This Vegan Gluten-free Banana Bread is moist, rich and naturally sweetened. With almost no sugar added and requiring just 8 ingredients, it’s one of the healthiest and easiest loaf cakes ever!
Banana Bread has been a staple in my house since I discovered it, and one of my favorite loaf cakes. Cake for breakfast? This is it. Or better as a mid afternoon snack together with a cup of coffee? Mmmm… tough decision for me, I would start and end my day with a big piece of cake.
This banana bread is made with dates and very ripe bananas, making it super flavorful and full of goodness. Just realized you’re left with no ripen bananas? No problem. Unless your bananas are quite green, you can ripen yellow bananas in half an hour by cooking them in the oven, to get the sweetness you need for baking.
Ingredients
Gluten Free flour. For this recipe, you need all purpose gluten free flour. If you don’t need to make this bread gluten free, use all purpose regular flour at a ratio of 1:1.
Baking powder. It helps to lighten the texture of the bread. Remember that baking powder expires and loses effectiveness. Check the expiration date of your baking powder before starting the recipe.
Vegetable oil. Any mild vegetable oil will do: canola oil, olive oil, sunflower oil.
Bananas. Use ripe or overripe bananas for this recipe, they are are sweeter and softer.
Cane sugar. Cane sugar is much less processed and it’s more flavorful than regular sugar. Brown sugar is a great option too.
Flaxseed. Flaxseed mixture is a substitute for eggs in vegan baking. Replace each egg with 1 tbsp ground flax, plus 2.5-3 tbsp water. Mix and let sit for 5 minutes.
Dates. Dates add consistency and sweetness to this banana bread. Soak in water and puree them together with the vegan milk and vanilla extract.
Plant based milk. There is almost one dairy-free milk for everyone. I use mostly almond, oat and soy milk for baking.
Vanilla extract. Pure vanilla extract has the best flavor but any vanilla extract you may have will do the trick.
How to Make Vegan Gluten Free Banana Bread
Full instructions and measurements can always be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. This is just a summary of the process.
- Start by preheating the oven to 350ºF/180ºC. You can either line with parchment paper or grease an 8 x 5 inch loaf pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground flaxseed with ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon of water. Let rest for 5 minutes. The mixture will soon thicken.
- Prepare the date paste: blend the dates, milk and vanilla in a food processor or blender. You can also use a potato masher or a fork. Add date paste to the bowl.
- Then, add the sugar, banana and oil. Mix well.
- Sift in the flour and baking powder. Stir until well combined.
- Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 50-55 minutes.
- Remove from oven, let cool down in the pan before slicing.
How to make Date Paste
Date Paste is easy to make and extremely delicious. Al you need are moist and fresh dates. If you find your dates a bit dry, soak in warm water first to soften them.
Start by combining the dates, plant based milk and vanilla extract in a food processor. Then, mix on high until very smooth and creamy or until you get your desired consistency. Your can adjust the consistency by adding more milk if it is too thick to pour easily. Remember to scrape down the sides during the process.
Alternatively, you can mash the dates mixture with a potato masher or a fork.
This date paste will keep in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 1 week.
RECIPE

Easy Vegan Gluten Free Banana Bread
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 + ¼ cups GF flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ⅔ cup vegetable oil
- 3 ripe bananas mashed
- ½ cup cane sugar ⠀
- 2 tablespoons flaxseed ground
For the Date Paste:
- ¾ cup dates pitted and soften
- ¼ cup plant based milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 ºF/180ºC, and lightly grease a standard bread loaf pan (8 x 4 inch / 20 x 10 cm) with margarine or vegetable oil.
- To make the flaxseed egg, combine the 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal with ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon of water, in a large mixing bowl. Mix with a spatula or spoon and let set for 5 minutes to thicken and become a gel.
- Next, in the bowl of a food processor or blender, combine the soften pitted dates, vegan milk and vanilla extract. Process until you get a pourable paste, scraping down the bowl to incorporate all the dates.
- Then, add the date paste, sugar, bananas and vegetable oil to the flaxseed mixture. Mix until smooth.
- Add the flour and the baking powder, stirring just until well combined.
- Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake on the middle rack for 55-60 min or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and let the banana bread to cool completely in the pan.
- Cover and keep at room temperature for 2 days or in the refrigerator for 1 week.
Notes
Nutrition
Additional Info

I didn’t know you could ripen up yellow bananas in the oven for making the sweetest banana bread. Total game changer!
Hi Christy, yes, you can do it if your bananas are too unripe.
I love how moist this bread is and how it requires only a few ingredients as well. Thanks for sharing
I’m so glad! Thanks for commenting.
I love that this recipe uses dates. I love using dates in baking but never thought to use them in banana bread until now. They add great flavour, sweetness and moisture.
Thanks Nicole! I love dates too, but it took me some time before ever trying them in a recipe – so good!
My kids love this bread for breakfast, with a little butter or apricot jam. It turns out perfect every time we make it. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Maddy! I’m super excited to hear that your kids love this bread, it’s a favorite here too!
What a great banana bread recipe! That date paste really takes this to the next level. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome, Dee! I’m happy you love this banana bread.
This banana bread turns out moist and flavorful! We loved every bite. I definitely will be making it again.
Hi, Katie! Thank you so much for your sweet review. I’m thrilled to hear you love my banana bread recipe!
Wow! This banana bread looks so yummy! It’s vegan and Gluten-free and will be loved, especially by those health cautious people! Looks incredibly perfect! Loved it!
Delicious enough to be dessert but healthy enough to be breakfast or snack. Thanks for commenting!
I love banana bread, and this was a great recipe! I saved the recipe so I can make it again!
Thanks so much for coming back to comment!
This banana bread turned out so good! I used oat milk and extra virgin olive oil and couldn’t be happier with the outcome. It’s a great alternative to regular banana bread that loaded with sugar.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Kristina. It means the world to me!
I have some extra ripe bananas on the counter to use up with this recipe! Excited to give it a try!
I know you will love this super easy banana bread!
Banana bread is one of my favorite bread to eat and I can’t really wait to make this knowing that this is a vegan recipe. Thank you!
Hi Amy, my family loves this bread, I’m sure you will too! Thanks for stopping by!
This bread was quite easy to make and very full of flavor. It was a great breakfast bread for us!
Thank you for sharing your review, Mikayla! I’m glad you like this banana bread!