This vegan chocolate banana bread is rich, moist and so easy to make. It’s bursting with chocolate flavor but made with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand!
I am SO excited for you guys to try this recipe. It’s rich and chocolatey but so easy to make. All you need is one bowl, a few simple ingredients you probably already have on hand and about 10 minutes of prep time!
I of course made this loaf gluten free by using gluten free all purpose flour, but you are more than welcome to use regular all purpose flour. Trust me, I wouldn’t spend the extra money on gluten free flour if I didn’t have to lol.
This recipe can also easily be made refined sugar free by swapping the brown sugar for coconut sugar and using your favorite RSF chocolate chips.
It’s a vegan take on my chocolate banana muffins, with a few tweaks to make it into a loaf. You’ll notice we’re using quite a lot of banana puree ( a full 2 cups) and that’s because since this recipe doesn’t call for eggs, I just like to use extra banana instead of using another egg replacer like flax eggs. Makes it easier and lowers the ingredient list!
How to make this recipe
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Puree the bananas in a blender and measure out 2 cups worth. Add to a bowl with all remaining wet ingredients and whisk together.
Add in the dry ingredients, making sure to spoon and level the flour/cocoa powder, leave aside the chocolate for now.
Whisk until a smooth batter forms. It’ll be on the thicker side. Fold in the chocolate chips.
Add to a loaf pan (mine was 8 ½ x 4 ½ but 9 x 5 also works) lined with parchment paper.
Sprinkle on additional chocolate chips on top.
Bake for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let sit in the pan for 20 minutes, then lift out and let cool on a cooling rack.
Wait until completely cool before slicing to avoid crumbling. Enjoy!
FAQ’s
What should bananas look like when you make bread? Pretty ugly! The browner the better. You want your bananas to have lots of brown spots to ensure they’re soft and sweet.
Can you eat banana bread fresh out of the oven? Yes, however, it is very likely to crumble if you slice it right away. For best results, I recommend letting this vegan chocolate banana bread cool for at least 1 hour before slicing.
Should I puree or mash the bananas? With gluten free and vegan banana bread, I always recommend pureeing the bananas instead of mashing. You can run the risk of having a gummy loaf when you eliminate eggs and gluten, and having clumps of banana doesn’t help that issue. Pureeing the banana makes the batter super smooth and puts more air into it which helps give it a nice rise.
Does it keep? Once prepared, this recipe will keep for about 3-5 days. I like to store it in a container covered with foil. In an air tight container it can get a bit mushy, but it’ll dry out if just left out, so foil is best!
Can I use a different sugar? Yes! I used light brown sugar for this recipe because it adds some moisture and a subtle caramely flavor, but you are welcome to use regular white sugar or coconut sugar if you prefer.
What’s the best pan to use? I used an 8 ½ x 4 ½ loaf pan, but you can use 9 x 5 if you have that instead. Whatever you use, you ideally want it to be aluminum, not ceramic or glass because it conducts heat more evenly and ensures an even bake.
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Vegan Chocolate Banana Bread
Ingredients
Wet
- 2 cups pureed banana* (about 4 very ripe bananas)
- ⅓ cup melted coconut oil (refined, not virgin)
- ¼ cup + 2 tbsp non-dairy milk
- ¾ cup light brown sugar*
- 1 tbsp apple cider or white vinegar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Dry
- 1 ¾ cup (gluten free) all purpose flour (regular works too)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ cup + 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Puree the bananas in a blender and measure out 2 cups worth.
- Add to a bowl with all remaining wet ingredients and whisk together.
- Add in the dry ingredients, making sure to spoon and level the flour/cocoa powder, leave aside the chocolate for now.
- Whisk until a smooth batter forms. It'll be on the thicker side. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Add to a loaf pan (mine was 8 ½ x 4 ½ but 9 x 5 also works) lined with parchment paper and smooth out of the top with the back of a spoon. Take a knife, and cut a roughly ½ inch deep slit down the loaf, lengthwise about 1 inch from the side. This will help it rise properly and form a nice crack.
- Sprinkle on additional chocolate chips on top.
- Bake for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let sit in the pan for 20 minutes, then lift out and let cool on a cooling rack.
- Wait until completely cool before slicing to avoid crumbling. Enjoy!
Joy
Tried this recipe as is an it is amazing!! Super fudgy and moist. Perfect treat for my son 3yo who has egg, dairy and wheat allergy. Sometimes it’s hard to find a nice treat for him and this just right perfect! Thank you for this recipe Claire!
Claire Cary
Thank you Joy! So happy you found something he could enjoy!
Richa gupta seth
What non dairy milk? Can I use normal instead if I am.not vegan
Claire Cary
Any non-dairy milk will work! I usually use almond, but you can use regular milk if you are not dairy free.
Steph
Can I use honey in place of sugar?
Claire Cary
you can try that, but unfortunately, I don’t think a liquid sweetener will work well here. the granulated sugar is key for the texture!