The BEST Paleo Banana Bread
Delicious and sweet Paleo banana bread that’s only sweetened with bananas and made from coconut flour! Gluten free and vegan, this bread is family friendly and perfect for breakfast or a snack!
Get ready for the best banana bread you’ve ever tasted…and it’s even PALEO!
This homemade Paleo coconut flour banana bread is completely gluten free, vegan, and is sweetened only with bananas.
Yes, I know! You’re probably thinking, well this won’t taste sweet at alllllll.
…and yet, this tastes like a banana bread you might pick up in your favorite bakery!
How?! Well, I’m magic 🙂 Just kidding, just kidding, it’s all in the ingredients, my friend!
How this Paleo Banana Bread came to be:
Because there are so many traditional banana breads out there, and many of the paleo or gluten free banana breads contain a ton of flour, especially nut flours, I decided to try something rather new.
I made this paleo banana bread with only coconut flour…that’s the only flour, I swear!
And yet the result is this moist, decadent, warming slice of gooey banana bread that will bring a smile to every eater’s face. That’s what I call magic.
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Ingredients for Paleo vegan banana bread:
To make this coconut flour banana bread, you really only need a few ingredients, and it’s all made in one bowl!
- Bananas: So obviously we’re going to start with bananas. They’re the star of the show! You’re going to need 4 very ripe bananas, preferably large-extra large (go for extra large if you like more sweetness- or feel free to add a 1/4 cup of maple syrup or sugar!).
- Flaxseed eggs: this recipe works with flaxseed eggs; I have not yet made it with applesauce, so I would recommend sticking with the flaxseed! To make a flaxseed “egg,” each serving is 1 tbsp of ground flaxseed with 2 tbsp of water. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, and it will act just like an egg!
- Coconut Flour: this one is key because it’s going to absorb all of the moisture from the bananas, eggs, and nut/seed butter. I can’t say if it works for almond flour, wheat, or [insert gluten free flour here], but you’re more than welcome to try!
- Nut or Seed Butter: So the beauty of this Paleo vegan banana bread is that you can make it easily nut free. One of the issues I’ve seen as a food blogger is that there aren’t enough nut free recipes for those who want to eat Paleo or vegan. Now, you can have both or all! My favorite butters for this recipe include: almond butter, peanut butter, coconut butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter (though it might turn green- totally fine to consume, it’s just a different color!), pumpkin seed butter (very fun for fall!), or macadamia nut butter!
- Chocolate chips: completely optional, but if we’re being honest, healthy banana bread is just not banana bread without chocolate chips! Add some to your paleo banana bread if that’s your style too! I highly recommend using either Lily’s Sweets Chocolate Chips or Pascha’s 100% Cacao Chips. They are amazing and for real chocolate connoisseurs. But any ol’ chips will do too!
Then we have our flavor and texture enhancers: vanilla extract, cinnamon, sea salt, baking soda, and paleo baking powder.
There are so many websites that point to how to do it, but I really like Baker Bettie’s description on how to replace baking powder and why it works (science is kool). If you’re not strictly paleo, by all means, using your baking powder! Heck, I still use baking powder because *no labels zone* over here!
But if you want a fun science experiment, try it out!
I actually think the chemical reaction when you mix baking soda and vinegar is the coolest thing since sliced bread. Sliced banana bread 😉 HAHA! I made a joke. Okay let’s continue.
Making the best Paleo banana bread:
What I love most about this banana bread recipe is that it is one bowl, doesn’t require anything to sit or cool, and you can just pour it into a loaf pan and bake!
Here are the steps:
- Make sure your extra ripe bananas (if your bananas are not ripe, here’s a cool trick on how) and mash them either with a fork, a potato masher, or even a hand mixer paddle!
- Add in the remaining ingredients, save for the chocolate chips, and stir it all together.
- Fold in the chocolate chips, and then pour the batter into a loaf pan.
- Top with extra chocolate chips and banana if you desire (who doesn’t love a pretty topped banana bread?!)
- BAKE!
So then the easy (yet always sort of the difficult part for me) is letting it bake! I say it’s difficult for me because all of the sudden, the kitchen smells amazing and I start to become impatient. Ha!
Then, ya know, let it cool for a few minutes. We don’t want any burnt fingers or mouthes, plus it will be much easier to slice your gluten free banana bread 😉
I got the stamp of approval from my mom (who is a sweets connoisseur- although she did say she likes things really sweet, so you can add in a little maple syrup if that’s your style!), Jared’s family (loved it), and Jared himself (who only likes my chocolate desserts, so THIS WAS A PROUD MOMENT!).
His jaw dropped. I’m not kidding.
Now, this easy banana bread is great not only to enjoy as a breakfast bread, but it’s perfect for meal prep, to pack in kids’ snacks at school, or even sprinkle onto homemade nice cream for dessert!
Another great way to enjoy day-old banana bread is toasting it in the oven and topping with a pat of vegan butter!
That’s why I love banana bread- it’s usually a treat that everyone, of all ages, can enjoy, and now it’s completely allergy friendly!
I hope you enjoy this banana bread recipe 🙂 It honestly has quickly become one of my go-to’s! I’ve already made it several times over! I love it with a slather of nut butter on top and a cup of coffee or sprinkled on top of banana or regular ice cream 🙂 Absolutely delicious!
I would love to hear your thoughts on what variation of banana bread you would like next and how this one went for you in the comments below.
As always, I can’t wait to see your beautiful recreations on Instagram and Pinterest!
Happy Banana Bread Baking!
More Delicious Healthy Banana Baked Goods:
Paleo Vegan Double Chocolate Banana Bread
Banana Oatmeal Pancakes (Vegan, GF)
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The BEST Paleo Banana Bread
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
- Category: Breads
- Method: Baking
Description
This Paleo Banana Bread is so easy and delicious, yet tastes like a traditional version! Sweetened with banana, this gluten free banana bread can be vegan!
Ingredients
- 4 large overripe bananas
- 3 large flaxseed eggs or regular eggs
- 1/3 cup nut or seed butter, unsalted
- 3/4 cup coconut flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp sea salt (omit if using salted nut/seed butter)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 mixture paleo baking powder (see note), or 2 tsp regular baking powder
Optional:
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and grease a loaf pan with either coconut oil or butter.
- In a large bowl, mash bananas.
- Add in eggs, almond butter, coconut flour, vanilla, cinnamon, sea salt, baking soda, and paleo baking powder. Mix thoroughly.
- If using chocolate chips, fold in chocolate chips here.
- Pour batter into greased loaf pan and add banana coins on top if desired for decoration.
- Place in oven and bake for 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and let cool before slicing.
Notes
- To make paleo baking powder, mix 1 additional tsp baking soda with 2 tsp white vinegar in a small bowl. Let foam and add to batter.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 168
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 171.8 mg
- Fat: 8.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 21.4 g
- Protein: 5.1 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg
I would loooooove if you came up with a healthy, gluten free cinnamon sugar swirl bread. I was addicted to that bread as a kid but it’s definitely not something I’d want to have every day now 😆 To cut out some of the sugar, I bet it would be delicious as a cinnamon swirl banana bread, using the bananas as replacement sugar! With a few tweaks, using this recipe would be perfect I think. A banana-free one would be cool too, using coconut flour (and even oat flour). I love your recipes so much!
That sounds AMAZING, Maria! Thank you so much for the idea!! I will absolutely be putting that on the list for development 🙂 Can’t wait to share with you!! Have a wonderful start to the week!
Can I just use gluten free baking powder instead of the paleo baking powder version?
Hi there! Yes absolutely! I believe most baking powders are typically gluten free (the second time I experimented with traditional baking powder, and mine was GF!), so that should work great 🙂
This looks delicious!!! Definitely making it this weekend. One question though, can I use peanut butter instead of almond butter?
Absolutely!! I’ve had people report back saying cashew butter is great too! 🙂 Whatever butter you have on hand works perfectly!
Do you think i could use almond flour instead of coconut flour?
Hi love! I haven’t tested out almond flour yet with this recipe, but normally, you need to double the amount of almond flour for coconut flour, since coconut flour absorbs so much liquid! If you do use almond flour, I would try it with 1.25-1.5 cups of almond flour! BUT I can’t say whether it will come out the same!
hello! How much of regular baking poweder should i use??
Hi love!! About 1.5 tsp should do the trick 🙂
Hi! Am I able to use a plant based butter (Like Melt – coconut based) instead of a nut or seed butter ? Thank you !
I have not tried Melt yet so I can’t speak to its consistency- however, Miyoko’s or Earth Balance sticks melted would work here!
Thank you so much! I’m excited to give this recipe a try!
I can’t wait to make this ASAP!! Do you think I could use oat flour (I don’t follow a paleo diet) instead of coconut flour? I’d love to hear your input ☺️
Hi Kristina! Oh I’m so happy to hear that!! I think that oat flour could definitely work, but I haven’t tried it myself so I can’t vouch for it! If it were me, I would try 1 cup oat flour instead of 3/4 cup coconut flour! Hope that helps, and happy baking! 🙂
Hi, do you think this recipe would be okay with just 3 bananas?
Hi Shannon!
It definitely can! It really depends on how big the bananas are, but just aim for having about 1 1/2 cups mashed banana! I’ve had one person mention that it works with 3 bananas, but I can’t vouch for it myself!
This recipe made the best banana bread I’ve ever had! Already made this twice in the last 3 days, lol! Thanks so much!!! 🙂
Oh my goodness!! This just made my day!! I’m overjoyed to hear it! Thank you so much for commenting, and so glad you made the recipe! 🙂 Happy Friday!
This is really tasty! I subbed seed butter and white wine vinegar but for some reason the loaf turned green!! Any idea why that might have happened. It will be devoured just the same but just curious about the reaction.
Hi Melissa! Aw so happy to hear you enjoyed it! But I’m sorry to hear about the green color!! That’s happened very occasionally to me and it has to do with the seed butter and the leavening agents- for some reason, when sunflower seeds and the leavening agents are combined, a chemical reaction occurs and makes it green! But you can totally still eat it! Just looks kinda ghoulish!
Seriously the best banana bread!! The only issue is the loaf always disappears in less than 24 hours 😂
Aw thank you so much!!! So happy you loved it 🙂 Hahaha I have that same issue!
The title speaks the truth! Delicious!! I used Justin’s Cinnamon Almond Butter that my husband accidentally picked up instead of regular and omitted the cinnamon. Quick, easy, healthy & delicious-thank you!!!
Aw this is wonderful to hear!! Thank you so much for giving it a go!!
I have tried this recipe two different times and followed the directions completely. The bread always turns out to be so gooey/puddings like. Is it supposed to be that way? Definitely not a bread texture.
Hi Kristin! I’m so sorry to hear this! It should be like a bread texture, do you mind walking me through what you did? Is your baking powder still fresh? Sometimes that can be the issue!
Hey
I just made the banana bread by using home made tahini ( Seasame seeds which I believe is same as any seed butter ) with the exact measurements of all other ingredients .
And the cake turned out to be soft , but tends to have high moisture content and when cut into slices , it breaks . And the some mashed banana can be found as moist part in cake .
Any advice to overcome this ?
Hi there!
I’m so sorry to hear this! From the sounds of it, it seems like the banana wasn’t mashed enough- you shouldn’t have any major chunks of banana in there, and everything should be combined enough into a thick and consistent batter, so everything is evenly distributed.
Additionally, is your baking soda and/or baking powder still good? If not, that could also account for the issue!
I just tried to bake these banana bread using 1/2 of the portion sizes.
The first attempt was a fail which I think was due to my baking powder being stale. The bread was mushy and gooey in the center even after almost an hour in the oven 🙁
But the 2nd attempt was much better after replacing the baking powder! I must say the bread was not the usual texture that I am used to, it was quite soft and easily crumbled. But the taste was great! Love that I didn’t need to add any sugar/maple syrup to make the bread sweet. Great recipe!
Whoops I just made this and it’s in the oven now…but just now noticed that I forgot the baking soda and just used 2tsp baking powder 😅 Hopefully it will still work!! Love the other banana bread recipe of yours with strawberries, so I’m excited!
Ah so excited to hear what you think!! No worries, it will still work!! The baking soda is just Paleo friendly whereas the baking powder often has cornstarch in it- let me know how the bread comes out! So glad you love the strawberry one as well!! 🙂
What could I substitute nut butter or seed butter with? I don’t eat nuts or seeds because I avoid poly unsaturated fats.
Hi Steph! I haven’t tested this recipe with any other option. Typically, you can substitute vegan butter for nut or seed butter, but again, I haven’t personally tested this, so I can’t say for sure as to how it will turn out.
I added some collagen to this recipe for a little protein boost and baked them as muffins for 20 minutes. They turned out fantastic! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
The best vegan gf banana bread!! Have made this recipe like 10 times never fails
Oh my goodness! This is wonderful 🙂 Thank you so much for the review!!
How would I go about adding a bit of honey?
You can add a tablespoon or two without changing anything!
This recipe came together easily and instead of chocolate chips, I folded in fresh blueberries. It came out well and tastes good.
This was good! I used almond flour in place of coconut and increased the amount, as you suggested. Used Santa Cruz organic dark roasted peanut butter for my nut butter. It’s very good! Would be great with chocolate chips, too. Thanks.
(The last paleo banana bread recipe I tried used tapioca flour. The crumb looked nice but the loaf was really insubstantial. This one is heavier, more bread-like.)