Banana Bomb Bread {Allergy Friendly}

If there’s one thing this gluten-free {and dairy free and soy free and egg free} trial has taught me is that I’m a carb girl. And a snack girl. Ok, that’s two things.

gluten free banana bread recipe

But really, I didn’t need a lack of gluten to tell me those things. I’m anti-low-carb diet. Especially when it comes to my own diet. I thrive on carbs. Good, whole grain, fiber-filled, nutrient-packed carbs.

There’s no doubt I’m a snacker. The whole graze-all-day thing doesn’t work for everyone {although it’s a great strategy for some} but it’s without a doubt what keeps me going.

Put those two things together {carbs + snacking} and I NEED baked goods at my disposal at all times. It’s a non-negotiable as far as I’m concerned. Making sure they’re healthy {ish} baked goods is the key.

gluten free banana bread

Tearing me away from my bags of whole wheat and spelt flour put a tiny hiccup in my snacking requirements, but only for a minute.

I finally branched out and decided to play around with some non-gluten-containing flours and starches like sorghum and tapioca. {Others include brown rice flour, sweet rice flour, garbanzo bean flour, almond flour, oat flour, potato starch, etc.}

I first tried them in my coconut zucchini carrot muffins. I replaced the whole wheat flour with a  blend of sorghum, tapioca starch, cornstarch, and guar gum. They were ok. Edible but not delicious. More a pure means of getting calories in, not necessarily a great gustatory experience.

Fast forward to this weekend. The three of us attending a going-away/engagement dinner for some friends, where among other great eats, were homemade treats of cake and brownies. Of course on the drive home all I could think about were those goodies. I had to have baked treats. Immediately.

So after putting the little one down for bed, I scrambled around in the kitchen and started tossing gluten-less ingredients all over the place. I made a mess. And a masterpiece.

Banana Bomb Bread chocolate chip gluten free recipe

Banana bread. The best banana bread I’ve ever made. I’ve struggled before to make a whole wheat, vegan banana bread that lives up to the Joy of Cooking banana bread I grew up on, and it always fell just short of my expectations. Well, not anymore.

vegan banana bread recipe

Regardless of being gluten, dairy, and egg free, this is the best banana bread I’ve eaten. Ever. I really, really, really hope it wasn’t a fluke and I’ll be able to recreate it. I also hope my standards aren’t already lowered after a failed batch of muffins.

vegan banana bread

Hopefully in my haste to devour a sweet treat I got my portions and measurements right for the recipe. Considering this loaf is already long gone, I’ll be re-testing the recipe soon. I mean, it’s my duty to you, right? Winking smile

Banana Bomb Bread

by with a Side of Sneakers

 

Ingredients

  • 2/3 c sorghum flour
  • 2/3 c tapioca starch
  • 1/3 c buckwheat flour
  • 1/3 t guar gum
  • (can also use 1.5 cups whole wheat or AP flour)
  • 1/2 c brown sugar
  • 1/2 c granulated sugar or stevia baking blend
  • 1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 t baking soda
  • 2 1/2 t baking powder {gf}
  • 1/4 t salt
  • 1/2 t cinnamon
  • 1/4 t allspice
  • 1/8 t ground cloves
  • 3 ripe bananas
  • 1/3 c coconut or olive oil
  • 1/2 c non-dairy, gluten free chocolate chips (or regular)

Instructions

Combine dry ingredients. Set aside.

Thoroughly mash bananas in separate bowl. Whisk in oil & vanilla.

Mix wet & dry ingredients.

Stir in spices & chocolate chips.

Pour into loaf pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Allow to cool slightly, then remove from pan to finish cooling completely.

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Why banana bomb bread? Because it’s da bomb. I have no apologies for bring back that horrible early 90s phrase. It just seems appropriate.

So, so, so good heated up and slathered with peanut butter. Mmm. Protein + carb + delicious = perfect.

chocolate chip banana bread

Good thing there are 3 bananas in this loaf of bread- at least I was helping meet my fruit quota of the day, right?

banana bread with chocolate chips and peanut butter

Click here for more Gluten Free Dairy Free Recipes that won’t leave you trapped in the kitchen for hours or hunting down a million bizarre ingredients.

Coco-Nut Banana Muffins: Streusel-fied

When there are 3 rotten bananas staring at you on the counter, there’s really only one thing to do.

Bake banana bread muffins.

And since stopping at bananas is boring, why not fill ‘em up with goodies: walnuts, coconut, and chocolate chips… and streusel of course.

{Yeah, they’re vegan too.}

banana bread muffins

Coconut Banana Walnut Muffins

3 overripe bananas

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 Tbsp coconut oil

1/2 cup almond milk

1/2 cup sugar {I ended up using 1/2 regular sugar, 1/2 stevia baking blend}

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 – 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1/4 – 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 – 1/2 cup chocolate chips

 

Coconut Cinnamon Streusel

2 Tbsp oats

2 Tbsp whole wheat flour

4 Tbsp brown sugar

2 Tbsp Earth Balance {or butter}

1 tsp cinnamon

2 Tbsp unsweetened coconut flakes

coconut walnut muffins

Mash the bananas, then stir in the wet ingredients. Carefully stir in dry ingredients and mix-ins. Use as much or as little as you want, depending on what you like.

banana bread recipe

As per my banana bread, I made half chocolate chip and half chocolate free, for “breakfast” and “dessert” muffins.

{The dessert ones always end up gone first…I wonder why? Winking smile}

Spoon banana bread mixture into greased muffin tins or use cupcake liners {I like the silicone ones}.

banana bread muffin recipe

It should make about 18 muffins, depending on how much of the “extras” you mixed in.

To make streusel, melt Earth Balance and stir in remaining ingredients. Sprinkle evenly on top of muffins.

coconut cinnamon streusel

Bake at 350 for 25-30 mins, or until toothpick poked in the center comes out clean. Cool slightly before removing from pan.

vegan banana muffins

breakfast muffins

Best served warm, or slightly heated in the microwave.

healthy muffins

Banana Rama

All weekend two overly black bananas sat on my fruit stand next to the fridge taunting me. The obvious answer? Banana bread.

But I’ve attempted my own version of vegan banana bread several times to no avail. It just didn’t live up to my light and fluffy, yet gooey in the middle standards.

Until now. Recipe, perfected.

recipe for vegan banana bread

Fluffy yet still dense, like banana bread should be. And packed with chocolate chips…because chocolate makes everything better, right?

Vegan Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

2 ripe bananas, starting to blacken

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 Tbsp coconut oil

1/2 cup nondairy milk {I used So Delicious unsweetened coconut milk}

1/2 cup sugar {I ended up using 1/2 regular sugar, 1/2 stevia baking blend}

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4-1/2 cup non dairy chocolate chips

 

Mash bananas in a bowl with a fork. Add in applesauce, oil, and milk. Stir in sugar followed by flours, then add baking soda, baking powder, and flavorings. Try not to over stir.

I made my banana bread half plain and half chocolate chip. Use 1/2 cup chocolate chips if you’re going to make the whole loaf chocolate chip; 1/4 cup for half a loaf.

banana bread batter for baking

Pour in 9 x 5 loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

freshly baked bread

Cool slightly before removing from pan; let cool more on cooling rack before slicing or it may crumble. {Of course I immediately dug in…I’ll take melted chocolate chips over crumbled edges any day.}

chocolate chip banana bread

slices of banana bread

The plain is a perfect breakfast snack with a big cup of coffee.

vegan banana breads with coffee

The chocolate banana bread is perfect for dessert…or a snack any time of day. Smile

vegan banana bread recipes

Mmmm.

recipe for chocolate chip vegan banana bread