This Vegan Banana Bread with Walnuts is a moist, naturally sweetened loaf made with ripe bananas, plant-based ingredients, and crunchy walnuts. It’s the perfect way to use up overripe bananas and make a comforting, healthier alternative to traditional banana bread. Whether you enjoy it as a breakfast treat, afternoon snack, or dessert, this simple recipe is sure to become a favorite in your baking rotation.
1 Toothpick or Cake Tester (for checking doneness)
Ingredients
3Ripe Bananasmedium-sized, mashed
1 ½CupsAll-Purpose Flouror whole wheat flour
1tspBaking Soda
¼tspSalt
1tspVanilla Extract
¼CupPlant-Based Milkalmond, oat, or soy
⅓CupVegan Buttermelted, or coconut oil
¼CupMaple Syrupor coconut sugar
½CupWalnutschopped
Instructions
Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line an 8x4-inch loaf pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
Mash the Bananas: In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas with a fork or potato masher until smooth but still slightly chunky.
Mix the Wet Ingredients: Add the plant-based milk, melted vegan butter, vanilla extract, and maple syrup to the mashed bananas. Stir well to combine.
Combine the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Fold in the Walnuts: Gently fold in the chopped walnuts until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Transfer the Batter to the Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
Bake the Banana Bread: Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached.
Cool and Serve: Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy!
Notes
Recipe Notes
Bananas: For the best flavor and sweetness, use very ripe bananas with brown spots. They are softer and release more natural sugar, which helps sweeten the bread.
Sweetener: If you prefer a less sweet loaf, feel free to adjust the maple syrup or coconut sugar. If your bananas are extra ripe, you may even be able to reduce the amount of sweetener.
Storage: Store leftover banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. Alternatively, freeze slices wrapped in plastic wrap for up to 3 months.
Variations: You can easily swap walnuts for other nuts, like pecans or almonds, or use seeds like sunflower or pumpkin seeds for a nut-free version.
Gluten-Free Option: If you're making this recipe gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend that’s designed for baking. You may need to adjust the baking time slightly depending on the flour used.