Gluten Free Banana Bread (Paleo, Vegetarian)

By Dawn Gifford • January 29, 2024 • 2 minutes of reading • 43 Comments

I’ve made my fair share of banana bread recipes since going grain and dairy free, and, honestly, none of them have been anywhere close to as good as my grandmother’s old recipe using wheat flour. In fact most of them have been either soggy and dense or dry and bland.

Since winter has me indoors more and in the mood to bake, I decided it was high time to figure out how to make a grain free banana bread as light, sweet and rich as the one Grandma taught me how to make. And so I did…

The secret to good texture in grain free baked goods is choosing the right flour, or more often, the right combination of flours. This recipe uses three different flours to keep the bread from being too soggy, eggy or dense. It is also vegetarian, GAPS adaptable and Paleo friendly!

Recommended for This Recipe

Wellbee's Super Fine Blanched Almond Flour / Powder 2 LB.

Organic Coconut Flour (4 LBS) - Perfect for Gluten Free Baking, Paleo & Vegan Certified, Unbleached & Unrefined Baking Flour Substitute, 1.81 kg

Bob's Red Mill Arrowroot Starch / Flour, 16-ounce

6003 Stone Bakeware Bread/Meat Loaf Baker Pan 5 1/2" x 9" (Rada Cutlery)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dawn Gifford

Dawn is the creator of Small Footprint Family, and the author of the critically acclaimed book, Sustainability Starts at Home – How to Save Money While Saving the Planet. After a 20-year career as a Master Gardener, Cooperative Extension Agent, Permaculture designer and sustainability expert, chronic illness forced her to shift her experience and passion from the public sphere to home and hearth. Get the story behind SFF here.

43 thoughts on “Gluten Free Banana Bread (Paleo, Vegetarian)”

4.81 from 21 votes (16 ratings without comment)

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Matt
May 25, 2020 at 9:46 am

This recipe sounds great. I was wondering if I could replace the eggs with chia eggs as I can’t have any eggs?

Reply
1. Dawn Gifford
  May 25, 2020 at 3:08 pm
  
  Give it a try and let us know how it works out!
  
  Reply
Suzanne
May 24, 2020 at 6:25 pm

This banana bread is amazing! I am not a big banana bread fan myself, but my husband loves it, so I decided to join the banana bread quarantine club, but wanted it to be grain-free. I tried a few different recipes and this one turned out the best by far. I have made it numerous times over the last couple of months, with some slight variations, and it’s been delicious every time. This is the best banana bread I have ever tasted and that includes traditional recipes. The consistency is superior to that of other grain-free recipes I have tried. The last two times I made it, I substituted liquid allulose for the maple syrup with the same great results. Before I went out and bought some, I substituted corn starch for the arrowroot flour without a problem, but I do prefer it with arrowroot flour. It seemed to improve the consistency a bit. I usually add pecans and chocolate chips and have made this as a loaf, as a square cake and as muffins. All turned out great.

Reply
1. Dawn Gifford
  May 25, 2020 at 3:08 pm
  
  I’m so glad you are enjoying it!! <3
  
  Reply
Gemma
May 18, 2020 at 9:29 am

I’m not lactose intolerant just wanted to try a grain-free version of the banana bread. Can I still use butter for this recipe instead of the coconut oil and if so how much should I use please ?

Reply
Honey Bee
August 3, 2019 at 4:47 pm

We didn’t have any arrowroot, so we just skipped it. Sooooooo delicious! We will be making this again. Best “alternative” banana bread we have ever eaten!

Reply
1. Dawn Gifford
  August 5, 2019 at 1:48 pm
  
  I am so glad you liked it!!
  
  Reply
Tricia B.
May 22, 2019 at 8:14 pm

Thank you for posting this! SO delish & easy!

It’s the only grain-free banana bread my husband said he could eat over and over again and the only one my kids didn’t realize was “different”! I’ve made it a handful of times and keep going back to this recipe….so happy to find a banana bread recipe I don’t have to feel guilty about eating!

Reply
Mia
January 25, 2019 at 5:44 pm

This was great! I used egg whites instead of whole eggs, 1/8 CUP DATE PASTE and 1/8 CUP coconut nectar, 2tbs of melted vegan butter and 1 tbs arrow root and a flour blend of coconut, almond, pecan and walnut. It is delicious! Hubby and kids love it. It’s moist but not soggy. Very good.

Reply
Danielle
May 22, 2017 at 7:25 am

We love this recipe. The bread is moist and delicious. I used 3 bananas, maple syrup, and walnuts. I will make this every time my bananas get too ripe. Thank you Dawn!

Reply
1. Dawn Gifford
  May 22, 2017 at 10:54 am
  
  You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
  
  Reply
Rachel
October 25, 2014 at 9:04 am

Is arrow root flour the same as arrow root powder from the spice section? I’d like to to use all the ingredients if I have them as my kids aren’t a huge fan of “too wet” baked goods and I have arrowroot powder :). Thanks so much!

Reply
1. Dawn Gifford
  October 25, 2014 at 12:08 pm
  
  Yes, they are the same. 🙂
  
  Reply
Terri
January 29, 2014 at 7:28 pm

Thank u very much for your recipe! I made this today without the arrowroot flour,had some butter that was all ready melted-used this in place of the melted coconut oil, added enjoy life dark choc morsels and a tsp of vanilla extract. It turned out so YUMMY! I used maple syrup, but look forward to trying the date paste. I will be making this again tomorrow and will try adding some cinnamon like someone had suggested. Thanks again.

Reply
Megan
January 19, 2014 at 11:07 am

It’s sunday and this is the 2nd time I’ve made this since Friday. I’d say WE like it!!!!!!

Reply
Melanie
January 3, 2014 at 9:37 am

This was friggin good ! Thanks for sharing. Added a bit of cinnamon and vanilla essence. Used date syrup. Turned out very moist and tasty

Reply
1. Dawn Gifford
  January 5, 2014 at 9:51 pm
  
  So glad you liked it!!
  
  Reply
Health & Organic Wellbeing (H.O.W.)
July 11, 2013 at 8:57 pm

Thanks for sharing this recipe!

Reply
john
February 20, 2013 at 12:17 am

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I invite you to enter add your blog and upload a recipe with a nice photo.

We would love that you participate with some recipe like this.Look Amazing!

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Reply
Dawn Gifford
February 13, 2013 at 5:32 pm

Awesome! Thanks, France!

Reply
Rebecca @ Natural Mothers Network
February 13, 2013 at 7:15 am

Dawn, this recipe sounds and looks delicious, how could it not taste heavenly with these ingredients! Rebecca @Natural Mothers Network x

Reply
1. Dawn Gifford
  February 13, 2013 at 9:37 am
  
  Thanks, Rebecca! I think you’ll love it as much as we do!
  
  Reply
Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma)
February 12, 2013 at 12:43 pm

Looks fantastic!!
Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂

Thanks for linking back to the Gluten Free Fridays post!

Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com

Reply
1. Dawn Gifford
  February 13, 2013 at 9:38 am
  
  Thanks Cindy! Always a pleasure!
  
  Reply
April @ The 21st Century Housewife
February 12, 2013 at 12:25 am

I adore banana bread. It’s lovely that you have been able to make a grain free version of this treat. I like that you have used maple syrup as a sweetener as well. I’m featuring this recipe in my H&S post this week 🙂

Reply
amber
February 11, 2013 at 10:48 pm

Looks divine! I’m featuring this recipe this week on AFW.

Thanks for sharing with us.

Be Well,
-Amber

Reply
Carole
February 11, 2013 at 1:11 pm

This makes a really small loaf! Can it be doubled? I really don’t want to use my big oven just to make a tiny amount. Thanks for any help you can give!

Reply
1. Dawn Gifford
  February 11, 2013 at 2:26 pm
  
  I have not doubled it myself yet, but give it a try. It might be a little dense or wet in the middle, but you can bake it a little longer to help deal with that.
  
  Reply
2. Beejay
  September 18, 2014 at 1:28 pm
  
  Hi Carole, did you try doubling the recipe and how did it turn out? This looks like a great recipe and I have lots of ripe bananas and would like to make a bigger loaf.
  
  Reply
Miz Helen
February 11, 2013 at 7:43 am

Hi Dawn,
We will just love this Banana Bread, it looks awesome! Hope you have a fantastic week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen

Reply
genet
February 9, 2013 at 9:33 am

Do you know of a good sub for the arrowroot flour ?

Reply
1. Dawn Gifford
  February 9, 2013 at 1:59 pm
  
  You could try another starch like tapioca flour, or you can just omit the arrowroot. The bread will be a bit more dense and wet, but still tasty.
  
  Reply
2. Suzanne
  May 24, 2020 at 6:28 pm
  
  This banana bread is amazing! I am not a big banana bread fan myself, but my husband loves it, so I decided to join the banana bread quarantine club, but wanted it to be grain-free. I tried a few different recipes and this one turned out the best by far. I have made it numerous times over the last couple of months, with some slight variations, and it’s been delicious every time. This is the best banana bread I have ever tasted and that includes traditional recipes. The consistency is superior to that of other grain-free recipes I have tried. The last two times I made it, I substituted liquid allulose for the maple syrup with the same great results. Before I went out and bought some, I substituted corn starch for the arrowroot flour without a problem, but I do prefer it with arrowroot flour. It seemed to improve the consistency a bit. I usually add pecans and chocolate chips and have made this as a loaf, as a square cake and as muffins. All turned out great.
  
  Reply
annie @ montanasolarcreations
February 8, 2013 at 6:51 pm

I can’t wait to try this recipe, I just pinned it so I can make it later this week! My last attempt at a grain free sweet bread was a VERY crumbly zucchini bread so I’m excited to have a recipe that will work!

Reply
Lisa Lynn
February 8, 2013 at 10:44 am

Thanks for sharing this on The HomeAcre Hop!
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/the-homeacre-hop.html

Reply
Kresha @ Nourishing Joy
February 6, 2013 at 10:21 pm

Wow! Thanks for figuring out how to come up with a similar loaf to a wheat flour one. The “too dense” or “too wet” or “too crumbly” complaints are the ones I typically have had with gluten-free baking, so I had pretty much given up. This recipe, however, makes me think that perhaps I could try again. 🙂

Thanks so much for sharing it in this week’s Thank Goodness It’s Monday carnival, too. I’ve pinned it on our “Thank Goodness It’s Monday” Pinterest page, as well. 🙂

Blessings!
Kresha from NourishingJoy.com

Reply
emily
February 6, 2013 at 1:43 am

this looks SUPER yummy. I would never know it was grain free :o) Thanks for sharing at Tasteful Tuesdays this week! Do you sew or know someone who does? I have a fabulous pattern sale (18 patterns for under $25) and giveaway going on right now.http://www.nap-timecreations.com/2013/02/sew-fab-e-pattern-sale-and-giveaway.html

Reply
Hannah
February 5, 2013 at 10:57 am

We recently went grain and gluten free! Looks like a great recipe! Please consider sharing your post with us at the Eco-Kids Tuesday Link-Up! http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/2013/02/garden-planning-at-eco-kids-tuesday.html

Reply
Kerry
February 5, 2013 at 7:16 am

This looks super yummy! I thought for awhile that I was going to have to go glutton free and wondered how in the world I would keep my bread. Now I know that there are options out there- in case it ever comes up again.

Thanks for sharing at our Healthy Tuesdays Blog Hop–
Kerry from Country Living On A Hill

Reply
Becca
February 4, 2013 at 6:52 pm

This sounds really good. There’s something about banana bread… comfort food maybe? I could go for a slice right now…

Care to share this healthy recipe at my Healthy Tuesday hop? http://ahumblebumble.blogspot.com/2013/02/healthy-tuesday-hop-28.html

Reply
1. Dawn Gifford
  February 15, 2013 at 11:47 am
  
  Glad to. Thanks for the invitation!
  
  Reply
Suz
February 3, 2013 at 5:04 pm

That looks great! Banana bread is so popular here in Australia, so it’s good to have a Paleo version.

Reply
1. Dawn Gifford
  February 15, 2013 at 11:48 am
  
  I hope you enjoy it!
  
  Reply

Gluten Free Banana Bread (Paleo, Vegetarian)