Vegan Banana Bread (Healthy + Easy)

This ‘tried and true’, classic vegan banana bread recipe is moist, healthy, and so easy to make. It’s egg & dairy free, has an oil-free option, and is the best banana bread ever!

I love my vegan banana breads, and have quite a few variations in the recipe collection, like this Blueberry Banana Oat Bread, Buckwheat Banana Bread, and Carrot Banana Bread.

All the breads were adapted from this straightforward and incredibly simple recipe with ingredients you probably already have on hand. I’ve made it again and again, and it has not disappointed me yet!

This plant-based banana bread recipe is kid-friendly and a fan-favorite for good reason – it’s delicious!

I’m happy to share with you this wonderfully easy, healthy banana bread I have loved for many years and look forward to loving for many more to come!

Best Vegan Banana Bread Tips

It’s all about the bananas! Banana bread is easy to veganize by adding extra banana, which acts as a binder, replacing the need for eggs or other egg replacers. As an added benefit, you’ll be able to use less sugar. The trick is using very ripe, freckled bananas because the riper the bananas are, the less sugar you’ll need! This recipe only calls for 1/3 cup of sugar, but of course, you can adjust, up or down, to suit your tastes.

Use oil, butter, or applesauce (fats or no fats): I call for oil in place of butter or vegetable shortening, but you’ll find this banana bread recipe to have the option of using vegan butter or shortening if you prefer. I’ve also played around with using half oil and half unsweetened almond milk (equaling 1/3 cup) with excellent results. And if you want to skip the fats altogether, for an ultra-healthy vegan banana bread, try using unsweetened applesauce – it’s terrific!

Spruce up your banana bread with additional add-ins and toppings! Add up to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, or fold in chocolate chips, walnuts, or pecans to the batter. Once the batter is in the loaf pan, sprinkle walnuts, pecans, sesame seeds, rolled oats, or sunflower seeds over top before baking. They will add texture and protein.

Spoon & level the flour! When measuring your flour, it’s helpful to use the ‘spoon & level’ method. This will ensure you don’t add too much flour. Never scoop the flour with a measuring cup. Instead, using a spoon, scoop the flour into the measuring cup, without packing it, and level with the back of a knife.

Don’t overmix the batter! It’s best baking practice when making any type of quick bread not to overmix. Overmixing the ingredients will cause the gluten proteins to create an elastic batter that may not rise well. You only want to mix until you don’t see any flour streaks.

Methods: Since first posting this recipe, I have adapted it to be mixed in one bowl, making for easy banana bread with fewer dishes to wash!

How To Make Vegan Banana Bread

Making vegan banana bread is as easy as can be using this 1 bowl method!

Start by adding the very ripe bananas to the bottom of a medium mixing bowl and mash well. Add the remaining wet ingredients and stir well.

Next, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until incorporated. Do not overmix. The batter will be slightly thick, and a few lumps are OK.

Pour the batter into a greased 9 x 5 loaf pan and bake for 50 – 55 minutes. Ovens are different, so use your best judgment. You can test for doneness using a toothpick, if it comes out clean, it’s ready.

Lastly, let the banana bread cool, slice, and enjoy. If you can’t wait to slice your bread before it’s cooled, you may notice a little gumminess on the knife. This is normal, but once it’s completely cooled, it will slice cleanly.

And that’s it, perfectly golden, moist, and flavorful banana bread made easy and healthy! 

Commonly Asked Questions

Can I make banana bread gluten-free? Absolutely. You can use any gluten-free flour blend or buckwheat flour, replacing 1 – 1 the amount of flour called for.

Can I make this recipe oil-free? Yes! I have made banana bread oil-free by replacing the oil with applesauce, and it was just as good and even healthier. The loaf was a little denser, but the flavor was still great.

Can I make banana bread without baking soda? Yes, oftentimes, I will make banana bread using 2 heaping teaspoons of baking powder with great results, but I have left the baking soda in the recipe because I know some may prefer to add it as it also helps brown the top of the loaf. Just know that if you don’t have it on hand, you’ll be fine just using baking powder only.

Can I freeze banana bread? Sure thing. You can safely store banana bread in the freezer. It will stay fresh for up to 2 months if stored in a freezer-safe container or bag. Simply let it thaw in the refrigerator before eating. Banana bread can also be stored, covered, on the counter for up to 3 – 4 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Can I make muffins instead? Yep, and they are so good! Use this Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins recipe as your guide. If you don’t care for the chocolate chips, omit them altogether or replace them with walnuts.

What To Do With Extra Bananas?

If you still have a couple of extra bananas from the bunch, try using them in any of these other easy and delicious banana recipes, which require just one or two bananas!

• 3 Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies (a fan-favorite)
• Chunky Banana + Peanut Butter Granola (healthy snack granola)
• Banana Chia Pudding (super easy treat)
• Vegan Banana French Toast (perfect for weekends)
• Avocado Chocolate Pudding (uses a banana to cut the fat)

If you try this banana bread recipe or have a question, please let us know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.

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