The Best Healthier Banana Bread: Sweet, Moist, and Nourishing!

If you’re on the hunt for a banana bread recipe that checks all the boxes—delicious, wholesome, and indulgent—look no further. This Healthier Banana Bread is vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, and refined sugar-free, but still delivers all the cozy nostalgia of classic banana bread.

Loaded with ripe bananas, maple syrup, and chocolate chips, this loaf is irresistibly moist, sweet, and chocolatey. Whether you’re enjoying it for breakfast, a midday snack, or dessert, it’s sure to become your new go-to recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Healthier Ingredients: Made with oat flour, ground flax seeds, and maple syrup, this recipe swaps traditional ingredients for nutrient-packed alternatives.
  • Perfectly Sweetened: Ripe bananas and maple syrup naturally sweeten this bread, so there’s no need for refined sugar.
  • Chocolatey Goodness: Dairy-free chocolate chips add bursts of rich flavor, making every bite a treat.
  • Healthy & Allergy-Friendly: Vegan, nut-free, gluten-free, oil-free, and refined sugar-free—this banana bread fits a variety of dietary preferences without sacrificing any flavor.

Ingredients To Make This Healthier Banana Bread

Wet Ingredients:

  • Ripe Bananas: The heart of this recipe! They add sweetness, moisture, and a rich banana flavor.
  • Sunflower Butter: A nutty, creamy addition that keeps the bread moist and flavorful.
  • Maple Syrup: A natural sweetener that pairs perfectly with bananas.
  • Vegan Buttermilk: Made with non-dairy milk and apple cider vinegar, it adds tenderness to the bread.
  • Ground Flax Seeds: These act as an egg replacer while also boosting the bread’s fiber content.
  • Vanilla Extract: For a hint of warm, aromatic flavor.

Dry Ingredients:

  • Organic Oat Flour: A gluten-free option that’s wholesome and hearty, without leaving a heaviness in your stomach as regular flour does for me!
  • Baking Soda & Baking Powder: The leavening agents that give the bread its light texture.
  • Cinnamon: Adds warmth and depth of flavor.
  • Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips: Because banana bread is always better with chocolate!

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prep and Preheat

Start by preheating your oven to 350℉ and greasing or lining a bread pan with parchment paper.

2. Make the Vegan Buttermilk

Combine ⅓ cup non-dairy milk with 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar in a small cup. Stir and let it sit for a few minutes to thicken.

3. Mash and Mix Wet Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, mash 3-4 ripe bananas until smooth. Add the sunflower butter, maple syrup, ground flax seeds, and vanilla extract. Whisk well to combine. Then, whisk in the prepared vegan buttermilk.

4. Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, mix the oat flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix!

5. Fold in Chocolate Chips

Gently fold in ½-¾ cup dairy-free chocolate chips- for pockets of melty chocolate in every slice 🙂

6. Add Banana Topping

If you have an extra banana, slice it down the center (end to end) and place on top of the batter, this will caramelize the banana and be such a gooey addition to this banana bread!

7. Bake to Perfection

Pour the batter into your prepared bread pan, spreading it evenly. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs (not wet batter).

Pro Tips for the Best Healthier Banana Bread

  • Use Ripe Bananas: The riper, the better! Spotty, brown bananas are sweeter and easier to mash.
  • Don’t Skip the Buttermilk: Vegan buttermilk adds tenderness and helps the bread rise.
  • Customize It: Swap the chocolate chips for nuts, dried fruit, or seeds if you prefer.
  • Let It Cool: Allow the bread to cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing for the best texture.

 

Best Healthier Banana Bread | VEGAN, GF, OIL-FREE, REFINED SUGAR-FREE

Print Recipe
Sweet, Moist, Chocolatey, & Irresistible!
Course Dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

In a small cup, make the vegan buttermilk

  • ⅓ cup non-dairy milk I love soy milk but any works!
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Wet Ingredients

  • 3-4 ripe bananas
  • 2 heaping tbsp sunflower butter or unsweetened nut butter of choice
  • ½ cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp ground flax seeds
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

  • 1½ cups organic oat flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½-¾ cup dairy-free chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Pre-heat the oven to 350℉
  • Start by mixing the milk & vinegar together to make the vegan buttermilk, set aside to thicken
  • In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas
  • Add all the wet ingredient to the bowl and whisk well
    Then, whisk in the vegan buttermilk
  • Now add all the dry ingredients and stir with a spoon or spatula
  • Taste and adjust salty-ness
  • Fold in chocolate chips
  • Pour into your baking dish, I use a bread pan.
    If you have an extra banana, slice it down the center (end to end) and place on top of the batter, this will caramelize and be such a gooey addition to this banana bread!
  • Bake for 50-60 minutes until top is browned and a toothpick or chopstick comes out relatively clean. (It's okay to have some stickiness on the toothpick but just not wet batter)

Why This Recipe is a Keeper

This banana bread is sweet enough to satisfy your dessert cravings but made with wholesome ingredients you can feel good about. Plus, it’s so easy to whip up—you’ll have a warm, chocolatey loaf ready to share (or keep for yourself) in under an hour.

Make it for a cozy weekend treat, share it with friends, or enjoy it as a healthier dessert option. However you slice it, this Healthier Banana Bread is sure to become a household favorite. Happy baking! 🍌✨

If you’re looking for other recipes & sweet treats made with healthy ingredients, follow my Instagram @sophiavictoriavegan and keep my blog bookmarked! Try out my banana oat brownies next!