Best Vegan Banana Bread

Name: Best Vegan Banana Bread
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed; 5 tablespoons water; 2 large ripe bananas, about 1 cup mashed; 1/3 cup melted vegan butter (or neutral oil); 2/3 cup granulated sugar (or brown sugar, lightly packed); 1/4 cup dairy free milk (oat, almond or soy); 2 cups all purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg, optional but good; 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or non-dairy chocolate chips, optional

This is the best ever vegan banana bread and it’s so EASY to make in 1 bowl! With tons of banana flavor and super moist texture, it’s the only recipe you’ll ever need.

Want more recipes that use up ripe bananas? You’ll love my Quick & Easy Vegan Banana Muffins, Vegan Banana Pancakes and Best Vegan Banana Cake.

whole cooked banana bread with walnuts on light grey towel

Don’t let your old bananas go to waste! Instead, mash ‘em up and throw them into this easy banana bread recipe. Every slice is moist, lightly spiced, and just so scrumptious! Enjoy a slice warm with a pat of vegan butter.

The batter is so simple and made in one bowl with easy to find ingredients. In fact, you probably have most, if not all of them in your cupboard right now!

Why I love this banana bread

Customizable – You can make it gluten free, oil free, nut free and it’s already egg and dairy free! Mix in chopped nuts, chocolate chips or even dried fruit.
SO EASY – This recipe really couldn’t be easier to make. Mash the bananas, add the wet ingredients, then the dry ingredients and bake.
Incredibly delicious – It comes out perfect every time, with a beautiful golden crust and moist, tender center.

cut in half piece of banana bread with butter melted on it

Ingredients needed (with substitutions)

Bananas – Use really ripe, spotty bananas for the best results.
Flax eggs – Made from ground flaxseed and water. If you don’t have flaxseed at home, you can use another egg replacer or use ½ cup of applesauce instead.
Vegan butter – While vegan butter is the best and will make the banana bread very moist and buttery flavored, any neutral oil works well as a replacement. Applesauce or plain vegan yogurt also works for an oil free banana bread, but the results won’t be as moist and can be a bit gummy.
Sugar – I use both organic granulated sugar (organic to ensure it’s vegan friendly) and brown sugar, interchangeably. Both work well. You can also use coconut sugar. Feel free to cut the sugar in half for a less sweet banana bread.
Almond milk – Or you can use oat milk, cashew milk, or any other plant milk you have at home.
All purpose flour – Or use spelt flour or white whole wheat flour/whole wheat pastry flour. Looking for gluten free banana bread? Try my easy Vegan Gluten Free Banana Bread recipe or simply substitute a gluten free mix.
Baking soda – To help the bread rise.
Add ins – I love freshly ground nutmeg and chopped walnuts in banana bread. You can easily customize it any way you like using my suggestions below!

How to make vegan banana bread

You’ll need a standard loaf pan and just one mixing bowl for this recipe. The batter is so easy to make.

Make the flax egg by stirring the ground flaxseed together with the water. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes to thicken. Mash the bananas in a large mixing bowl. Scoop them into a measuring cup to make sure you have the right amount.

Stir the melted vegan butter into the bananas.

mashed bananas in a bowl on white backdrop

Add the sugar, milk, and flax egg to the bananas. Stir to combine.

Next, add the flour, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. Gently stir to combine.

bowl with flaxseeds, sugar and milk/butter on white marble backdrop

yellow mixture with flour on top in a bowl on white background

Be careful not to over mix the batter, or your bread could be dense and gummy tasting. Finish by folding in any add ins, such as chopped walnuts or chocolate chips.

Transfer the batter to your prepared loaf pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

bowl of banana bread batter with blue spatula in it

unbaked loaf of vegan banana bread with walnuts sprinkled on top

The crust will turn a beautiful golden brown in the oven, and might just be the best part!

Let the bread cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring it to a cooling rack. Slice when it’s cool and enjoy.

stacked sliced vegan banana bread with walnuts throughout, wood backdrop

Tips for the best banana bread

Add ins – Cinnamon, vegan chocolate chips, pecans, almonds, pumpkin seeds, or dried fruit like cranberries or raisins.
Toppings – Gently press sliced bananas, chocolate chips, oats, sunflower seeds, or walnuts on top of the banana bread batter before it goes in the oven.
Don’t over mix – Gently mix the ingredients together with a wooden spoon or spatula until everything is just combined. Over mixing the batter will leave you with dense bread.
Let it cool – Let the finished banana bread cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing. This will make it easier to slice and keep it from crumbling all over the place.

Frequently asked questions

Why didn’t my banana bread rise?

This probably means your baking soda is too old. Test its freshness by sprinkling a little into some vinegar. If it’s fizzy, that means it’s fresh. If not, head to the store for a fresh box.

Can banana bread be made gluten free?

Yes! Either replace the all purpose flour with a gluten free flour blend or follow my Gluten Free Banana Bread recipe instead.

Can it be made oil free?

You can replace the vegan butter with applesauce or plain vegan yogurt.

How long does it last?

Vegan banana bread will stay fresh for 1 or 2 days at room temperature or up to 1 week in the fridge. Make sure to wrap the finished loaf really well in plastic wrap so it stays moist.

Can you freeze banana bread?

Yes! It freezes really well for up to 3 months. Just wrap it really well and let it cool first.

Banana Bread Muffins

You can make muffins instead of bread with this recipe. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and fill muffin liners in a pan nearly to the top. Bake for 20-24 minutes, or until done.

slice of bread with butter on grey towel

Want more vegan quick bread recipes?

*This recipe was originally posted September 2018 and has been republished with new photos and better writing. I’m always improving the content on my website, thank you!

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