What Makes This Recipe Gluten
We used Almond flour for this banana bread recipe which is what makes it gluten-free. So whether you have a gluten sensitivity, are watching your white flour intake or prefer to use nut flour then youll love this recipe! We are definitely on the watching the white flour intake team because lets be real its not healthy for you and Alexa has been experimenting with removing it from her diet. You want to make sure the almond flour is super-finely ground, we have found that specifically in baking with almond flour that if its not super fine then the texture just doesnt turn out right.
Whats The Best Gluten
Years ago, youd have to pull together different combinations of grains and ingredients for gluten free baking.
These days, there are many brands that offer awesome all-purpose gluten-free blends. My current favorite is King Arthur’s Measure for Measure Gluten Free Flour. I also love Cup4Cup Multipurpose Gluten Free Flour and Bobs Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour.
One-to-one gluten-fre flours should work as an equal replacement for standard flour, but its always a good idea to double check the fine print on your Gluten Free flour to make sure you dont need to mix in additional ingredients like Xanthan Gum.
Ingredients In Almond Flour Banana Bread
Not only is this almond flour banana bread super easy to make in one bowl, but its also gluten free, grain free, dairy free and paleo which means this banana bread is perfect for just about anyone including kids! Here are the ingredients youll need:
- Almond flour: youll want to use fine blanched almond flour for this recipe. Tip: be sure to pack the almond flour in your measuring cup just like you would with brown sugar!
- Flaxseed meal: not only does flaxseed meal add a nice nutty flavor and texture to this bread, but its also packed with fiber, high quality plant based protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Cinnamon: helps to control blood sugar levels and give the banana bread cozy flavor.
- Ripe bananas: I suggest using EXTRA ripe bananas in this recipe with lots of brown spots. These are sweeter and better for this recipe since there are no other added sweeteners.
- Eggs: youll need 3 eggs in this recipe.
- Milk: a splash of almond milk is all youll need but you can use any milk youd like.
- Baking staples: dont forget salt, baking soda and vanilla extract! Learn how to make your own vanilla here, or feel free to use whiskey or bourbon.
- Dark chocolate chips: a little dark chocolate is good for the heart! If you need this bread to be dairy free, I suggest using these chocolate chips.
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But What If I Cant Eat Dairy
Although gluten free recipes generally do better when they contain dairy, heres a simple change you can make for a delicious loaf of banana bread thats both dairy free and gluten free :
Just swap the buttermilk for a non-dairy milk of your choosing, especially one that has a creamy texture. My favorite is cashew milk. You can also try lite coconut milk. I dont recommend almond milk for this recipe
Banana Bread Swaps And Substitutions
If youre looking for a classic banana bread, this is it. But, if you want to jazz it up, the skys the limit!
- Add some mix ins: You could add 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, and/or 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- Swap the sugar: You can also adjust the amount of sugar to your liking and even swap one sugar for another. Try raw or brown sugar for an added caramel-like flavor.
- Make it dairy-free: If youre dairy-free and avoiding butter, use equal parts coconut, olive, or vegetable oil instead.
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Ingredients + Items Needed To Make This Gluten
- Mashed bananas from extra ripe and freckled bananas. The more spots and browner the bananas are the better! That means they will add extra sweetness.
- Eggs you can also use flax eggs here instead.
- Extra virgin olive oil the main star of this recipe. All of my other banana bread recipes on the blog dont use this so feel free to peak around for other ideas if you dont have olive oil on hand.
- Coconut sugar I havent tested a liquid sweetener here but I do think you need the grainier one. You can also use cane sugar
- Gluten-free oat flour I havent tested other subs but spelt flour would work well since that is a 1:1 sub for oat flour. If you have almond flour, this recipe is great! And this blog post is helpful on oat flour!
- If You Care Baking Sheets the BEST ever!! All If You Care products are staples in our home, but especially the baking sheets. I use them for baking, cooking, everything. I always line my bread dish with them to make for easier clean up too. If you Care self products that are good for your family, home and for the planet. They are committed to ethical sourcing and backs all of its environmental claims with third party verification and certifications. They make all sustainable and compostable products. I link to my favorites on my shop page.
Almond Flour Banana Bread
Almond flour cant be used as a replacement for an all purpose gluten free flour blend. If you would prefer to bake with almond flour instead of a rice-based flour blend, I have another recipe for you.
My Paleo banana bread recipe is made with almond flour. Its also naturally dairy free and gluten free, too. That may suit your needs better.
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Can We Make Our Own Almond/coconut Flour
What makes my lovely banana bread gluten free, grain free, and lower in carbohydrates is the alternative flour blend. While normal flour is derived from wheat, almond flour and coconut flour are exactly what they sound like. If youve never heard of these flours, or arent sure where to get them, you can easily make them yourself at home in no time.
To make almond flour I suggest you check out Gemmas recipe for Homemade Almond Flour or ground almonds. Making your own coconut flour is the same process as making the almond flour: you simply blitz up dried unsweetened coconut flakes into a fine powder . This is best done in a food processor, but can be managed in small amounts in your blender. These flours are a staple in alternative baking and I always have them on hand.
Whats Wrong With Regular Banana Bread
You might wonder what the point of making a gluten-free banana bread is. Why mess with a classic?
Unfortunately, like so many recipes weve grown up with, classic homemade banana bread, even the homemade versions, arent very good for you. For starters, theyre usually made with a whole lot of white flour. Refined carbohydrates like those dont add any nutritional value and can be difficult for your body to break down.
And then theres the sugar. Traditional banana bread has a ton of refined sugar in it, leading you to a sugar high followed by a sugar crash. Sugar is one of the top foods that causes inflammation in the body, which can contribute to heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol levels.
Finally, while I enjoy organic butter when it adds something to a dish, normal banana bread recipes can have up to a cup of the stuff. Theres just no need when you have this gluten-free banana bread that tastes amazing and is healthy and ready to be baked.
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How To Make Banana Bread
The banana bread is super simple to make, and leftovers can be sliced and frozen for an instant breakfast or snack any time you are craving banana bread.
Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients and stir well to evenly mix and break up any clumps of baking soda or salt.
Whisk the liquid ingredients together, pour them into the mixing bowl, and stir to form a banana bread batter.
Smooth into the prepared baking pan. Press a few chocolate chips on top if your heart desires, and place the pan on the ovens center rack.
Bake for 40 minutes. After time has elapsed, keep the oven door closed and turn off the heat. Let the banana loaf sit in the closed oven for an additional ten minutes to continue cooking. Then remove from the oven.
The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out mostly clean. If yours is still undercooked, simply turn the oven back on and continue baking until fluffy and golden.
Let it cool. The taste and texture are better the next day, so I like to loosely cover the banana bread and refrigerate overnight.
Refrigerate leftovers for three to four days, or slice and freeze leftover banana bread for a month or two.
Above, watch the step-by-step banana bread recipe video
Is The Texture Different For This Gluten
So you might be wondering with all of these alternative ingredients what is the texture of this Gluten-Free Banana Bread like? Well, if youve ever baked with coconut or almond flour before you know they actually lend themselves to a super moist texture and lovely cake-like chew. You lose nothing by using these special ingredients but you gain fiber, protein, and a bit of healthy fat without having to think about the sugar content.
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How Do You Make Gluten
Gluten-free flours are denser, which can lead to baked goods that are dry. To add moisture to gluten-free bread, you can use more butter, oil, or brown sugar instead of white sugar. Also, when it’s baked, store your gluten-free bread in a breadbox and make sure it has enough empty space around it so the air can circulate. A closed breadbox retains moisture inside the box so the bread doesn’t dry out, but you don’t want to hold it so close to the bread to make it soggy either!
How To Store Leftover Banana Bread
The flavor of this banana bread improves the day after you bake it, so definitely wrap it up tight in plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge. Plan on letting it sit out for a little while to take the chill off, then cut yourself a big slice, smear it with butter or soft cream cheese, and enjoy. If it seems a little crumbly, you can microwave a slice for about 30 seconds and it will soften up beautifully.
Good news: it also freezes well! Wrap it up tight in plastic wrap, then put it inside a big freezer bag. If the loaf doesnt fit well in the freezer bag, slice up the loaf and spread the slices out inside the bag so they fit.
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How To Make Gluten Free Banana Bread
Ready to bake? Heres what you need to do:
Start with the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°. While it starts to heat up, line a 9×5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper, and lightly grease the short sides of the pan where the parchment isnt touching.
Then, whisk together the wet ingredients. Combine the mashed bananas, sugar, oil, almond milk, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl, and whisk until smooth.
In a separate bowl, mix up the dry ingredients. Whisk together the gf flour, almond flour, baking soda and powder, spices, and salt.
Next, pour the dry ingredients into the bowl of wet ingredients. Stir until just combined careful not to overmix! Gently fold in the walnuts right at the end.
Finally, bake! Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, and scatter more walnuts on top. I also like to add a sprinkle of whole rolled oats at this stage. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake for 42 to 48 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
Gluten Free Banana Bread
This gluten free banana bread recipe is a staple in my house, I make it at least once a week in some form or another. There are a few different styles of banana bread, this one is slightly dark, perfectly moist, has a very tender crumb and is full of banana flavor. Its kind of addicting so after its cooled I will usually pre-slice it and individually wrap or bag it to control portion size. Otherwise, I could eat a whole loaf in a day.
This is the same gluten free banana bread recipe that I sold in my bakeries for 17 years both as loaves and muffins. It actually has such a great texture that you can frost it for cupcakes or layer cake and it is as good as any cake you will ever have.
I have tested this recipe with both of my gluten free flour mixes, Better Batter, Cup 4 Cup, King Arthur Measure for Measure and Bobs 1:1 and it works perfectly with all of them.
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Healthy Banana Bread Recipe + Gluten
Banana bread is one of those classic afternoon snacks that just cant be beat. Its sweet, soft, and undeniably delicious.
This crave-worthy recipe makes some healthy swaps, like using maple syrup instead of refined sugar as a sweetener, and the final result is easily the best banana bread Ive ever had.
Trust me, you’re going to want to bookmark this one.
Making This Recipe In Advance
Storing: First 24 hours, we store banana bread on a counter right in the loaf pan covered with towel. After, I transfer any leftovers to resealable plastic bag to prevent it from drying.
Bread stays fresh on a counter for up to 3 days, making it great for meal prep. After you can refrigerate for another 3 days.
Freezing: Bake banana bread and cool completely. I recommend you do not slice bread before placing in the freezer. It retains its moisture better this way.
Place in a gallon size Ziploc container, let out as much air as possible and seal. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Thawing and reheating: Defrost on a counter. Takes about 3-4 hours. Bread will taste just like freshly baked. Pop it into a toaster for a minute for that freshly baked bread warmth and aromas.
Enjoy this almond flour banana bread!
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This Olive Oil Banana Bread Is One Of The Easiest Banana Breads To Make And It Is Made With All Healthy Ingredients
Ever since making my Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Olive Oil Cookies, I have been loving adding olive oil into my dessert/sweet recipes. It adds such a subtle flavor and it is perfect for anyone who isnt a fan of baking with coconut oil.
You will only need a few ingredients to make this and itll only dirty up one bowl in the kitchen. Not to mention it is super versatile and you can add in any extra mix-ins you are craving and have on hand.
Professional Tips For Making Moist Gluten Free Banana Bread
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What Makes This Banana Bread Nourishing & Healthy
Theres a reason why I call this banana bread nourishing and it isnt just because I love that word rather its because this bread is a delicious nutrient-dense option to enjoy for breakfast, snacks and even a treat. Heres what makes this banana bread healthy & wonderful:
- Almond flour is high in protein, vitamin E, fiber, healthy fats and low carb. Its great for those who want to incorporate a more nutrient-dense flour into their diet. Feel free to check out more of my recipes using almond flour here.
- Flaxseed meal is a staple ingredient in my diet. I love putting it in smoothies, using it as an egg replacement in vegan recipes, and additionally, it happens to be high in fiber, protein and omega 3 fatty acids. You can read more about flaxseeds here.
- Naturally sweetened: this almond flour banana bread is naturally sweetened with only bananas, which helps to keep it fairly low sugar.
The first time I baked this up, Tony and I couldnt stop going back for a second very thick slice. Its especially good when topped with butter and a sprinkle of sea salt. I also do highly recommend using chocolate chips because it sweetens up the banana bread perfectly.
Best Flour Options For Banana Bread
I love a mix of all-purpose flour and oat flour in my banana bread because it results in a final product with such an ideal density, moisture content, and flavor profile. The oat flour also gives this banana bread a nice fiber boost.
Instead of all-purpose flour, you could also try one of the following flours in this recipe:
- White whole wheat flour
- Gluten-free all-purpose flour blend
The whole wheat flour offers more fiber and a slightly more earthy flavor. Regardless of which flour you choose, your final result is sure to be delish.
What’s the difference between banana cake and banana bread? Depending on who you ask, banana cake has similar ingredients to banana bread, but banana cake typically has more eggs, contains buttermilk, and uses only all-purpose flour.
The other big difference is that a banana cake is generally topped with frosting.
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