Healthy Dairy-Free Banana Bread Recipe (No Sugar Added, Plant-Based) (2024)

Okay, maybe not ALL of you. But when I shared a glimpse of the Breakfast-Worthy Banana Bread from my book, Go Dairy Free, I was flooded with requests for the recipe. Because it is such a beloved breakfast bread, I decided to keep it in the 2nd edition of Go Dairy Free. The new version has 160 new and improved recipes, but I had to preserve some favorites, too. Of course, I couldn’t resist adding a new option to this favorite sugar-free, plant-based, and dairy-free banana bread recipe!

The Guilt-Free, Dairy-Free Banana Bread Recipe You’ve Been Waiting For

Go Dairy Free 2nd Edition is a GIANT resource. It has about 450 pages of information, tips, and over 250 recipes. The recipes include a plethora of homemade dairy alternatives, nutritious options for everyday eating, and those special indulgences for cravings and parties. This naturally vegan Breakfast-Worthy Banana Bread falls in the nutritious everyday category.

Healthy Dairy-Free Banana Bread Recipe (No Sugar Added, Plant-Based) (2)Healthy Dairy-Free Banana Bread Recipe (No Sugar Added, Plant-Based) (3)This healthy banana bread recipe is free of added sugars (though I have included a modestly sweetened option), and is perfect for toasting. It is only very lightly sweet from the bananas themselves, and loves to be slathered with your favorite spreads. On savory mornings I go with nut butter and cinnamon. On sweet mornings, honey or homemade chia jam (Fresh Strawberry & Rockin’ Raspberry chia jam recipes are in Go Dairy Free 2nd Edition) hit the spot.

This dairy-free banana bread recipe also doesn’t need any dairy, eggs, nuts, or soy. In fact, it’s naturally plant-based and vegan!

Here isa briefbackground on this healthy banana bread, which is now a part of the regular breakfast rotation in my household …

An important part of going strictly dairy-free for me was turning to home-baked bread. At the time, every last loaf at my local grocer contained milk in some form (milk powder, cheese, whey, caseinate, etc.). A couple specialty vegan brands eventually appeared, but they were still way too costly to warrant regular purchase.

I learned to enjoy pounding on dough for a good homemade yeast bread (excellent stress reliever), but I don’t always have time for the process. So I set out to create a quick bread that was nutritious enough to use for my morning toast.

With that in mind, this healthy bread is completely sugar-free, using just the bananas for a hint of sweetness. I find it perfect as a base for nut butter, jam, buttery spread, or honey, each of which adds their own dose of flavor. And when I am craving a little extra sweetness, I add a little unrefined sweetener to the recipe. I’ve included that as an option in the recipe below.

Nonetheless, if you want a loaf of sugar-loaded, dessert banana bread, I suggest you look elsewhere. If you want some marvelous bread for breakfast that will leave you feeling great, look no further.

Reader Raves for this Dairy-Free Banana Bread Recipe

I originally shared this healthy dairy-free banana bread recipe in the 1st edition of Go Dairy Free, but decided to post it online as a sample recipe. It was on my old recipe blog, and I’m finally updating and fully transitioning it to this main site. I’ve also taken new photos and cleaned up the recipe in Go Dairy Free 2nd Edition. But I didn’t want all those years of feedback to be lost. Here is what others have said about this healthy, guilt-free and breakfast-worthy banana bread and some of the modifications they tried.

Ricki H.said:

I absolutely loved this bread! It’s banana-y without being very sweet–the perfect base for a little sweet jam or spread (though I love it most with almond butter!). This has been picking me up in the mornings for several days now.

Ethel C. said:

Great bread. I added almond milk, almonds, applesauce, wheat germ and buckwheat, oat, and wheat flour.

Teresa S. said (made it gluten-free):

This is fabulous… And the flour mix that works great is a coconut blend! Love it! Thanks for a new “go to” recipe!

Anrita said:

I’m new to dairy-free baking… I substituted an egg for the flaxseed and added a few tablespoons of maple syrup – it was perfect! Just a touch of sweetness, and no one would guess there is no butter or cow’s milk! ?

Deidra said:

This dairy free banana bread is so delicious! I used rice milk for my wet liquid.

Audrey said (made it gluten-free):

This is fabulous! We try to eat gluten and dairy free and this recipe really fit the bill. I love that it doesn’t have added sugars either! I used rice milk and a gluten-free flour blend and it was terrific. Thank you!!!

Heather said:

Love that there’s no sugar in this banana bread — perfect when cooking for a two-year-old. Recipe worked well in all regards except for baking time. Pulled it after 40 minutes because we had to leave the house but was still not quite as done as I’d have liked it. Will bake it longer next time and suspect the loaf will be spot on. Thanks for the recipe.

Mary Lou said:

I made it yesterday and it’s gone today! You can’t ell that it’s made without sugar. Wonderful!

Mindy said:

I LOVE this dairy-free banana bread! I add about 4 tablespoons of agave or honey to sweeten it up a bit. I have 3 kids (7, 4, and 2) and they devour it! In fact, I now make double batches and put it in the freezer. I’m so glad I found this website. I’m looking forward to tying more recipies since my oldest has a dairy allergy. Keep up the great work!

Tessa said:

This is now my go to banana bread! I love it! It’s moist, flavorful, nutritious, and so simple to make. Thanks for the great recipe!

Holly said:

I just pulled this bread out of the oven and it is absolutely wonderful! I was short on banana so I added about 3/4 cup pumpkin and topped it with chopped walnuts.. delicious! Thank you!

Diana said:

I just made this last night and it’s great! I hope it passes my husband and son’s approval! ? I only used about 1.5 C banana, but wish I had more. And I substituted 1/2 C of oat flour for the w/w flour. Thanks for giving us a recipe that has no added sugar!

Anna said:

This is the best banana bread and tastiest in the whole world!!!! I have been searching day in and day out for a great sugar free banana bread and I have absolutely found what I have been in search of for the longest time. It is so moist and sweet from just the bananas! I absolutely love it! Thank you so much for this amazing recipe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Melodie said (made it gluten-free):

I made this today, gluten free by switching out the flour with my GF rice flour mix and 1/4 tsp xanthan gum. It turned out great. I’ve been craving a morning treat to toast and then spread with peanut butter. This is it! Thanks for sharing such a great recipe!

Special Diet Notes: Breakfast-Worthy Banana Bread

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, optionally nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, plant-based, and vegetarian. See reader comments above for gluten-free successes.

5.0 from 2 reviews

Breakfast-Worthy Dairy-Free Banana Bread

Healthy Dairy-Free Banana Bread Recipe (No Sugar Added, Plant-Based) (7)

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This is a sample recipe from my flagship book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook. Going out on a limb, I decided to create a banana bread recipe that is completely void of added sugar. It relies solely on extra-ripe bananas for natural sweetness. The result was this very mildly sweet loaf that my entire family adores. It’s perfect for breakfast, and won’t leave you face down on your keyboard by 10 a.m. It also toasts well and is a perfect medium for your favorite nut or seed butter, buttery spread, or chia jam.

Author: Alisa Fleming

Recipe type: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Serves: 10 to 12 servings

Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsweetened plain dairy-free milk beverage
  • 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
  • 2 cups spelt flour, whole wheat flour, or white whole wheat flour (see post above for gluten-free tips)
  • 1½ teaspoons baking soda (reduce to 1 teaspoon above 3000 feet)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ to 2 cups mashed very ripe banana (3 to 4 large bananas; see Banana Note below)
  • ¼ cup grapeseed, rice bran, or other neutral-tasting oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup nuts, dried fruit, or other add-ins (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350ºF and grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan (you can alternately line it with parchment paper).
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk beverage and flaxseed.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  4. Add the bananas, oil, and vanilla to the flaxseed mixture. Beat with a hand mixer until relatively smooth, about 1 minute. Add the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Some small lumps are okay; you do not want to overmix. Fold in the nuts, fruit, or chocolate chips (if using).
  5. Scrape the batter into your prepared loaf pan and even it out.
  6. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the top of the loaf is golden brown and resilient to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Let the bread cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 to 20 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the bread and carefully remove it to the wire rack to cool completely.
  8. Store in plastic wrap or an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Leftover bread slices can be individually wrapped and frozen to enjoy later. They toast well from frozen.

Notes

BANANA NOTE: I prefer to use a full 2 cups of mashed banana for the deepest flavor and very moist bread. But using just 1½ cups will allow the bread to rise a bit more.
MINI LOAVES VARIATION: Pour the batter into 4 greased and floured mini-loaf tins (6 × 3 inches) and bake at 350ºF for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a loaf comes out clean.
SWEETER VARIATION: Add ¼ to ½ cup honey, agave nectar, maple syrup, or your sweetener of choice with the wet ingredients in step 4 and increase the salt to ½ teaspoon. You might need to bake the loaf a little longer.

For More Recipes from My Kitchen, Get Go Dairy Free:

Healthy Dairy-Free Banana Bread Recipe (No Sugar Added, Plant-Based) (8)

Healthy Dairy-Free Banana Bread Recipe (No Sugar Added, Plant-Based) (2024)

FAQs

Is the product healthy why why not banana bread? ›

You may find banana bread delicious, but conventional banana breads tend to be high in added sugar, refined carbs, and calories. Thus, it's best to enjoy banana bread occasionally as part of a balanced, nutrient-dense diet.

What happens when you substitute brown sugar for white sugar in banana bread? ›

One resource suggests that brown sugar would make breads, such as banana or zucchini bread, more moist than if you made them with white sugar.

What can I substitute for bananas in banana bread? ›

What Can I Use Instead Of Banana In Baking? 15 Options
  • Plantains. At first glance, plantains look almost identical to bananas. ...
  • Oatmeal. Like bananas, oats are an awesome source of fiber – both the soluble and insoluble kinds. ...
  • Sweet Potatoes. ...
  • Soaked Cashews. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Applesauce. ...
  • Pumpkin Puree. ...
  • Zucchini.
May 10, 2024

When can you no longer use bananas for banana bread? ›

If they smell off, that's another good indicator that they are no longer okay to use. Rotten bananas will often have a fermented or alcohol-like smell. While it's okay if the banana peel is dark brown or even black, if the inside is too, then the fruit is beyond ripe and now on its way to rotten.

Why is it not good to eat banana everyday? ›

Weight gain: Bananas are higher in calories and carbs than other fruits, so eating too many can lead to weight gain. Fatigue: Bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid that helps produce serotonin, which helps with sleep. Magnesium, which is a natural muscle relaxant, adds to this feeling.

Which type of bread is the healthiest? ›

To choose a beneficial bread, you can look for varieties made from 100% whole-grain and/or sprouted-grain flours. Make sure your bread is low in added sweeteners. A few good options include sourdough, rye, flax, and oat breads.

What can I substitute for white sugar in a recipe? ›

7 Natural Sugar Substitutes to Try in Your Cooking & Baking
  1. Honey. Honey is not only sweet, but it's packed with an array of health benefits! ...
  2. Maple Syrup. Maple syrup contains a fair bit of sugar, so consume it rather minimally. ...
  3. Applesauce. ...
  4. Molasses. ...
  5. Cane Sugar. ...
  6. Coconut Palm Sugar.

What is a substitute for brown sugar in bread? ›

Mix 1 cup of granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon of molasses to mimic a cup of light brown sugar. Mix 1 cup of granulated sugar with 2 tablespoons of molasses to mimic a cup of dark brown sugar. If you don't have molasses on hand, you can combine white sugar with another liquid sweetener, like maple syrup or honey.

What fruit is equivalent to a banana? ›

Plantains and bananas are genetically similar, but plantains are primarily eaten cooked. Like bananas, plantains are originally from Southeast Asia. However, they are now grown all over the world, including in India, Egypt, Indonesia, and tropical regions of the Americas.

Why use mushy bananas for banana bread? ›

Bananas can go from yellow with brown spots to totally black and still be okay to eat and use for baking. In fact, black bananas are some of the best for making banana bread because they have developed more sugar as they sit around and therefore taste sweeter. They may also be moister, which is perfect for baked goods.

What is the best egg substitute for banana bread? ›

WHAT TO USE INSTEAD OF EGGS WHEN BAKING
  1. MASHED BANANA. ...
  2. APPLESAUCE. ...
  3. SILKEN TOFU. ...
  4. GROUND FLAXSEED OR CHIA SEEDS & WATER. ...
  5. YOGURT. ...
  6. BUTTERMILK. ...
  7. SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK. ...
  8. ARROWROOT POWDER OR CORNSTARCH.

Can you put too much banana in banana bread? ›

Fight the urge to use more banana than called for in your recipe. Using too much banana could make your bread heavy and damp in the center, causing it to appear undercooked and unappealing. If you have bananas leftover, you can always freeze them for later use.

Is it better to leave banana bread out or in the fridge? ›

How Long Does Banana Bread Last? Wrapped well and stored at room temperature, banana bread will last about five days. If stored in the fridge, it should last a full week. A frozen loaf of banana bread will last up to a year in the freezer, wrapped well with storage wrap and aluminum foil.

Can dogs eat bananas? ›

Yes, dogs can eat bananas. In moderation, bananas are a great low-calorie treat for dogs. They're high in potassium, vitamins, biotin, fiber, and copper. They are low in cholesterol and sodium, but because of their high sugar content, bananas should be given as a treat, not part of your dog's main diet.

Is a banana a healthy food or not? ›

Bananas are a healthy source of fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and various antioxidants and phytonutrients. Many types and sizes exist. Their color usually ranges from green to yellow, but some varieties are red. This article tells you everything you need to know about bananas.

Do you think bread is healthy or unhealthy? ›

Bread is high in carbs, low in micronutrients, and its gluten and antinutrient contents may cause issues for some people. Still, it's often enriched with extra nutrients, and whole-grain or sprouted varieties may bestow several health benefits. In moderation, bread can be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet.

Is eating bread and banana healthy? ›

Even though a slice of toast with banana is a healthy option as it combines fruit and fiber, this meal largely consists of carbs. Make sure to add a source of protein (such as a hard boiled egg) and a source of healthy fats (a scoop of peanut butter or almond butter) to amp up the nutritious value of your meal.

Is banana healthy for weight loss? ›

Although there are no studies that directly examine the effects of banana on weight, they're high in fiber and low in calories. When included as part of a balance diet, bananas may help support weight loss goals. People who want to improve their health are often advised to eat more fruits and vegetables.

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