Cinnamon Swirl Oat Flour Banana Bread

This oat flour banana bread is perfectly sweet, easy to make, moist and fluffy. It’s complete with a cinnamon sugar swirl for lots of flavor in every bite. Naturally gluten and dairy free!

This may or may not be my new favorite banana bread recipe. We already have a couple on the blog (all of which are delicious, including my carrot cake banana bread), but the cinnamon swirl in this oat flour banana bread takes it to the next level.

This recipe is made with oat flour so it’s naturally gluten free and nut free. I opted to use coconut sugar and honey to keep it refined sugar free, but you can use any kind of granulated sugar you like in place of coconut.

I love to serve this recipe with a drizzle of honey on top, a bit of homemade almond butter, or just as is! You don’t have to include the cinnamon swirl, I promise it is plenty delicious without it, but it really takes this recipe to the next level and adds such a delicious flavor. Not to mention it just looks all that more beautiful! Try my protein banana bread, banana oatmeal or oat flour muffins next!

How to make oat flour banana bread

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a standard loaf pan (9×5 or 8 1/2 x 4 1/2) with parchment paper and set aside.

If you’re doing the cinnamon swirl, whisk together the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl and set aside. Add your ripe bananas to a blender and puree. Measure out 1 3/4 cup worth and add to a large mixing bowl.

Add in all remaining wet ingredients and whisk together until smooth. Add in the dry ingredients, making sure to spoon and level the flour, until smooth.

Add half of the batter to your prepared loaf pan, add in the cinnamon sugar, then top with the remaining batter. Top with crushed walnuts if desired. Bake for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. About 62 minutes is usually perfect in my oven, but all ovens are different so keep an eye on it.

Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for about 15 minutes, then lift out the bread and let cool for at least 1 hour on a wire rack before slicing.

Enjoy as is or top with honey and nut butter or regular butter! Be sure to try my gluten free banana bread cinnamon rolls or maple pecan cookies next.

Key ingredients

OAT FLOUR. The base of the recipe! You may be wondering if you can swap oat flour for regular flour. Generally speaking, you can sub about a quarter of the all purpose flour in a recipe for oat flour. However, my suggestion is to always use recipes that already call for oat flour (like this banana bread and these cookies!) so you don’t risk changing the final product too much. Oat flour makes really fluffy recipes like my oat flour pancakes.

BANANA. I suggest using pureed banana, not mashed, for the best texture. For banana bread, you want bananas that are super brown and spotty so they’re sweet.

SUGAR. A mix of brown sugar and honey will sweeten this banana bread perfectly.

EGG. You need three eggs which will add some protein and give the bread a nice rise.

OIL. I used coconut oil, but you can also swap for melted butter for a richer flavor. If using coconut oil, be sure to use refined.

BAKING POWDER. Along with the eggs, the baking powder will help give a fluffy texture.

CINNAMON SWIRL. This is totally optional, but I love cinnamon and anything that resembles a cinnamon roll. It’s made up of just coconut sugar and cinnamn and blends beautifully into the bread.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make banana muffins?

Yes! You can definitely use this recipe to make muffins instead. I have not done this myself, but my guess is that you would end up with 12 muffins. Same with my peanut butter banana bread!

You’ll want to follow the recipe as usual, then add half the batter to a lined muffin tin, add about 1-2 tablespoons of cinnamon sugar, then top with the rest of the batter. Bake for 20-30 minutes, but keep an eye on them and check with a toothpick for doneness. As with all gluten free baked goods, it’s important to let them cool before serving to allow the structure to set.

Can I make it vegan or eggless?

Unfortunately, no. This oat flour banana bread calls for three eggs, which is past my limit of two for safely swapping. The eggs are key to give this recipe a nice fluffy texture, so please don’t make any substitutions. This recipe is already dairy free, so there’s no need for any subs there!

Is oat flour healthier than all purpose flour?

Oat flour has a higher protein and fiber content than white flour, so it is generally thought of as a healthier option in recipes like banana bread. You can make your own oat flour at home by grinding up oats in a food processor or blender until a fine flour forms.

You’ll also love…

• Almond Flour Banana Muffins
• Gluten Free Zucchini Bread
• Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
• Chocolate Banana Bread
• Banana Bread Cookies
• Gluten Free Banana Bread
• Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins
• Gluten Free Gingerbread Loaf

Be sure to follow along on on instagram and subscribe to my email list for more recipes and updates. Leave a comment and rating below if you try this recipe and let us know how it turns out!