Easy Vegan Banana Bread

Name: Easy Vegan Banana Bread
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed; 5 tablespoons water; 3 tablespoons soy milk, unsweetened; 1 tablespoons lemon juice or vinegar; 4 medium overripe bananas; ¼ cup coconut oil, melted; ¼ cup vegan butter, melted; ½ cup coconut sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 2 cups all-purpose flour; ½ cup cane sugar; 1 teaspoon baking soda; ¼ teaspoon cinnamon; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ cup vegan chocolate chips

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Vegan banana bread is the perfect balance of sweet, moist, and tender. Using plant-based staples like flax eggs, vegan buttermilk, and coconut oil, this recipe is incredibly straightforward and easy to follow. With the addition of chocolate chips, it makes a delicious dessert or afternoon treat!

Vegan banana bread on a cooling rack. — Enjoy a warm slice of vegan banana bread!

Table of Contents

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

Diety-friendly: This vegan chocolate chip banana bread is dairy-free, egg-free, and can be made with less oil. It’s suitable for a wide variety of dietary preferences and needs.
Customizable: Make it gluten-free, omit the chocolate chips, mix in nuts, or add different spices — the options are endless!
Balanced: The flavors are sweet, moist, and warm, especially served straight out of the oven. Everyone will be begging for the recipe!
Simple ingredients: No fancy or expensive ingredients are required. You likely have most of what you need already.

If you enjoy egg-free banana bread as much as we do, you should really check out our pumpkin banana muffins, chocolate chip mug cake, or almond flour muffins.

🍌 Vegan banana bread

We think banana bread is a staple recipe every home chef should learn to make. While it may seem intimidating, rest assured it couldn’t be easier.

There is no better way to use up overripe bananas, even if they seem like they’re going bad! They provide natural sweetness and structure, plus they’re actually good for you. Did you know a single medium banana contains 20% of your daily vitamin B6 needs and tons of fiber?

That’s all the more reason to enjoy an extra slice or two! It’s tender, moist, and perfectly sweet, making for a mouthwatering dessert, afternoon pick-me-up, or indulgent breakfast.

🌱 Is banana bread vegan?

Traditional banana bread is typically made with ingredients like eggs, milk, and butter, all of which are not vegan-friendly. To make a vegan version, you just need to make a few simple swaps:

Use vegan butter and coconut oil instead of dairy butter.
Swap out milk for plant-based milk.
Finally, make flax eggs instead of adding chicken eggs.

There are many instances when vegan recipes don’t quite taste like their non-vegan counterpart, and we’re the first to admit it. But, you’d be hard-pressed to tell this vegan banana bread recipe is both egg and dairy free. Scouts honor!

Bananas, soy milk, flour, coconut sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, can sugar, lemon, vanilla, chocolate chips, and vegan butter. — Wait for your bananas to be extra spotty

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

Flax egg: We use flax eggs instead of chicken eggs to bind the banana bread together. You just need ground flaxseed and water!
Buttermilk: Make a quick vegan buttermilk by combining soy milk with white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice. This reacts with the baking soda, creating light, tender, and soft vegan banana bread.
Bananas: The riper, the better! Wait for your bananas to look extra spotty and brown for the sweetest flavor and creamiest texture. If they are frozen, let them thaw completely and drain all of the liquid.
Coconut oil, vegan butter: Both provide moisture and richness, especially since there are no eggs. We suggest a combination of the two but feel free to use one or the other.
Vanilla: We always recommend splurging on pure vanilla extract for the most ideal flavors. A little goes a long way, and it’s completely worth it!
Coconut sugar: Adds a rich, sweet, caramel-like flavor. If you don’t have coconut sugar, swap in regular brown sugar instead. Just double-check that it’s vegan-friendly!
Flour: You’ll want all-purpose flour for this recipe. It results in tender banana bread that still has structure. You can also use whole wheat all-purpose flour.
Cane sugar: In addition to bananas and coconut sugar, we like to add cane sugar to sweeten our vegan banana bread. You can use regular granulated sugar, just make sure it’s certified organic and vegan-friendly.
Baking soda: Reacts with the buttermilk, giving the banana bread lift.
Cinnamon: Provides sweet, warming, and spiced notes that round out the banana and chocolate. Make sure you have Ceylon cinnamon, not cassia cinnamon.
Salt: Just a pinch for flavor enhancement! Use kosher salt.
Chocolate chips: Because chocolate chips make everything better, right? Use dark or milk chocolate — just ensure they are vegan-friendly!

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make vegan banana bread

Step 1: Mix the flax egg

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper. Make the flax eggs by combining 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed and 5 tablespoons of water in a small container.

Step 2: Make the buttermilk

In a large mixing bowl, combine the lemon juice and soy milk to create your vegan buttermilk mixture. Set it aside for 5-10 minutes to curdle.

Mashed banana on a plate. — Mash the bananas until smooth and creamy

Step 3: Whisk the wet ingredients

In the meantime, thoroughly mash the bananas until smooth and creamy. Once the buttermilk is ready, transfer the bananas to the mixing bowl along with the softened coconut oil, vegan butter, coconut sugar, vanilla, and flax eggs.

Vegan banana bread batter. — Remember to not overmix the batter

Step 4: Combine the batter

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cane sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients, carefully stirring everything with a spatula until the batter is just combined.

Step 5: Fold in the chocolate chips

Fold in the chocolate chips, then transfer the batter to your prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle a few more chocolate chips on top before baking.

Vegan banana bread batter with chocolate chips. — Use chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit

Step 6: Bake & cool

Bake the banana bread for 45-55 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let it cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack for another 20-30 minutes before slicing. Happy eating!

Vegan banana bread in a pan. — Leave it to cool before slicing!

If you have questions about making dairy and egg-free banana bread, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🍓 What to serve with banana bread

There is nothing quite like a slice of warm vegan chocolate chip banana bread straight from the oven. Serve it on its own, or pair it with some sweet and creamy spreads like these:

🌡️ Storage & reheating

If you’re lucky enough to have leftover vegan banana bread, follow these storage tips:

Room temperature: Cover and keep the bread in an airtight container on the countertop. Dairy and egg-free banana bread will last for up to 1-2 days at room temperature.
Fridge: After a day or two passes at room temperature, transfer it to the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
Freezer: Once completely cooled, cut the banana bread into slices and add them to a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze them for up to 3 months this way.
Thaw: Thaw by leaving the banana bread on the countertop until it reaches room temperature.
Reheating: Reheat vegan banana bread covered in the toaster oven or microwave for a few minutes, or until warmed through.

♻️ Variations

Mix-ins: Add cocoa powder, nutmeg, allspice, pecans, walnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, pumpkin seeds, raisins, or cranberries for a change in flavor and texture.
Toppings: Sprinkle on cane sugar for a crunch, extra chocolate chips, your favorite chopped nuts, or a lengthwise-sliced banana.
Whole wheat: For a slightly healthier version, try using whole wheat all-purpose flour. If you make this substitution, you may need to add a little more plant milk if the batter is looking dry.
Gluten-free: For a gluten-free version, swap out all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free blend like King Arthur Baking. (though the overall texture will be flatter and denser).

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

Check the baking soda: Before starting, check if your baking soda is fresh. To do this, just add some to a cup of white vinegar. If it vigorously bubbles, it’s good to go. If it’s been sitting in your pantry for longer than 3 months, we suggest picking up a new one.
Overripe bananas: Make sure your bananas are brown, spotty, and overripe so they provide more natural sweetness and act like eggs to bind everything together.
Room temperature ingredients: Remember to bring all of your ingredients to room temperature before mixing the batter. This will result in light, airy banana bread.
Spoon and level: When measuring the flour, use the “spoon and level” method to ensure you don’t add too much flour. Avoid scooping flour out of the bag.
Don’t overmix: Mix the wet and dry ingredients together until just incorporated. If you overmix the batter, you’ll end up with dense banana bread.
Prep the pan: Use the correct size pan (9×5-inch loaf pan), line it with parchment paper, and spray it with nonstick cooking spray. This will ensure your banana bread slides right out once it’s done baking.
Let it cool: Before slicing it, leave your vegan banana bread to cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes. This will give the bread time to set, making slicing easier.

💬 FAQ

Can banana bread be made oil-free?

Yes, you can make banana bread oil-free. Replace the vegan butter and coconut oil with nut butter, more bananas, or apple sauce. It won’t turn out quite as tender, but it will still taste great!

Why didn’t my banana bread rise?

If your banana bread turns out dense, your baking soda may have expired. Additionally, your oven may not be hot enough. We suggest investing in an oven thermometer and testing your baking soda beforehand.

Can I make muffins with this recipe?

Yes, you can make muffins with this dairy and egg-free banana bread recipe. if you don’t have a loaf pan or prefer muffins, just bake the batter in lined muffin tins until a toothpick comes out clean.