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    You are here: Home / Dessert / The Best Vegan Banana Bread

    LAST UPDATED: May 16, 2022 • FIRST PUBLISHED: May 16, 2022

    The Best Vegan Banana Bread

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Vegan Banana Bread

    The best banana bread ever, and it's vegan! Perfectly sweet, moist, and topped with a brown sugar crust, this delicious banana bread is super easy to make and customizable with your favorite stir-ins.

    Sliced loaf of Vegan Banana Bread with a striped napkin in the background.

    My family has the best banana bread recipe. Ever. I hate to brag, but it's true. Back when I was young and learning to cook I tried out some banana bread recipes that were decent, before my mom took me aside, handed me a recipe card and informed me that it was the only banana bread recipe I'd ever need, because it was the best!

    Well, she was wrong about at least one thing, because I guess she didn't know that a time would come when a I'd need a vegan banana bread recipe. But that's not a big deal, because creating a vegan version of the old family favorite recipe was no biggie!

    Oh, and well, maybe she was wrong about it being the best, because, in fact, this vegan recipe is actually better.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients You'll Need
    • How to Make Vegan Banana Bread
    • Leftovers & Storage
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Vegan Quickbreads
    • The Best Vegan Banana Bread
    Two slices of Vegan Banana Bread on a plate with tea cup and napkin in the background.

    Ingredients You'll Need

    • Overripe bananas. Your bananas absolutely need to be overripe. This means LOTS of brown spots. Preferably almost as much brown peel as yellow. Using bananas that aren't ripe enough will not only affect the banana flavor of your bread, but it will give it a dry, chewy texture.
    • Sugars. We're using granulated white and brown sugar, and you'll want to make sure both are organic in order to keep the recipe vegan. Coconut sugar can be substituted for brown sugar if you'd like.
    • Canola oil. Feel free to substitute another baking oil, like vegetable oil, melted coconut oil, or even olive oil. I don't recommend using vegan butter in this particular recipe.
    • Vanilla extract.
    • Flour. The recipe calls for all-purpose wheat flour, which is the only type I've tested it with. I've had a few readers that had success with various gluten-free flours though. Check out the comments below the recipe to read about their results. I suspect that whole wheat pastry flour or a mix of white and whole wheat flour would also work.
    • Baking soda.
    • Cinnamon. You can leave this out if you insist, but it adds a wonderful flavor to the loaf.
    • Salt.
    • Walnuts. You're welcome to substitute another type of nut such as pecans or hazelnuts, or use your favorite banana bread stir-in, such as chocolate chips.

    Tip: If you have overripe bananas but aren't ready to make banana bread, just freeze them! Peel them, seal them up in freezer bags, then thaw when you're ready to bake

    How to Make Vegan Banana Bread

    The following is a detailed photo tutorial on how to make this dish. Scroll all the way down if you'd like to skip right to the recipe!

    The great thing about veganizing banana bread is that you don't have to fuss over figuring out the right egg substitute. Bananas do the job! I use bananas as an egg substitutes in all kinds of vegan baked goods, but when it comes to banana bread, they're already an integral part of the recipe.

    • Mash your bananas up in a large bowl using a fork or potato masher.
    • Add some oil, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla to your mashed banana, then stir everything up.
    Spoon stirring wet banana bread ingredients together in a bowl.
    • When your wet ingredients are mixed you can add the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
    • Fold the nuts into you batter, being careful not to overmix it.

    Tip: You want to stir just until the ingredients are combined. Mixing too much will overdevelop the gluten, making your vegan banana bread tough. This rule applies with pretty much all wheat flour-based muffins and quick breads.

    Hands stirring walnuts into Vegan Banana Bread batter in a bowl.
    • Pour the batter into a prepared loaf pan, smooth out the top, and sprinkle with brown sugar. This will give you an awesome crust on top!
    Hand sprinkling brown sugar over Vegan Banana Bread batter in a pan.
    • Bake your loaf for 50 minutes at 350°.
    • Let the bread cool on a cooling rack for a few minutes before slicing.
    Hands holding a loaf of Vegan Banana Bread in a pan.

    Tip: As with all baked goods recipes, make sure your ingredients are at room temperature before you begin baking.

    Leftovers & Storage

    Store your leftover vegan banana bread in it's original loaf pan, tightly covered in plastic wrap. It will keep at room temperature for 2 to 3 days, or in the fridge for about 1 week.

    You can also seal the loaf up in a freezer bag or airtight container and freeze it for up to 3 months.

    You can optionally warm the individual slices in the microwave or oven heated to 350°F for a few minutes.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why didn't my banana bread rise?

    Usually old baking soda is the culprit. Test yours by sprinkling it in some vinegar. It should fizz. If not, toss and replace it.

    Why doesn't this recipe include any flax eggs?

    They're not necessary! Bananas serve the same function.

    How can I make this recipe into muffins?

    Use my vegan banana muffins recipe! I've made all the necessary adjustments for you.

    Wooden surface set with a sliced loaf of banana bread and striped napkin.

    More Vegan Quickbreads

    • Vegan Chocolate Banana Bread
    • Vegan Zucchini Bread
    • Vegan Cornbread
    • Vegan Pumpkin Bread

    Like this recipe? If so, please stop back and leave me a review and rating below if you try it! Also be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter for more recipes like this one!

    Sliced loaf of Vegan Banana Bread on a cutting board.
    4.92 from 236 votes
    Print

    The Best Vegan Banana Bread

    The best banana bread ever and it's vegan! Perfectly sweet, moist, and topped with a brown sugar crust, this delicious banana bread is super easy to make and customizable with your favorite stir-ins.

    Course Breakfast, Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 50 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour
    Servings 10
    Calories 322 kcal
    Author Alissa Saenz

    Ingredients

    • 3 medium overripe bananas (Notes 1 and 2)
    • ⅓ cup organic granulated sugar
    • ⅓ cup organic brown sugar
    • ⅓ cup canola oil (or your favorite baking oil)
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon salt (Note 3)
    • 1 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans, vegan chocolate chips, or your favorite banana bread stir-in)

    For Topping

    • ¼ cup organic brown sugar
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350°.

    2. Lightly oil a 9-inch loaf pan and arrange a strip of parchment paper width-wise along the center, with just a bit hanging out over each side.

    3. Peel the bananas and place them into a large mixing bowl. Mash them well with a fork or potato masher.

    4. Add sugar, brown sugar, oil, and vanilla to the bowl. Stir until well-mixed.

    5. Add the flour to the bowl, then sprinkle the baking soda, cinnamon and salt on top of the flour.

    6. Stir everything together just until mixed. Don't overmix. The batter will be thick.

    7. Fold in the walnuts.

    8. Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth out the top with the back of a spoon.

    9. Sprinkle the top with brown sugar.

    10. Bake for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

    11. Remove the pan from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack. Allow the loaf to cool for at least 15 minutes before removing it from the pan.

    12. Slice and serve.

    Recipe Notes

    1. Make sure at least a third of your banana peel is brown, and preferably closer to half. Bananas that aren't ripe enough will negatively affect the flavor and texture of this recipe.
    2. You should be able to eyeball your bananas to find a medium one, but if you're in doubt, go for ones that weigh about 5 ounces (with the peel).
    3. While the majority of commenters on this recipe have loved it, I've also heard from a few people who found it to be too salty. I think the amount of salt is perfect, but if you tend to be sensitive to saltiness, try using only ½ teaspoon of salt the first time you make it.
    Nutrition Facts
    The Best Vegan Banana Bread
    Amount Per Serving (1 slice (1/10 of loaf))
    Calories 322 Calories from Fat 135
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 15g23%
    Saturated Fat 1g5%
    Sodium 362mg15%
    Potassium 231mg7%
    Carbohydrates 43.5g15%
    Fiber 2.6g10%
    Sugar 19.4g22%
    Protein 6g12%
    Calcium 20mg2%
    Iron 1.8mg10%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    « How Long Does Tofu Last? A Complete Storage Guide
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    About Alissa Saenz

    Hi, I'm Alissa! I'm a former attorney turned professional food blogger. I love creating vegan recipes with bold flavors! You can read more about me here.

    I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Peacenik says

      November 26, 2021 at 9:19 am

      5 stars
      Wow! I'm 54 and quite set in my ways. My whole life I've been using the same non-vegan banana bread recipe my mom used when I was a kid, and I love it. I made this one for my vegan niece who was visiting for Thanksgiving, and I also made one of my usual kind. Trying them side by side, I was amazed to find I liked this one even better. The best banana bread I've ever had of any kind. Thank you! (Note: I left out the walnuts on purpose and the vanilla extract by mistake, and it was still fantastic.)

      Reply
      • Deb says

        April 07, 2022 at 4:09 pm

        5 stars
        This is the best banana bread! I've made it like ten times already. Thanks so much for the recipe.❤

        Reply
    2. Jen says

      December 03, 2021 at 12:26 pm

      5 stars
      I left off the sugar topping since I was making this for my toddler. It turned out amazing. I made it twice this week, one for myself, and one to bring to my parent's house.

      Reply
    3. Birdie says

      December 04, 2021 at 8:32 pm

      5 stars
      Sooooo yummy!

      My little prefers muffins so I spooned enough into a muffin tin (to experiment on the timing) … it turned out excellent as well: same temp but 25 minutes instead of 50 minutes.

      Reply
    4. Erin says

      December 14, 2021 at 9:24 pm

      5 stars
      One of the best banana bread recipes I’ve made and so simple! Absolutely delicious. I’m vegan but my parents aren’t and they loved this. I love that the recipe is accessible for those unaccustomed to vegan baking :)

      Reply
    5. Janet says

      December 26, 2021 at 6:58 pm

      This one is a keeper. Amazing recipe and thank you for posting

      Reply
    6. Luis Chiles says

      December 28, 2021 at 11:21 pm

      5 stars
      It turned out delicious. I used a mix of walnuts, pecans and vegan chocolate chips. Replaced half the oil with unsweetened apple sauce and only used half the brown sugar for the topping to save some calories.
      Thank you for a great recipee!

      Reply
    7. Ana Belen Johnson says

      December 30, 2021 at 1:32 pm

      4 stars
      Great recipe! A bit too salty for my taste, but overall a great flavor.

      Reply
    8. CT says

      January 03, 2022 at 11:14 am

      5 stars
      This can be made gluten-free! I made it substituting the flour for a rice flour-based mix, 3/4 tsp of xanthan gum and added a teaspoon of baking powder. Because gluten-free recipes do well with extra protein I added an egg. If you can find a vegan protein source go ahead and add that although it might be fine without it. I also added frozen blueberries and it was so good! I was so happy to find a recipe that didn’t have any form of butter since I can’t eat that.
      I wasn’t able to add this to my Pinterest board though.

      Reply
    9. Susan Dorling says

      January 08, 2022 at 7:11 pm

      Fabulous recipe! Made muffins and they are incredibly delicious! Thank you for all your creations, you make vegan food sing!

      Reply
      • Dawn says

        March 29, 2022 at 8:08 pm

        How long did you bake when making the muffins?

        Reply
    10. Molly says

      January 09, 2022 at 2:14 am

      3 stars
      I made this as directed and it came out dry and crumbly. If i slice it it falls apart. Hard to take to a party

      Reply
    11. YOLANDA RUTH PAVEY says

      January 09, 2022 at 1:58 pm

      5 stars
      Very very yummy. I decided to try this instead of veganizing my old recipe. It was excellent as prepared per the recipe. It is a keeper!

      Reply
    12. Julie says

      January 26, 2022 at 9:52 am

      4 stars
      Great taste overall, but too salty. I'll decrease salt to 1/2 teaspoon next time.

      Reply
    13. Jeff K says

      January 29, 2022 at 1:34 pm

      5 stars
      This was the best! I added an extra banana because I had it and it was fantastic. Thanks for the recipe

      Reply
    14. Di Martinez-Pogar says

      February 02, 2022 at 10:45 pm

      The first time I made this, I did so because we had a guest stay with us over Christmas who is vegan. Everyone loved it and my husband said it was the best banana nut bread I ever made. Everyone, that is, but me. With every bite, I could taste the oil...Ick! So the second time I made it, I replaced the oil with sugar free applesauce. NOW, I agree with my husband. THIS is the best banana nut bread I ever made...and still vegan!

      Reply
    15. dani says

      February 04, 2022 at 2:41 pm

      5 stars
      i use this recipe every time i make banana bread. it’s just so delicious!!! the only thing i add myself is i chop up chocolate bars in pieces and add them in,, SO delicious

      Reply
    16. Laurel says

      February 25, 2022 at 6:17 pm

      5 stars
      All your recipes are so good and this is no exception! I’ve made this numerous times already and it always turns out perfect. Here’s a little tip - if you are using leftover frozen bananas (I have bags of them!) I figured out three medium bananas are 12 ounces, so I just weigh out that amount and it’s perfect.
      Thanks for the awesome recipe!

      Reply
    17. Sara says

      March 14, 2022 at 4:53 pm

      5 stars
      This is best banana bread recipe! I make it at least twice a month. My family loves it.

      Reply
    18. Yolanda Pavey says

      March 21, 2022 at 9:35 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious! A new family favorite recipe at our house. Moist, great banana flavor. Very easy to make.
      Thank you
      YPavey

      Reply
    19. Madeline says

      March 24, 2022 at 3:28 pm

      I make this recipe every week for my husband - I use Sucanat for the sugar, unsweetened applesauce for the oil and add dried cranberries, raisins, dried cherries and walnuts! So good!!

      Reply
    20. Susan says

      April 06, 2022 at 8:54 pm

      3 stars
      It would have been great, but it was top salty for a banana bread. Next time I'll just use only 1/2 tsp of salt. I also added 2 Tbsp of almond milk.

      Reply
    21. Gabriella says

      April 19, 2022 at 1:17 am

      5 stars
      AMAZING RECIPE! I didn't have brown sugar and used coconut sugar instead. It tasted so good and it was moist/fluffy. My dad who isn't vegan loved it!

      Reply
    22. Maddie says

      May 15, 2022 at 9:19 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made this recipe probably 20 times at this point, so I figured I should probably leave a review as a thanks. This banana bread was one of the first things that introduced me to vegan baking and I’m so happy I found it. It’s a staple for any holiday or gathering I’m apart of, it’s easy and assures me I have something delicious to eat. My entire family (non-vegan) loves it, and my dad frequently buys bananas in bulk as an excuse to hassle me to make a loaf. I used to work at a vegan bakery that makes banana bread, and I can say this recipe beats that one by a long shot (despite the excessive amount of sugar bakeries use). I’m so happy I found this, thank you!

      Reply
    23. Karen says

      June 01, 2022 at 2:38 am

      5 stars
      Very easy recipe and so tasty! Love the crunchy crust that developed during baking!

      Reply
    24. Yolanda Pavey says

      June 10, 2022 at 8:59 pm

      5 stars
      I have made this banana bread several times now and each time we love it. However this time I had to make adjustments.
      My husband has recently been diagnosed with pancreas failure so I have to limit unhealthy fats and sugar. Sooo I used refined coconut oil ( melted) as it is med chain and easily digested without the help of the pancreas , and substituted the white sugar with a sugar substitute by King Arthur and the results were fantastic! Thank you for a recipe that is able to be modified and still be yummy!!

      Reply
    25. Jasmine says

      June 16, 2022 at 2:50 pm

      Just made these. Used chocolate chips instead of walnuts as my daughter is allergic. Baked them as muffins for about 22 minutes. Excellent! Thank you for such a tasty recipe. They were moist but not wet, baked absolutely perfectly.

      Reply
    26. Cat says

      June 23, 2022 at 11:43 am

      5 stars
      Solid recipe. I was surprised no flax, considering you always add eggs in most banana bread recipes. Have added to my files. Thanks so much. I did a sugar/oat/coconut oil top. But recipe is perfect regardless. :)

      Reply
    27. Amanda R. says

      July 03, 2022 at 5:37 pm

      Hi! I live in Denver and just made this for a brunch I hosted with vegan friends. They really like it but we only ate the ends. The outside of the bread was getting really brown, but the center just wouldn’t cook and remained raw. Do you have high altitude baking suggestions? Or other suggestions? My friends loved it, and I’d like to make this again without ending up with a raw middle. Thank you!!!

      Reply
    28. Amelie says

      July 08, 2022 at 3:19 pm

      5 stars
      This cake is AMAZING!!!
      I reduced the sugar to only 1/3 cup total and did coconut brown sugar as well as coconut oil.
      It is so easy so make and hard to keep on tne counter :-) we could not stop eating

      Reply
    29. Danielle says

      July 11, 2022 at 3:06 pm

      5 stars
      This is actually the BEST!
      Thanks

      Reply
    30. Patricia B says

      July 20, 2022 at 1:38 am

      5 stars
      This is so good. I put extra brown sugar on it and added walnuts and dried cranberries. Putting parchment paper in the loaf pan is so helpful since it makes removal so easy. Thank you for this delicious recipe!

      Reply
    31. Emily P. says

      July 22, 2022 at 1:01 pm

      5 stars
      Easy to make and absolutely delicious!

      Reply
    32. Paige says

      July 26, 2022 at 3:13 pm

      5 stars
      Don’t go looking elsewhere, this is the only banana bread recipe you need - vegan or not!! It’s quick, easy, and so delicious!! My go to recipe!

      Reply
    33. Jamie says

      August 02, 2022 at 9:42 pm

      5 stars
      This truly is the best banana bread I've ever tasted. I must have made it 20 times. When my son was in the hospital, he asked me to bring him some. It's super-good topped with So Delicious Bananas Foster vegan ice cream. Thanks so much for this recipe.

      Reply
    34. Kelly McGrath says

      August 06, 2022 at 9:05 pm

      5 stars
      SO good! I’ve never put brown sugar in or on my banana bread, but I will always add it from now on. I also added chopped dates, which was really yummy.

      Reply
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    Hi, I'm Alissa! I'm a former attorney turned professional food blogger. I love creating vegan recipes with bold flavors!

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