This vegan chocolate chip banana bread recipe is a vegan version of the classic banana bread. It's made with simple ingredients, has a rich banana flavor, and a great natural sweetness. It tastes amazing with a cup of coffee for breakfast, or as a delicious healthy dessert!
What you'll need to make the best vegan banana bread
Dry Ingredients
- white whole wheat flour
- coconut sugar: you can use any kind of granulated sugar like light brown sugar, dark brown sugar or white sugar if you prefer.
- baking powder: this is not the same as baking soda! If you use baking soda instead of baking powder, the recipe will come out tasting soapy, so make sure you are using the correct kind.
- cinnamon powder (optional)
- pinch of sea salt
Wet Ingredients
- overripe bananas
- flax eggs
- maple syrup: you can also use agave nectar or date syrup.
- non-dairy milk of choice: any dairy-free milk will work such as almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, or soy milk. I personally love using unsweetened soy milk.
- extra-virgin olive oil: you can also use melted coconut oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil instead.
- vanilla extract
To fold in
- vegan dark chocolate chips or chocolate chunks
Toppings
This banana bread tastes amazing as is, but I also love adding more toppings to make it even more delicious!
I love warming the bread up for a few seconds in the microwave, then adding nut butter and fresh banana slices on top. It tastes amazing with peanut butter and almond butter. You can even use sunflower seed butter for a nut free option.
Another delicious option that I love is vegan butter and a little bit of flakey salt on top. You can even enjoy it with vegan yogurt and a drizzle of maple syrup!
Equipment needed
- large mixing bowl
- fork or potato masher
- loaf tin
- kitchen scale (optional): this is definitely not a requirement because you can use measuring cups instead, but I find that it can sometimes be tricky to get the exact amount of flour using a measuring cup, so I find that weighing my flour is the best way to ensure I am measuring correctly. This is why I have included the grams for this recipe in the recipe card. You can definitely just make this recipe using measuring cups, but make sure you are measuring correctly. Here is a great video showing how to correctly measure flour.
The best type of bananas to use
The best type of bananas to use when making banana breads are overripe brown bananas or ones with lots of brown spots on them. The older the bananas, the sweeter they are, so they make for a great naturally sweetened end result!
What flour to use in this delicious vegan banana bread
I've experimented with this recipe many times to perfect it, and after trying it out with many different flours, I think that the best results are yielded when using whole wheat pastry flour/ white whole wheat flour. This is flour that has not been bleached from its nutrients (unlike white flour). It's also finely ground so it works great in baking. It gives the baked goods a fluffy texture, while still being filled with nutrients.
Many brands make this kind of flour. This one from Bob's Red Mill is a great one because they're a brand that specializes in baking, but you can find many others at your local grocery store.
If you don't have this kind of flour, you can use all purpose flour. This recipe also works with oat flour, but the bread will be slightly less fluffy. You can even use a 1:1 gluten-free flour, which works amazingly in gluten free baking. This recipe will not work with almond flour or coconut flour.
What oil to use
This banana bread recipe is made with olive oil. I love using olive oil in this recipe because it makes the bread super moist and fluffy. You actually can't taste the olive oil, it just adds a great texture and lots of healthy fats. If you don't have olive oil or don't want to use it, you can use whatever oil you have on hand.
The full ingredients list and step-by-step instructions are at the bottom of the post in the recipe card. You can also leave a star rating and comment there if you try the recipe, this really helps out my blog (:
How to make this vegan chocolate chip banana bread recipe
Start by mashing up the ripe bananas in a large bowl. You can use a fork or a potato masher to do this.
Next, add all of the wet ingredients to the bowl of mashed bananas, then the dry ones. Add everything except the chocolate chips and whisk the mixture well.
Finally, fold in the dairy-free chocolate chips.
Grease a loaf pan with coconut oil and line it with parchment paper.
Transfer the banana bread batter to the prepared loaf pan and use a wooden spoon or spatula to level out the top. Top it with more vegan chocolate chips, if you'd like.
Bake the bread for 50-60 minutes at 350*C/ 175*C.
I baked mine for exactly 55 minutes, but your oven or loaf pan might be different. To check if the loaf is done, stick a toothpick (or a butterknife) into the center of the bread. If it comes out clean, the bread is ready.
Place the bread on a wire rack. Allow the bread to cool off at room temperature, then slice and enjoy!
Video
If you liked this recipe and are looking for more banana recipes, try these other vegan desserts
peanut butter & chocolate banana bites
Vegan Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe
Equipment
- loaf pan
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups white whole wheat flour 227.5 g
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- 3 tablespoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon optional
- ¼ teaspoon salt
-
Wet Ingredients
- 1 flax egg 1 tablespoon flax seeds + 3 tablespoons water
- 3-4 ripe bananas
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup dairy-free milk
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup vegan chocolate chips 120 g
Instructions
- Start by mashing up the ripe bananas in a bowl. You can use a fork or a potato masher to do this.
- Next, add all of the wet ingredients to the bowl, then the dry ones. Add everything except the chocolate chips and whisk the mixture well.
- Finally, fold in the chocolate chips.
- Grease a loaf pan with coconut oil and line it with parchment paper.
- Transfer the banana bread batter to the loaf pan and use a spatula to level out the top. Top it with more chocolate chips, if you'd like.
- Bake the bread for 50-60 minutes at 350*C/ 175*C.
- I baked mine for exactly 55 minutes, but your oven or loaf pan might be different. To check if the loaf is done, stick a toothpick (or a butterknife) into the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean, the bread is ready.
Video
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Butter substitute for banana bread
You can use olive oil, melted coconut oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil instead of butter in this banana bread.
Can you freeze banana bread batter?
Yes! To freeze the batter, prepare the recipe, then pour it into a loaf pan and wrap it tightly in foil or plastic wrap, and place it in the freezer. When thawing, leave it out at room temperature for several hours until it reaches room temperature. Then bake as normal.
Can you put banana bread in the fridge?
Yes! The fridge is the best place to store it if you want it to last a long time.
Can you use overripe bananas for banana bread?
Yes! Overripe bananas are the best to use for banana bread. The spottier and riper, the better.
Can you use unripe bananas for banana bread?
Yes! If you have unripe bananas, but really want to make banana bread and you don't want to wait days for them to turn brown, there is actually a trick you can use to get them to darken and become softer. Just put them on a baking tray and bake them in the oven at 300*F for a total of 20 minutes, flipping them halfway. The banana will become dark in color on the outside and soft and mushy on the inside, making them perfect for banana bread.
Can you use black bananas for banana bread?
Yes! The darker the bananas, the better they will be for banana bread. Bananas become softer and sweeter as they ripen, making them better for banana bread the riper they are. Even black bananas can be used for banana bread.
Can you use brown sugar in banana bread?
Yes! Brown sugar works great in banana bread to give it a soft and chewy texture.
Egg substitute banana bread
If you are allergic to eggs or avoid them due to dietary restrictions, but want to make banana bread, you can simply use a flax egg. A flax egg is ground up flax seeds mixed with water. To make one, you want to mix 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds mixed with 3 tablespoons of water. Whisk them together, let them sit for 5-10 minutes, then use it instead of an egg in the recipe. This recipe is actually perfect if you don't have any eggs because the recipe is made with flax eggs!
How long does banana bread last in the fridge?
Banana bread will last in the fridge for 5-7 days if stored in an airtight container.
How to freeze banana bread
Once the banana bread has been baked and fully cooled, you can freeze it by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap. You can also keep it in the loaf pan (as long as it's freezer friendly), or slice up the bread and place the individual slices in an airtight container. Place the banana bread in the freezer.
When you want to eat it again, take it out of the freezer and let it thaw. Once it has thawed, place it in a 350*F preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes (less time if you are thawing individual slices).
How to make banana bread fluffier
What makes banana bread (and other baked good) fluffier are the leavening agents. These are either baking powder, baking soda, or yeast. This banana bread is extra fluffy because it has a lot of baking powder in it. The 3 tablespoons used in this recipe make the bread rise perfectly and form a dome, while still keeping the flavor intact.
How to store banana bread
I like to store the banana bread in the loaf that I made it in, and then wrap the top with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Another option is to cut the bread into individual slices and then place them in an airtight container.
How to tell if banana bread is done
To tell if your banana bread has fully baked, you can stick a toothpick, or a thin butterknife through the center of the loaf. If they come out clean, the bread is fully baked and ready to eat.
You'll know if the banana bread is close to being done when the edges of the bread are golden brown in color and the bread has risen and formed a dome at the top.
What to eat with banana bread
Banana bread tastes great warmed up with some peanut butter and fresh bananas spread on top, or with a cup of coffee or tea. You can even spread some yogurt or jam on top.
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