Easy healthy banana bread

This gluten free healthy banana bread recipe is so easy to make using a blender and a handful of pantry staples. Perfect as a make-ahead breakfast or snack.

I have been testing recipes for easy healthy banana bread for a few months now and I am so pleased that I have finally perfected the recipe. This recipes uses pantry staples that are affordable and easy to find at your grocery store. It’s also SO easy to make because the the batter gets made in a blender so it cuts down on prep time and washing up. But none of that means anything if it doesn’t taste good, right? I can say with full confidence that this banana bread recipe is so utterly delicious. It is based off of my Healthy banana oat muffins recipe and my kids ask for this banana bread all the time.

It has become a part of my Sunday routine now and I make this loaf or the muffins pretty much every Sunday in preparation for the week ahead. We have it with coffee for breakfast, the kids pack it for lunch and it makes an excellent guilt-free late-afternoon snack. This banana bread is made with rolled oats so it’s gluten free and packed with fiber. Eggs add a good boost of protein and the bananas are packed full of potassium. I love adding cinnamon, vanilla and chocolate chips as extra flavor bombs to make this bread even more delicious.

How to make healthy banana bread?

The ingredients needed for healthy banana bread are:

1. Ripe bananas. You want bananas that are ripe but not too mushy.
2. Eggs.
3. Oil. Coconut oil, canola oil or avocado oil all work well here. You can use butter as well.
4. Milk. Nut milk, lactose free or regular cow’s milk will all work.
5. Rolled oats or old fashioned oats. Quick-cooking oats and steel cut oats don’t work as well.
6. Baking powder.
7. Sweetener of your choice. I prefer using unrefined sugar. Coconut sugar, raw sugar, maple syrup and honey all work well.
8. Salt, cinnamon, vanilla and chocolate chips. The chocolate chips are completely optional and can be substituted with nuts.

Combine all the ingredients (except for chocolate chips or nuts, if using) in the jug of a powerful blender. Blend until smooth. Add the wet ingredients to the blender first as this will ensure easy blending. Fold the chocolate chips or nuts into the batter. Pour the batter into a loaf pan lined with parchment paper. Bake the banana bread until a skewers inserted comes out with moist crumbs. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before slicing and serving.

How to make banana bread moist?

The bananas and oil make this banana bread super moist. The oats result in a denser banana bread than when flour is used so it’s essential that the oil used is canola, avocado or another vegetable oil. This recipe was tested with butter and coconut oil as well but the vegetable oil resulted in a moister baked banana bread.

How ripe should bananas be for banana bread?

For banana bread made with flour, the bananas can be very over ripe (black and mushy are perfect). For this gluten free banana bread recipe though, you want the bananas to be ripe and not mushy at all. Because we don’t have the structure of gluten (in flour) to work with, the ripe but firm bananas and eggs help with the structure of this bread.

Can you freeze banana bread?

Yes, banana bread freezes very well. Freeze individual slices by wrapping in wax paper and plastic wrap and placing in a freezer safe container or freeze an entire loaf by wrapping well. Thaw completely before serving.

Banana bread recipes

1. Brown sugar cinnamon banana bread
2. Classic Banana Bread
3. Easy healthy chocolate chip banana muffins

Healthy chocolate chip banana oat muffins

Easy and healthy banana oat pancakes

Easy healthy banana oat waffles