Moist & Fluffy Vegan Banana Bread Recipe | A Comforting Classic Reinvented

Yield: 10

This moist and fluffy vegan banana bread recipe brings together ripe bananas, warm spices, and wholesome plant-based ingredients for a comforting, guilt-free bake. Perfect for breakfast, snacks, or dessert!

Ingredients

3 large bananas, ripe
75ml vegetable oil or sunflower oil
100g brown sugar
225g plain flour (or use self-raising flour and reduce the baking powder to 2 heaped tsp)
3 heaped tsp baking powder
3 tsp cinnamon powder or mixed spice
50g dried fruit or nuts (optional)

Instructions

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mash 3 large ripe peeled bananas with a fork, then mix well with 75g vegetable or sunflower oil and 100g brown sugar.
Add 225g plain flour, three heaped tsp baking powder and 3 tsp cinnamon or mixed spice, and combine well. Add 50g dried fruit or nuts, if using.
Bake in an oiled, lined 2lb loaf tin for 20 minutes. Check and cover with foil if the cake is browning.
Bake for another 20 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.
Allow cooling a little before slicing. It's delicious, freshly baked, but develops a lovely gooey quality the day after.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 262Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 159mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 3gSugar: 17gProtein: 3g

Table of Contents

Vegan Banana Bread Recipe: A Comforting Classic Reinvented

Banana bread is one of those rare bakes that feels both nostalgic and nourishing. Whether you grew up with it as a Sunday staple or discovered it during lockdown baking marathons, this humble loaf has a fascinating story that spans continents, frugality, and a whole lot of ripe bananas. Let’s peel back the layers of this classic bake, uncover its origins, explore why it’s so popular, and see just how healthy a vegan banana bread recipe can be.

Origins of Banana Bread

Although bananas have been eaten for thousands of years, banana bread as we know it today only appeared in the early 20th century. The story begins in the United States during the Great Depression (1930s). Home bakers, reluctant to waste food, started experimenting with overripe bananas, which were too soft to eat but perfect for mashing into batters. Around the same time, the invention of baking powder and baking soda revolutionised home baking, allowing for quick, reliable rises without yeast.

Banana bread became a household staple, offering an affordable, comforting bake during hard times. Its popularity surged again in the 1960s when it featured in community cookbooks and family recipe boxes. Fast forward to today, and it’s a global favourite — particularly among plant-based bakers who love its natural sweetness and versatility.

Why We Love Banana Bread

Few recipes strike the balance between comfort and simplicity like banana bread. It’s soft, sweet, and fragrant — yet incredibly easy to make. Ripe bananas act as both a natural sweetener and a binding agent, which makes them ideal for vegan baking.

In a vegan banana bread recipe, ingredients such as flaxseed or chia seeds replace eggs, while coconut oil or olive oil adds moisture. Plant milks and wholegrain flours make the loaf even more wholesome. You can easily customise your loaf with chopped nuts, dark chocolate chips, or even a swirl of peanut butter for extra indulgence.

It’s also one of those bakes that improve over time — a day or two on the counter allows the flavours to deepen and the texture to become even more luscious.

Fun Facts About Banana Bread

Lockdown Hero: In 2020, banana bread became the most searched recipe online worldwide. It was the unofficial comfort bake of the pandemic!
A “Quick Bread”: Technically, banana bread isn’t a cake but a quick bread — meaning it uses chemical leaveners (baking powder/soda) instead of yeast.
Perfect Waste Saver: It’s one of the best zero-waste recipes. The riper the bananas, the sweeter the bread.
Global Variations: In the Caribbean, banana bread often includes rum and coconut; in the Philippines, it’s lighter and often baked with muscovado sugar.

Is Vegan Banana Bread Healthy?

Compared to traditional versions made with butter, sugar, and eggs, a vegan banana bread recipe can be much lighter and more nutrient-rich. Bananas bring potassium, fibre, and natural sweetness. Using wholegrain flour adds slow-releasing carbohydrates, while plant oils provide heart-healthy fats.

Swapping refined sugar for alternatives like maple syrup or coconut sugar keeps it more balanced. Of course, portion control matters — even the healthiest loaf is best enjoyed in moderation. But as sweet treats go, vegan banana bread is one of the more nourishing options.

Pair a slice with a cup of coffee for breakfast, or top it with almond butter for a satisfying post-run snack — it’s both comfort food and fuel.

Explore More

If you loved this vegan banana bread recipe, you might also enjoy:

Plant-Based Carrot Cake Porridge – a warming breakfast inspired by a classic bake.
Courgette, Lime & Pistachio Cake – another moist and fragrant loaf that’s perfect for tea time.

For more on the history of quick breads and sustainable baking, check out: