Vegan Banana Bread (Simple and Flexible)

June 18, 2022 / By Verna / 54 Comments

This is the best Vegan Banana Bread ever! Incredibly moist and easy to make in 1 bowl, you’ll have a hard time believing it isn’t made with eggs or dairy. Gluten free and oil free options included.

vegan banana bread sliced on cutting board with vegan butter

Treat yourself to a slice (or two) of this Vegan Banana Bread. It’s simply the best! The slices are soft and sweet, and every bite is bursting with that delicious banana flavor. Add in some walnuts or chocolate chips for an extra crunch and dig in!

The best part is that this vegan banana bread recipe is made with simple ingredients and only one bowl. It’s foolproof! Any level of home baker will have success.

It’s completely flexible too. Adjust the batter to be as healthy as my Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Muffins, add even more nuts and dried fruits for texture, add cocoa powder if you’re craving chocolate banana bread, or transform it from a quick bread into banana bread muffins. The options are endless!

Jump to:

Ingredients and substitutions
How to make vegan banana bread
Tips for success
Frequently asked questions
Storing and freezing
More ways to use ripe bananas
More easy vegan pastries
Vegan Banana Bread (Simple and Flexible)

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Ingredients and substitutions

Bananas - The more overripe, spotty, and soft, the better. Overripe bananas are easier to work with, blend into the batter with ease, and provide the bread with a stronger banana flavor. Bananas also act as a binder, which means you don’t need a vegan egg replacer or flax eggs here.
Oil - I used grapeseed oil but you can use vegetable oil, coconut oil, or melted vegan butter instead. For oil free banana bread, replace the oil with an equal amount of applesauce.
All purpose flour - No fancy flour needed here! For a more rustic flavor, use a 1:1 mix of all purpose flour and whole wheat flour. Spelt flour should work too.
Brown sugar - White sugar or coconut sugar can be used instead.
Baking soda - Make sure it’s fresh! Expired baking soda will result in a banana bread that didn’t rise.
Vegan yogurt - Its acidic qualities will react with the baking soda, causing the bread to rise and become fluffy.
Add-ins - I love adding walnuts to banana bread but you could also use dairy free chocolate chips, pecans, or pumpkin seeds.

a loaf of vegan banana bread baked in a loaf pan

How to make vegan banana bread

There’s a reason I turn to this easy banana bread recipe when I have old bananas to use up. It’s completely foolproof and made in one bowl! Here’s how it’s done:

The wet mixture: Mash the bananas with a fork in a mixing bowl. Whisk in the rest of the wet ingredients.
Add the dry ingredients: Gently mix in the dry ingredients with the wet, being careful not to overmix.
Finish and bake: Finish by folding in the nuts, chocolate chips, or add-ins of your choice. Pour the batter into a prepared loaf pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Let it cool, then enjoy: Let the bread cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. Slice into it when it’s cool, then enjoy! For full ingredients and instructions see printable recipe card below.

step by step photos how to make vegan banana bread

two slices of vegan banana bread on a plate

Tips for success

Prepare the loaf pan properly - Spray it with cooking spray or lightly grease it with vegan butter. For extra security, line the pan with a piece of parchment paper and have the extras come up and out of the sides to act as handles for the baked bread.
Spoon and level the flour - AKA scoop the flour into the measuring cup with a spoon and sweep the excess off the top with a knife.
Do not overmix the batter - Only stir the dry mixture in with the wet until everything is just combined and no dry flour remains. If the batter is overmixed, the bread will turn out dense and gummy.
Customize it with add-ins - Like chocolate chips, walnuts, pecans, cocoa powder, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, dried cranberries, or pistachios.
To serve - Spread vegan butter on the warm slices or slather them with vegan cream cheese frosting.

Frequently asked questions

Can vegan banana bread be made gluten free?

To make this banana bread recipe gluten free, replace the all purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten free flour mix. Oat flour should work just as well but follow my tips on baking with oat flour first.

Can it be made without oil?

Yes! Simply replace the oil with the same amount of applesauce.

Why did my banana bread crack?

Cracks in banana bread are completely normal and nothing to be worried about. They shouldn’t affect the texture.

Can I use frozen bananas?

Yes, but let them thaw completely first. They’ll be much easier to mash this way.

Can I make banana bread muffins instead?

Sure! Make the batter as normal but spoon it into a prepared muffin pan instead. Bake at 350ºF for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Storing and freezing

To store: Wrap the loaf of banana bread or individual slices in plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container. Banana bread can be stored at room temperature for about 3 days or in the fridge for 1 week.

To freeze: Wrap the loaf or slices in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Banana bread freezes well for up to 2 months.

More ways to use ripe bananas

More easy vegan pastries

Enjoy everyone! Happy Day! Please feel free to comment below and give this recipe a rating. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

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