Easy Vegan Banana Bread

This completely plant-based version of a coffee-time classic is a win for vegans.

Banana bread has been a coffee klatch and lunch box staple for over 100 years, and with good reason. Originally conceived during the Great Depression as a way to use up spoiling bananas, it’s easy to make and delicious.

By popular demand, we’ve come up with a 100% vegan version that is as moist and fluffy as any, without the use of eggs or dairy products. We’ve even included optional ingredients for a gluten-free loaf. You’re welcome.

This banana bread calls for both of the classic banana bread additions, chocolate chips and walnuts, but feel free to omit one or both, based on your preference.

Is Vegan Banana Bread Healthy?

As far as cake loaves go, this one is pretty healthy. It uses natural, wholesome ingredients and is completely plant-based. It’s not a low-calorie affair, but its limited ingredient list is all natural and does not include the food colourings, unhealthy fats and ultra-refined sugars often found in store-bought items… so if you’re going to indulge in a slice of banana bread, it should be this one.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour or gluten-free oat flour
• 1/3 cup coconut sugar or pure maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• A pinch of sea salt
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce you can also use melted refined coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 large ripe bananas
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup chopped raw walnuts
• 1/4 cup dairy-free dark chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

Prep and Preheat

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a standard loaf pan with a bit of oil or line it with parchment paper.

Mash and Mix

Mash the bananas until smooth in a large bowl. Stir in the applesauce (or coconut oil) and vanilla extract. In another bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and sea salt).

Combine

Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mix. Do not overmix, a few lumps are perfectly fine. Add a bit of almond milk if the batter is too thick.

Add-Ins

Fold in the chopped walnuts and chocolate chips. Keep some to sprinkle on top.

Bake

Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Sprinkle with the remaining walnuts and chocolate chips. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool

Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips and Tricks to Make a Perfect Vegan Banana Bread

• Use the ripest bananas you can, the blacker the better. They’re sweeter and have a more intense flavor.
• Don’t overmix the batter, it will lead to a denser loaf.
• Let the loaf cool for about 15 minutes in the pan before you turn it out to cool on a wire rack. Once cool, wrap it promptly to preserve freshness.
• If the loaf is destined for school lunch boxes, omit the nuts.

FAQs

Make Ahead and Storage

If you’re using the loaf within a day, you can wrap it in a damp tea towel and leave it at room temperature. If not, we recommend slicing it and wrapping the slices individually before freezing them… just pull out what you need when you need it, it’ll thaw quickly on the counter.

By the way, if you find the bananas in your fruit bowl are getting too ripe, just throw them in the freezer and they’ll be ready to go when it’s time to bake a loaf.

Print

Easy Vegan Banana Bread

This completely plant-based version of a coffee-time classic is a win for vegans.

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Calories 236kcal

Author FoodFaithFitness

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour or gluten-free oat flour
• 1/3 cup coconut sugar or pure maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• A pinch of sea salt
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce you can also use melted refined coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 large ripe bananas
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup chopped raw walnuts
• 1/4 cup dairy-free dark chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

• Prep and Preheat: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a standard loaf pan with a bit of vegan butter or line it with parchment paper.
• Mash and Mix: Mash the bananas until smooth in a large bowl. Stir in the applesauce (or coconut oil) and vanilla extract. In another bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and sea salt).
  
• Combine: Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mix. Do not overmix, a few lumps are perfectly fine. Add a bit of almond milk if the batter is too thick.
  
• Add-Ins: Fold in the chopped walnuts and chocolate chips. Keep some to sprinkle on top.
• Bake: Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Sprinkle with the remaining walnuts and chocolate chips. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  
• Cool: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Nutrition

Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 0.1mg | Sodium: 168mg | Potassium: 381mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 36IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Easy Vegan Banana Bread appeared first on Food Faith Fitness.