The Best Gluten-Free Banana Bread

An easy family recipe that yields a perfect banana bread every time! It's light, moist, soft & fluffy + the best flavor! Recipe works well matter what your dietary preferences-- Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan, Nut-Free-- you choose! Chocolate Chip and Walnut topping optional.

The best gluten free banana bread #glutenfreerecipes www.healthygffamily.com
The Best Gluten-Free Banana Bread

And easy family recipe for the best gluten-free banana bread!

Update November 2020: Yes, we are still making banana bread and loving it!

And now I’ve added  a cooking video to this page so you can see how easy it is to whip up!

If you’re new to this website, there is a printable recipe at the bottom of every recipe page.

Hope you love it!

The best gluten free banana bread #glutenfreerecipes www.healthygffamily.com

Update April 2020: In the last few weeks while staying home, sooooo many have been making this banana bread and multiple times! So we finally joined the party and made some today!

It’s one of the easiest breads ever and is so adaptable to tastes and dietary needs/ preferences, but it is yummy each and every time!

A perfect soft & fluffy texture and great flavor!

Hope you love it too!

Original post…

No matter what the season, you can’t go wrong with a classic banana bread!

Besides at the end of the week, we always seem to have some ripe bananas in the house so freshly baked bread is the perfect use for them.

This recipe is from my mom and it is one of those super simple recipes that adapts so well to dietary needs and preferences.

The best gluten free banana bread #glutenfreerecipes www.healthygffamily.com

The original recipe was obviously not gluten-free, so with this gluten-free version we used GF Jules All-Purpose Gluten Free Flour. (Affiliate link), which has been our go to gluten-free flour for years as it is easy to substitute 1 for 1 in non-gf recipes. And we added some baking powder and reduced the baking soda so that the loaf was still light and fluffy.

As an aside, you may have noticed that we are affiliate for GFJules.  To learn more about why we love GFJules flour and why we have used it for 10 years, click here.

Bonus: at the bottom of that post is a one-time use affiliate Discount Code.

And importantly, purchasing through an affiliate link does not change your cost at all. It generates a small percentage of the sale for me, and purchasing through an affiliate link helps me fund this website and all the recipes I share, so thank you!

Back to the Gluten-Free Banana Bread…

Free-from Friends...

We’ve also made it with dairy-free butter and flax egg making it vegan.

And you can omit the walnuts if you have a nut allergy.

The best gluten free banana bread #glutenfreerecipes www.healthygffamily.com

No matter how you make it, this bread has a perfect texture — moist (not dry or crumbly), velvety smooth and light and fluffy, just the right amount of sweetness and is always a hit!

All you need… 8-10 ingredients all found in your pantry:

gluten-free all purpose flour

baking soda

baking powder

salt

egg or flax egg

bananas

butter

sugar

chocolate chips and or walnuts according to tastes.

The best gluten free banana bread #glutenfreerecipes www.healthygffamily.com

It is one of the easiest recipes ever!

First you mix the bananas, sugar (option to use less sugar), egg or flax egg and butter.

Separately you mix the flour, baking soda and salt.

Then add dry ingredients to the wet.

Then you add in an optional add-ins… chopped walnuts and chips if using.

Mix them in well and the batter will be smooth and gorgeous looking!

gluten-free chocolate chip banana muffins easy recipe

That is the only debate we have in our house is whether or not it should have chocolate chip and walnuts on top?

My husband and kids are purists and love just a good ol’ classic banana bread.  I tend to like chips and extra walnuts on top.  Which would you choose?

The best gluten free banana bread #glutenfreerecipes www.healthygffamily.com

One final tip: when making a loaf bread with toppings I like to line the loaf pan with parchment paper rather than grease and flour the pan.

First, it is so much easier to lift the parchment and the baked bread right out of the loaf pan and not worry about losing any toppings.

And second it is so much easier to clean, which is a huge win!

The best gluten free banana bread #glutenfreerecipes www.healthygffamily.com

No matter how you make it– egg/ flax egg, dairy-free or real butter, chips/ no chips, walnuts/ no walnuts…Hope you love it as much as we do!

For more gluten-free breads and muffins, click here.

PIN it!

The best gluten free banana bread #glutenfreerecipes www.healthygffamily.com

Scroll down to see recipe and leave a comment if you try it.

Recipe

 

Share on Facebook Pin Recipe Print Recipe Rate this Recipe
4.72 from 21 votes

The Best Gluten-Free Banana Banana Bread

An easy family recipe that yields a perfect banana bread no matter your dietary preference or need --- Gluten-free, Dairy-Free, Vegan, Nut -Free-- you choose! Chocolate Chip and Walnut Topping optional.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack, Breads and Muffins
Cuisine: Vegan optional, Nut-Free optional, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Optional
Servings: 1 loaf
Author: Healthy Gluten-free Family

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups Gluten-Free Flour with xanthum gum we used GF Jules (affiliate link)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg beaten OR 1 flax egg see directions below
  • 1 cup sugar can cut back to 3/4 cup for a less sweet bread
  • 4 tablespoons butter or dairy free butter melted
  • 1 1/4 cup mashed bananas approximately 3 bananas
  • 1/2 cup - 3/4 cup chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips according to preference and how chocolatey you want the bread + some or use extra for topping
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts optional but recommended + some extra for topping

Instructions

If using flax egg, make the flax egg

  • Mix 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal with 2.5 tablespoon water in a small bowl and stir to combine. Let rest for 5 minutes to thicken.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F

  • And line a 10 in loaf pan with parchment paper OR grease and flour. I recently started using parchment paper because it is easier to lift out the bread if topping with chips and/or walnuts and easier to clean.

Mix batter

  • In a small bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and combine with a pastry cutter or fork. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add egg or flax egg, sugar, butter and bananas and mix to combine and smooth.
  • Add dry ingredients and wet ingredients and mix to combine.
  • Stir in chips and nuts if using.
  • Using a large spoon scoop or pour batter into prepared bread pan and spread evenly. Top with additional chocolate chips and walnuts if desired.
  • Bake for 45 - 50 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean. Tip: check at 35 - 40 minutes and if top is starting to brown, cover loosely with foil and continue baking until center done.
Tried this recipe?Mention @HealthyGFFamily or tag #HealthyGFFamily!

 

51 thoughts on “The Best Gluten-Free Banana Bread

  1. Absolutely loved this recipe! I made mine in muffin tins and reduced time to 35 minutes in the oven. Complete perfection – brown on top and moist inside. Such a fluffy recipe, my non-gf friends said you’d never know it was gluten free!

  2. 5 stars
    I just wanted to say that this was my first attempt at making banana bread and it turned out perfect! I put coconut sugar and two bananas (I have to go grocery shopping) and I cannot stop eating it! Thank you so much for all the wonderful recipes! You are such an inspiration! ❤️

  3. 5 stars
    Love this recipe so much! Was looking for the perfect banana bread recipe for a long time and finally found it! It’s really perfect and mostly only lasts us for a day!??

  4. 5 stars
    The best banana bread recipe I’ve ever used! I made banana muffins — super moist and delicious! My mom and I each had three, they were that good.

  5. 5 stars
    We made the vegan variation of this bread and it was some of the best banana bread we’ve ever made! The whole family enjoyed and the men of the house had no clue it was gluten-free or vegan ;). Will definitely be making this again and again.

  6. 4 stars
    I had a few bananas that were a little past their prime so I whipped up this recipe on a whim. It was smelled delicious so of course I had to dive in while it was still steaming hot to try a bite. It was amazing. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!

  7. 5 stars
    My daughter can’t disagree with the name of this banana bread! The first banana bread she has ever tried and liked! A new favorite in our house! Making our 2nd batch right now 🙂 Thanks for the delicious recipe!

  8. 5 stars
    I made this banana bread for brunch today & my two teenagers inhaled it! I used coconut oil in place of butter & pecans instead of walnuts. It was so delicious! I treated myself to another slice for dessert today 🙂

  9. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for everything you do! My youngest needs to follow a gluten-free lactose-free diet and he absolutely loves this recipe! This was eaten up in less than 24 hours of baking! I will definitely be making this for a third time today and will be working through your other tasty recipes! Thank you so much! The Lunchbox Lady x

  10. 5 stars
    Made this today on a rainy Monday and it could not have brought our mood up any more. The GF Jules flour is light and fluffy which really made the bread out of this world. So glad we tried it!

  11. 5 stars
    Made this banana bread and it was delicious! I do not have celiacs but my boyfriend does and I can say you would not be able to tell that it is gluten free. We used GFJules flour and it did not disappoint. As sweet lovers, we put chocolate chips in the batter which added a little extra yum factor. Would make again in a heart beat!

  12. Hi this looks delicious and I am all about the walnuts and chocolate chips!

    I am following a program though for managing a healthy weight and I am wondering if it would be possible to get the breakdown on calories, fat and sugar per slice?

    Thankyou for all the photos!

      1. My mother always put raisins in her banana breads. Chocolae chips seem like a travesty to me. Lol! Words you would never hear me say!

  13. 4 stars
    Easy recipe!
    The recipe calls for 3 bananas, I used 2 large bananas. It turned out great!
    Thanks for the recipe!
    ~April

  14. 5 stars
    I finally made this, and it’s the best gluten free banana bread I’ve made thus far! Thank you! And I was right. Chocolate chips in banana breads don’t do it for me. Next time, raisins and walnuts. Thank you for your wonderful recipes. It’s so nice to have things actually come out well.

  15. 5 stars
    I want you to know that the last piece is sitting on my counter, and I made it 2 weeks ago. It is still delicious! It never got soggy like other banana breads can. I am never making another banana bread recipe! Perfection! Thank you.

  16. 5 stars
    This really is the best gf banana bread ever! I have made it so many times in all variations. Dairy free butter, real butter, no nuts, egg substitute, etc. It always comes out great and is a hit even with non-gf people. Love it!

  17. 5 stars
    Amazing! After trying so many recipes over the last 5 years, I have finally found one to park with!! So thrilled, thanks for sharing!

  18. This is the best GF banana bread I’ve made – thank you so much for sharing the recipe! Great texture and phenomenal flavor. YUM!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating