
• gluten free
• dairy free
• egg free
• oil free
• nut free (although you could use nut butter)
• and refined sugar free

Healthy enough for breakfast or a quick snack. So delicious it could also be considered dessert. This vegan gluten free banana bread is extraordinary.

Ingredients in this Healthy Banana Bread Recipe

Baking up the perfect moist and fluffy banana bread is about the right ratios of ingredients and baking technique. Since this version is vegan, gluten free, oil free and refined sugar free, it's important to follow the recipe as close as possible for best results. Here's the ingredients you'll need:

• Overripe Bananas: Super spotty bananas not only infuses the bread with a ton of banana flavour, but it also adds sweetness so we can cut back on the added sugar.
• Maple Syrup: Keeping it refined sugar free & naturally sweetened.
• Tahini: Adds a boots of protein and healthy fats. You could also other nut/seed butters but just be sure it's the drippy kind.
• Dairy Free Milk: I use lite canned coconut milk for an ultra moist banana bread but you can use any non dairy milk of your choice.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda & Apple Cider Vinegar: Helps this bread rise without using any eggs.
• Oat Flour: My favourite flour to use for wholesome quick breads! Packed with dietary fiber, this gluten free flour bakes up a dense yet fluffy crumb. Use a fine oat flour for the best texture.
• White Rice Flour: Keeps this gluten free banana bread from getting too gummy and dense.
• Potato Starch: Helps bind the other flours together and keeps this loaf super light and fluffy! Using potato starch makes a lovely crisp crust too.
• Vanilla: Adds extra richness and flavour.
• Salt: Brings out the sweetness of the bananas!

If you prefer using just oat flour, you can try my OG vegan gluten free oat flour banana bread. This version is just as delicious but the texture is just ever so slightly denser due to the nature of oat flour.

How to Make the BEST Healthy Banana Bread

No need for any fancy equipment to make this super easy banana bread-- not even measuring cups! Just a scale, 1-bowl and a whisk. Maybe a spatula too if you really want to scrape all the batter out. Place the bowl on the scale and add the ingredients while weighing them out.

1. Mash the super ripe bananas: Either with a fork or blender. If you want small chunks of bananas, mash with a fork. If you like a really smooth banana bread use a blender.
2. Mix the wet ingredients: Add the tahini, maple syrup, dairy free milk, vanilla and apple cider vinegar to the bowl and whisk together.
3. Add in the dry ingredients: Add the oat flour, rice flour, potato starch, baking powder, baking soda and salt. TIP: If you have a sifter, sift the baking soda and powder so there are no clumps-- otherwise be sure to whisk the ingredients thoroughly.
4. Bake: Transfer the batter into a 8x4 inch loaf pan (see tips below for other sized pans). It WILL be full right to the top but I have never had it overflow on me. Bake for 55-60 minutes at 350 F.
5. Cool: This is probably the hardest step but so important. If you cut into it while still warm, it tends to be denser and almost gummy in texture.

Tips for Making Fluffy & Moist Healthy Banana Bread

• Weigh the Ingredients: I said this earlier but it's important to follow the recipe exactly as written. If you make any subs, please note the texture will differ.
• Use SUPER Ripe Bananas: I like to use bananas that have yellow spots on them. Yes yellow spots, meaning the bananas are borderline mushy to the touch.
• Use a 8x4 Inch Loaf Pan (900g): The secret to this banana bread recipe is using a smaller loaf pan. Most recipes call for a 9x5 inch loaf pan which holds more batter but risks not getting cooked all the way through. If you decrease the amount of batter you add to the pan, you end up with a short banana bread that looks more like a cake.
• Check Doneness: The surface will be holden brown. When you press on the top, it should feel bouncy and spring right back up. Insert a skewer or chopstick in the middle of the loaf all the way through-- if it comes out clean or with a few cooked crumbs it's ready to come out of the oven.
• Cool Properly: The longer it sits in the loaf pan, the soggy-er the bread will get. I carefully remove it from the pan a minute after I take it out of the oven by using a dull knife and running it through the sides without parchment paper. Let it completely cool on a wire rack. If you want to eat this banana bread warm, re-heat it once it's been sliced.
• Bake Them into Muffins: Here's the muffin version!

Customize Your Banana Bread

Banana bread doesn't have to be boring. There are so many ways to jazz it up just by mixing in come add-ins! Here are some of my favourites:

• Chocolate: Chunks or chips! A classic combo with banana bread, always a go-to. About ½ cup.
• Nuts: Walnuts, pecans and almonds! About ½ cup chopped. Also great with the chocolate chips.
• Berries: About 1 cup fresh or frozen berries (my fav is blueberries). Be sure to dust it with some flour first if using frozen so it absorbs the extra liquid.
• Bourbon: About 1 tbsp.
• Espresso: 1 teaspoon instant espresso, dissolved with the liquid ingredients.
• Almond extract: 1 tsp, it makes it taste like cake and so good with blueberries!

How to Store & Freeze Banana Bread

This vegan gluten free banana bread keeps well at room temperature for up to 2-3 days semi-covered in a container. To freeze, slice them into servings and then place in freezer safe containers or reusable bags for up to 2 months (anything longer and the banana bread sort of dries out). When ready, thaw at room temperature with a damp paper towel covering it. Alternatively, you can also microwave for 20 seconds or until warm. The damp paper towel trick keeps the banana bread from drying out.

More Healthy Banana Recipes to Try:

• Flourless Banana Blender Muffins
• Vegan Banana Protein Muffins
• Banana Bread Donuts
• Breakfast Banana Oatmeal Cookies
• Banana Bread Oatmeal Bars
• Moist Banana Snack Cake
• 2 Minute Banana Bread Mug Cake

If you recreate this Best Healthy Banana Bread Recipe let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and rating below or by tagging me on Instagram @Okonomikitchen, I love seeing all of your tasty recreations!
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