With a moist texture and soft crumb, my homemade recipe for banana bread baked with almond flour is the best-ever and incredibly easy to make at home in your own kitchen. Made without dairy, we use oil instead (coconut oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil all work well) to achieve a wonderfully moist loaf.
best banana bread made with almond flour
Don’t throw away those ripe bananas! Using overripe bananas is one of my favorite tips for gluten-free baking success. Mashed ripe bananas provides a boost of moisture, a nice sweet taste, and are an excellent way to avoid food waste!
Developing an almond flour banana bread rounds out my delicious collection gluten-free banana bread recipes! To make a fluffy banana bread recipe with oil, I used some of the same easy baking tricks from my other highly-reviewed homemade almond flour recipes.
When making banana bread baked with all-purpose gluten-free flour, the ratio of liquids to dry ingredients are paramount for a recipe’s success. The same holds true for banana bread made with almond flour. Too little starch and the loaf will be dense and sunken, too much and it will be dry and crumbly.
Almond flour inherently contains a lot of moisture. When combining with mashed bananas, it’s best to cut back on the remaining liquids. Therefore, only a small amount of oil is required, ¼ cup. This recipe works with any type of oil – coconut, avocado, canola, olive oil – it’s up to you!
Similar to banana bread baked with oat flour, almond flour has a naturally pleasant taste that works well in baked goods. Therefore, the ingredient list is simple to build up the bread’s structure and doesn’t require much to enhance its well-balanced flavor.
Using three large eggs helps bind all the ingredients together, while an adequate amount of almond flour provides the magic ratio so the banana loaf bakes fully rounded, fluffy, and slices into a perfect dairy-free, grain-free, and gluten-free breakfast or snack!
Ingredient Notes
Since the ingredients are simple and commonly stocked, you can enjoy almond flour banana whenever the fancy strikes! Store almond flour in your fridge or freezer to stay fresh and always have on hand.
- Ripe bananas – Since bananas’ sizes vary, measuring the mashed bananas yields the best results. Almond flour contains a lot of moisture, as do bananas, so adding too much will yield a mushy texture.
- Oil – Use vegetable oil, coconut oil, avocado, or grapeseed oil
- Brown Sugar – Alternative sweeteners may be used, such as honey, maple syrup or sugar free substitutes. See below for suggested adaptations for a keto, low carb, paleo, or low sugar recipe.
- Almond flour – Use unblanched almond flour, rather than almond meal.
how to make almond flour banana bread
This easy, moist gluten free banana bread made with almond flour can be whipped up in one bowl with no special equipment required. If you don’t have a potato masher to mash the bananas, just use a fork
(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)
- In a large mixing bowl mash the bananas. Add the wet ingredients – eggs, oil, sugar, and pure vanilla extract. Whisk to combine.
- To the mixture add the dry ingredients – almond flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir to combine. If adding any mix-ins, such as nuts, chocolate chips, or blueberries stir those in.
- Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan. To make sure the bread releases easily, I line the bottom with a cut-to-size piece of wax or parchment paper.
- Bake at 350ºF oven for 55-60 minutes, or until the top is fully set. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely.
best almond flour to use
When making this bread recipe, use unblanched almond flour. Almond meal is coarser ground and can be heavier than blanched almond flour so it would weigh the muffins down.
If you often make gluten-free recipes with almond flour, avoid swapping out other flours unless it specifically says to do so in the recipe. It is made from ground nuts and contains more moisture than other flours.
Substituting other flours, such as wheat flour or coconut flour, in almond flour bread recipes will throw off the ingredient ratios.
using different sweeteners
Similar to 20-minute almond flour pie crust, this gluten-free banana bread made with almond flour is easily adaptable to a keto / low carb, paleo, low sugar, or unrefined sugar recipe with these simple modifications.
Keto / low carb / sugar-free
For banana bread lower in carbs, replace the brown sugar with a sugar free substitute, such as 1/2 cup monk fruit sweetener. Since bananas contain higher carbohydrates, the bread will not be as low carb as almond flour zucchini bread, but sill contain less carbs than a traditional banana bread recipes.
Paleo / unrefined sugar
Generally a paleo diet avoids sugars and sweeteners. If they are used, it’s best to opt for unrefined sugars. Luckily bananas contains natural sweetness on its own, so replace the brown sugar with 1/4-1/3 cup pure maple syrup, honey, or coconut sugar.
add-ins and modifications
This quick bread is perfect for mix-ins! Have a sweet tooth? Add some chocolate chips! In the mood for a salty crunch, add some chopped nuts.
- White or dark chocolate chips – 1 cup
- Fresh blueberries – 1 cup
- Chopped walnuts, almonds, or pecans – 1/2 cup
- Dried cranberries – 1 cup
- Shredded coconut – 1/2 cup
- Butterscotch chips – 1 cup (read label to make sure they are gluten free)
- Creamy peanut butter or almond butter– 1/2 cup
- Flaxseed -1/4 cup flaxseed meal
- Spices – 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, allspice, or ground cloves
storing and freezing
Once the bread has completely cooled, wrap it in aluminum foil and store at room temperature up to 3 days. Avoid covering in plastic wrap because it will trap in moisture, making the bread soggy.
To freeze, wrap securely and then place in a ziplock freezer bag. Freeze up to 3 months. Alternatively, slice the bread first, before freezing, to pull out slices as needed.
expert tips
- For the best dome shape, use an 8X4 inch loaf pan. If you don’t have an 8X4 pan, use a 9X5 pan, but set the timer and check your bread 10 minutes sooner.
- Measure the mashed bananas for best results. Through testing the recipe, I found varying sized bananas drastically yields different amounts. One cup mashed bananas equals about 2 medium, but it’s always best to measure before adding.
- For a crunchy sugar coating, sprinkle turbinado sugar on top before baking.
- Error on the side of slightly overbaking, not necessarily when toothpick comes out clean. This will ensure all the excess moisture has evaporated and your bread is cooked through.
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Moist Almond Flour Banana Bread with Oil
Equipment Needed
Ingredients
- 1 cup (260 g) mashed bananas about 2 small-medium bananas
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup (117 g) packed brown sugar (see recipe notes for alternative sweeteners)
- ¼ cup (53 g) oil (vegetable, coconut, avocado, or grapeseed)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ⅓ cups (307 g) blanched almond flour
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Liberally grease a 8X4 inch loaf pan. To release easily, cut a piece of wax or parchment paper to size and place on the bottom of the pan.
- In a large bowl, mash the bananas. Add the eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine.1 cup (260 g) mashed bananas,3 large eggs,½ cup (117 g) packed brown sugar,¼ cup (53 g) oil,1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- To the mixture add the almond flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir to combine. If adding any mix-ins, such as nuts, chocolate chips, or blueberries gently stir those in.3 ⅓ cups (307 g) blanched almond flour,½ teaspoon ground cinnamon,1 teaspoon baking powder,½ teaspoon baking soda,¼ teaspoon salt
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until the top in fully set and golden brown. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning onto a rack to cool completely.
- DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?? DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AND RATE BELOW!
Recipe Notes
expert tips
- For the best dome shape, use an 8X4 inch loaf pan. If you don’t have an 8X4 pan, use a 9X5 pan, but set the timer and check your bread 10 minutes sooner.
- Measure the mashed bananas for best results. Through testing the recipe, I found varying sized bananas drastically yields different amounts. One cup mashed bananas equals about 2 medium, but it’s always best to measure before adding.
- For a crunchy sugar coating, sprinkle turbinado sugar on top before baking.
- Error on the side of slightly overbaking, not necessarily when toothpick comes out clean. This will ensure all the excess moisture has evaporated and your bread is cooked through.
Sugar Substitutes
For banana bread lower in carbs, replace the brown sugar with a sugar free substitute, such as 1/2 cup monk fruit sweetener. Generally a paleo diet avoids sugars and sweeteners. If they are used, it’s best to opt for unrefined sugars. Luckily bananas contains natural sweetness on its own, so replace the brown sugar with 1/4-1/3 cup pure maple syrup, honey, or coconut sugarStoring / Freezing
Once the bread has completely cooled, wrap it in aluminum foil and store at room temperature up to 3 days. Avoid covering in plastic wrap because it will trap in moisture, making the bread soggy. To freeze, wrap securely and then place in a ziplock freezer bag. Freeze up to 3 months. Alternatively, slice the bread first, before freezing, to pull out slices as needed.Nutrition
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Emily says
Wondering if a portion of the ingredients could be consolidated to create a swirl in the middle of the loaf. ie: batter/cinnamon,brown sugar, nuts/batter without making it too heavy in the middle & w/o compromising the flavor of the remaining loaf. Just a thought…
Melissa Erdelac says
Hi Emily,
I haven’t tried this, but I think it sounds like a wonderful idea! I would pour half the batter in, put half the swirl ingredients in, swirl with a knife, top with remaining batter, remaining swirl, and run a knife through again. Let me know how it works!
Best,
Melissa
Helen says
This is delicious! It has a really nice texture. I used 1/3 cup of beet sugar instead of brown sugar, and coconut oil as the oil. I added some chopped pecans.
Melissa Erdelac says
Hi Helen,
So glad to hear the recipe worked with beet sugar and adding chopped pecans is a great idea!
Best,
Melissa
Sherri says
Can you use olive oil?
Melissa Erdelac says
Sure, that wouldn’t be a problem, Sherri!
Best,
Melissa
Annie Obasih says
Hi, I just used Olive oil in the bread I made today. The bread came out great and it was moist and delicious.
Melissa Erdelac says
So glad to hear, Annie! Thanks for sharing!
Best,
Melissa
Don says
I use a high temperature resistant thermometer with a high temperature resistant cord leading outside of my oven to a digital readout. They are easy to find online. This is a game changer when cooking. For this recipe, I stick the thermometer in the center of the bread after about 35 minutes in the oven. When the temperature hits 208 F the chime rings, pull it out and let it sit for 10 minutes because the bread will continue to cook inside.
The nice thing about using the thermometer is that you don’t have to worry about when it is done…..just wait for the chime.
Don
Melissa Erdelac says
Hi Don,
Good plug for taking bread temp! I do this every time I’m baking GF bread because it’s so hard to tell when it’s done inside. Both GF bread and almond flour “looks done” on the outside way before it has had enough time for the moisture to evaporate inside. I could never get my oven cord to work (maybe I’ll try again!), but I do have an instant read thermometer I swear by!
Best,
Melissa
Karen Deason says
I made this last night and it came out perfect.I added some chopped walnuts and butterscotch pieces for an added touch. This recipe is a win win. you should make 2 loaves, because one will disappear quickly. Thank you Melissa.
Melissa Erdelac says
Appreciate it, Karen! The butterscotch and walnut additions sound amazing!
Best,
Melissa