Published: · Modified: by Shane Martin · This post may contain affiliate links.
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The Best Vegan Banana Bread recipe is easy to make and absolutely perfect! Using only 3 bananas and simple ingredients, it’s moist, healthy, oil-free, and delicious! Ready in less than an hour from start to finish.
Banana breadis one of the easiest and most deliciousquick breads.It’s an excellent use of those bananas that turned brown because you forgot about them. No worries, and don’t you dare toss them out!
Combine them with some common staple pantry items, and you can make the healthiest andbestveganbanana breadEVER!
This is one of my mostpopular recipes, and there’s a reason for that – it’s so freaking GOOD! Thissimple recipeuses only whole ingredients, and you won’t believe how moist and delicious it is.
It’s also easily adaptable so it can be made gluten-free as well. There’s no doubt in my mind that you are going to love it!
Enjoy this plant-based bananabreadwith a generous smear of myStrawberry Chia Jamor homemadePecan Butter.
This vegan banana bread recipe is moist and delicious.Healthy, flavorful, and so easy to make. The perfect recipe for weekend brunch, afternoon snack, or dessert.
Table of Contents
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what you will need. Full measurements of the ingredients can be found in the recipe card down below the post.
Wet Ingredients
- Bananas: use very ripe bananas but overripe bananas are best.
- Maple syrup: perfect WFPB sweetener anytime a recipe calls for white sugar, brown sugar, or even coconut sugar
- Unsweetened applesauce: an excellent substitute for coconut oil or any oil for healthy vegan baking
- Flax: Some recipes call for an actual flax egg and it is a great egg substitute in plant-based cooking. But, I found that adding just ground flaxseed directly to the mixture works better for texture.
- Vanilla: vanilla extract adds an extra depth of flavor and aromatic essence to the batter.
Dry Ingredients
- Flour: I prefer whole wheat pastry flour. You could also organic unbleached all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, or white whole wheat flour.
- Baking soda and baking powder: for obvious reasons. This is a very dense and moist bread but these ingredients are extremely necessary to create lift.
- Ground cinnamon: this ingredient can be optional but I love the hint of cinnamon flavor that shows up occasionally in a bit.
How To Make The Best Vegan Banana Bread
This easy vegan banana bread uses 10 very common and wholesome ingredients and is ready in less than 1 hour!
Start by preheating your oven to350˚Fand line a standard loaf pan withparchment paper. You can also use asilicone loaf panas well if you have one.
- Place the bananas in a medium or large mixing bowl and mash using a fork or potato masher. The bananas do not have to be completely smooth, it’s ok to have some small chunks for texture. Now, add in all the remaining wet ingredients with the mashed bananas and mix until everything is well combined.
- To a separate bowl add in all the dry ingredients and whisk them together. Then add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until everything is “just” combined. DO NOT OVERMIX. Think “pancake batter” consistency. A little thick with some lumps. If using any add-ins like vegan chocolate chips or walnuts go ahead and fold those in now.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. The banana bread is done once you insert a knife or toothpick and it comes out clean. Keep in mind all appliances are different so cooking time can vary several minutes one way or the other.
- Remove the banana bread from the oven and let it cool for a bit in thebaking pan. Then, carefully remove it and allow it to cool, preferably to room temperature, on acutting boardor cooling rack. The longer you let it set the easier it will slice. The texture and flavor will get better as well.
And, that’s it! Perfect vegan banana bread that’s naturally sweetened, uses WFPB ingredients and is super cheap to make.
Vegan Banana Bread FAQ
Can I Make Vegan Banana Muffins?Yes! Simply follow the same recipe, spoon the batter into a muffin tin lined with those little paper cups, and bake for 35-40 minutes. Silicone muffin pans are excellent as well. The muffins are done once you insert a toothpick and it comes out clean.
Can I make this vegan banana bread gluten-free?Use your favorite gluten-free baking flour or gluten-free oat flour. Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1Gluten Free Baking Flouris excellent.
How long will banana bread last?Simply cover in plastic wrap or store or an airtight container at room temperature on your counter for a couple of days. If you store it in the fridge it will last for up to a week. FYI, be sure and wrap it well in order to prevent it from drying out, especially once it’s been sliced.
How do you freeze vegan banana bread?You can store this banana bread for 2 months in a freezer safer container or storage bag. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight. I enjoy heating up anonstick skilletand heating for just a minute or two on each side. It gets all warm and a little crispy around the edges. So good. You can also use a microwave to warm it up.
Tips For Making the Best Vegan Banana Bread
- Ripe Bananas: Use only ripe bananas or overripe bananas. In other words, the browner the better. Bananas become sweeter the riper they get, thereby, allowing you to use less sweetener. You will also get a much better banana flavor.
- Measure your flour: Use a measuring cup, fill it with the flour, then use the back of a knife to level it off.
- Moisture Is Important:DO NOT leave out the applesauce. Remember, this recipe is oil-free and the applesauce is the oil replacement. If you don’t have unsweetened applesauce be sure and check out my list of Healthy Substitutes For Oil In Baking.
- Optional Add-ins: This banana bread recipe is super versatile and works great with other ingredients. Toss in some vegan chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, pecans, dried fruit, or extra spices if you like. Make it work for you!
- Bake time and oven temperatures can vary and are not always universally consistent when it comes to baking. This is what has worked for me and others, but be mindful of your appliances. A good practice is to make notes when something doesn’t work and make your adjustments going forward.
I hope you enjoy this vegan banana bread recipe as much as we do. It’s…
- Easy
- Healthy
- Absent of any and all dairy
- Naturally sweet
- Versatile
- SO Delicious!
More sweet vegan quick breads
- Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
- Banana Oat Blender Pancakes
- The Best Vegan Zucchini Bread
Be sure and let me know if you try this recipe! Leave a comment, take a picture, post it onInstagram, and tag the photo#shaneandsimpleso I can see your dish. Peace and feast!
The Best Vegan Banana Bread
The Best Vegan Banana Bread recipe is so easy to make and absolutely perfect! Using only 10 simple ingredients, it’s moist, healthy, oil-free, and so delicious! Ready in less than an hour from start to finish.
- Author: Shane Martin
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf 1x
- Category: Vegan Breakfast Recipes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Vegan
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
UnitsScale
Wet Ingredients
- 3 very ripe bananas (the riper, the better)
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ⅓ cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
- ¼ cup ground flaxseed
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F and line a loaf pan with parchment paper or use a nonstick loaf pan.
- Place the bananas in a medium or large bowl and mash using a fork or potato masher. The bananas do not have to be completely smooth, it’s ok to have some small chunks for texture. Now, add in all the remaining wet ingredients with the mashed bananas and mix until everything is well combined.
- To a separate bowl add in all the dry ingredients and whisk them together. Then add to the wet and mix until everything is “just” combined. DO NOT OVERMIX. Think “pancake batter” consistency. A little thick with some lumps.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. The banana bread is done once you insert a knife or toothpick and it comes out clean. Keep in mind all appliances are different so cooking time can vary several minutes one way or the other.
- Remove the banana bread from the oven and let it cool for a bit in thebaking pan. Then, carefully remove it and allow it to cool, preferably to room temperature, on acutting board or cooling rack. The longer you let it set the easier it will slice. The texture and flavor will get better as well.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
How Do I Make Vegan Banana Bread Muffins?Simply follow the same recipe, spoon the batter into a muffin tin lined with those little paper cups, and bake for 35-40 minutes. Silicone muffin pans are excellent as well. The muffins are done once you insert a toothpick and it comes out clean.
Can I make this vegan banana bread gluten-free?Use your favorite gluten-free baking flour or gluten-free oat flour. Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1Gluten Free Baking Flouris excellent.
How long will banana bread last?Simply cover in plastic wrap or store or an airtight container at room temperature on your counter for a couple of days. If you store it in the fridge it will last for up to a week. FYI, be sure and wrap it well in order to prevent it from drying out, especially once it’s been sliced.
How do you freeze vegan banana bread?You can store this banana bread for 2 months in a freezer safer container or storage bag. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight. I enjoy heating up anonstick skilletand heating for just a minute or two on each side. It gets all warm and a little crispy around the edges. So good. You can also use a microwave to warm it up.
Ripe Bananas: Use only ripe bananas or overripe bananas. In other words, the browner the better. Bananas become sweeter the riper they get, thereby, allowing you to use less sweetener. You will also get a much better banana flavor.
Measure your flour: Use a measuring cup, fill it with the flour, then use the back of a knife to level it off.
Moisture Is Important:DO NOT leave out the applesauce. Remember, this recipe is oil-free and the applesauce is the oil replacement. If you don’t have unsweetened applesauce be sure and check out my list ofHealthy Oil Replacements In Baking.
Optional Add-ins: This banana bread recipe is super versatile and works great with other ingredients. Toss in some vegan chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, pecans, dried fruit, or extra spices if you like. Make it work for you!
Bake time and oven temperatures can vary and are not always universally consistent when it comes to baking. This is what has worked for me and others, but be mindful of your appliances. A good practice is to make notes when something doesn’t work and make your adjustments going forward.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 167
- Sugar: 16.4 g
- Sodium: 143 mg
- Fat: 0.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 36.2 g
- Fiber: 4.2 g
- Protein: 3.8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
