Vegan Banana Bread (one-bowl)

This easy, moist one-bowl vegan banana bread recipe is absolutely incredible! It's a vegan version of the classic banana loaf, but nobody would ever guess that it's eggless and dairy free. You can even make it oil free. You only need 10 ingredients and 10 minutes prep time.

Vegan Banana Bread

Vegan banana bread, banana cake, banana loaf, whatever you call it, it's an absolute dream. It's fragrant, sweet, moist and fluffy. Plus it's super easy to make and a great way to use up overripe bananas. 

My vegan banana bread is low in sugar, but still full of sweet taste from the ripe bananas. Plus an added bonus is you only need 10 ingredients and 10 minutes prep time. 

It's funny how it's similar to carrot cake, but it's usually baked in a loaf pan. Something would just seem wrong about stacking banana cake into round layers and serving it for a birthday. Though heck, I may try that next time.

a few reader testimonials

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I use this recipe almost every week and it is a hit every time. I’ve almost memorised it now and won’t need to use another one! A great and easy recipe". - Calum⁠

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This is delicious – you would never know it is vegan. Lovely and light and easy to make." - Mandy

⁠⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Thank you so much for this recipe. I made it for breakfast and my kids ate it up. It was so moist and perfect." - Jen⁠

I have so many memories of coming home to my mum's freshly baked banana bread coming out of the oven.

When bananas began to darken in the fruit bowl, unloved and uneaten, there was only one (glorious) outcome: banana bread. This was before the days of freezing overripe bananas to turn into 'nana ice cream, as I now often do for my own kids. 

Whether you eat your banana bread plain, with a spreading of vegan butter or a dollop of dairy free yogurt and some berries, it also seems to be the acceptable face of cake for breakfast.

So go on, bake this one bowl vegan banana cake and feel free to enjoy it for breakfast or dessert. You only need 10 ingredients and 10 minutes prep time - so get in the kitchen now!

Vegan Banana Cake

This moist and delicious vegan banana cake makes ripe bananas the star of the show. It's a wonderful way to use up overly ripe (and therefore super sweet!) bananas.
They add moisture, sweetness and structure to this tasty loaf.

It's a simple, one bowl easy cake that's a perfect dessert, snack or breakfast.

Mix it up and throw a handful of chocolate chips or nuts into the batter!

I'm sure you'll love this vegan banana bread recipe as much as I do and you too will make it again and again (like so many of you do with my vegan chocolate cake!).

Why is this the best vegan banana bread recipe? It's...

Vegan
Eggless banana bread
Dairy free banana bread
Oil Free banana bread
Easy
One-bowl
Fluffy
Moist
Delicious
A great way to use up ripe bananas
Handy loaf shape
Adaptable - add walnuts, other nuts or chocolate chips if you like!

This banana bread is lovely for a dessert, snack or even breakfast. It's not overly sweet, so it's delicious in the morning, topped with a little coconut yogurt and some fresh berries. Maybe a little drizzle of maple syrup if you're pushing the boat out. Divine. 

How to make Vegan Banana Bread - step by step tutorial

This one bowl vegan cake recipe is sooo easy. See the steps in pictures below, then scroll down for the full recipe.

1. Make a 'flax egg' by stirring the flax into water. Stir and set aside for 5 minutes. 
Note: You can use chia seeds instead of flax. Alternatively, use ½ cup applesauce (as long as you don't replace the oil with applesauce)
2. Mash the ripe bananas well in a mixing bowl. 

3. Into the bananas, beat the oil, sugar and vanilla (you can do this by hand of with an electric mixer).
NOTE: Instead of vegetable oil, you can use coconut oil or applesauce (if you haven't replaced the flax egg with applesauce). 
4. Mix in the 'flax egg'. 
5. Sift in the flours, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt (you’ll need to tip the sieved bran back into the bowl if using wholewheat flour) and gently stir to combine completely, but do not overmix.

6. Mix it gently and fold in any chocolate chips or chopped nuts, if using. 
7: Pour into the pan and spread to the edges. 
8. If desired, slice a banana lengthways and place onto the batter. Brush with maple syrup or sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake for 55 minutes or until risen and cooked through. 

Vegan Banana Bread Tips

• Use really ripe bananas because they're sweeter and mushier - dark, smushy, spotty ones!
• If you don't have flax for the flax eggs, use the same quantity of chia seeds instead and follow the same method.
• Make vegan gluten free banana bread - just substitute gluten free plain flour and check that your baking powder is gluten free.
• If you don't have wholewheat flour, just use all plain (all purpose) flour.
• You can leave out the decorative bananas on the top if you prefer.
• Feel free to add a handful of chocolate chips or chopped nuts into to the batter! 

Looking for more vegan cake recipes? Try these!

vegan vanilla cake
vegan lemon cake 
chocolate cake vegan
vegan Black Forest cake
Victoria sponge (vegan)
vegan red velvet cupcakes
chocolate vegan cupcakes
vegan carrot cake

Get the Vegan Banana Bread Recipe

Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out for you!
Leave a comment and star rating below and share a picture with the hashtag #veggiedesserts. I love seeing your recreations of my vegetarian and vegan recipes and cakes.

Thanks for checking out my recipe! I love hearing from my readers. You all allow me to do what I love and write this UK food blog, sharing vegetarian and vegan recipes, vegetable cake recipes, vegan cake and also easy vegan desserts.
Kate x

📖 Recipe

Vegan Banana Bread

Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts

This easy, moist 1-bowl vegan banana bread recipe is absolutely incredible! It's a vegan version of the classic banana loaf, but nobody would ever guess that it's eggless and dairy free. You can even make it oil free. You only need 10 ingredients and 10 minutes prep time.

5 from 10 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 55 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, International, Western

Servings 10

Calories 226 kcal

Ingredients

 

• 2 tablespoon ground flax
• 6 tablespoon water
• 3 medium very ripe bananas mashed well
• 5 tablespoon vegetable oil or applesauce
• 8 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup (100g) whole-wheat flour can substitute all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (100g) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda bicarb of soda
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Optional additions

• 1 handful Walnuts or other nuts
• 1 handful Chocolate Chips

Optional decoration

• 1 ripe banana
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup or brown sugar

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 175C/ 350F. Lightly grease a 9x5” (2lb) loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray or vegan butter.
• Stir the flax into 6 tablespoons water, then let sit for 5 minutes to thicken up. I use a mug for this. The flax will turn slightly gelatinous and this mixture will be the vegan egg substitute for the vegan banana bread.
• In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas really well, then beat in the oil, sugar and vanilla (you can do this by hand of with an electric mixer). Stir in the flax/water mixture.
• Sift in the flours, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt (you’ll need to tip the sieved bran back into the bowl if using wholewheat flour) and gently stir to combine completely, but do not overmix. If adding walnuts or chocolate chips, add them now.
• Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread to the edges in an even layer.
• Slice the last banana lengthways and place decoratively on the top of the batter. Brush with the maple syrup or sprinkle with brown sugar.
• Bake in the oven for 55-65 minutes or until an inserted skewer or toothpick comes out clean. If the banana bread is browning too quickly, place tin foil over it while it continues baking.
• Allow the banana bread to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Notes

• Use really ripe bananas - dark, smushy, spotty ones!
• If you don't have flax for the flax eggs, use the same quantity of chia seeds instead and follow the same method.
• Make vegan gluten free banana bread - just substitute gluten free plain flour and check that your baking powder is gluten free.
• If you don't have wholewheat flour, just use all plain (all purpose) flour.
• You can leave out the decorative bananas on the top if you prefer.
• Feel free to add a handful of chocolate chips or chopped nuts into to the batter!

Nutrition

Calories: 226kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 3gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 117mgPotassium: 248mgFiber: 2gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 25IUVitamin C: 3.1mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1.3mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.