Simple Vegan Banana Bread Recipe with Applesauce
This aromatic, sweet, and simple, vegan banana bread recipe is the best! Made with chopped walnuts, applesauce, and brown sugar to make it perfectly moist and easy to bite into, this plant-based, banana applesauce bread is wonderful in all ways.
Baked in the oven after simply mixing in a bowl, easy, vegan banana bread is perfect and fitting for any occasion. The applesauce makes this recipe for banana bread rich with moist sweet flavors that are slightly crunchy, too.
All you need are a handful of pantry ingredients and super-ripe soft bananas screaming to be used. You will love how aromatic this bread is while baking in the oven. I fell in love with the fragrant banana scents.
Get creative with different toppings and additions, too, like fruit, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, pecans, etc.
Table of Contents
Why This Banana Bread Recipe is Amazing
- Easy and fail-proof: This simple vegan banana bread could not be any easier. All you do is mix some things in a bowl and bake the batter in the oven–simple enough!
- Delicious and sweet: The fresh bananas and brown sugar allow this bread to be perfectly sweet with nutty flavors. This bread is not too sweet and not too dull.
- Perfect for breakfast or snacking: Enjoy this bread for breakfast, brunch, or as a snack to curb those hunger thoughts. Spruce things up by brushing the bread in your favorite melted vegan butter before serving.
Ingredients
Flour: All-purpose flour is used for this banana bread to make it fluffy and form into a loaf. You can use gluten-free, 1:1 baking flour, but be sure there is xanthan gum added to the flour mix.
Baking soda: Baking soda allows the bread to rise and brown on top. Instead of baking soda, you can just see baking powder.
Salt: A little bit of salt balances everything out and allows the bread to not be overly sweet.
Cinnamon: This aromatic fragrant ingredient allows this vegan bread to truly shine. You can leave the cinnamon out if you are not a fan of it.
Sugar: Granulated brown sugar is used to sweeten the bread and make it moist. Brown sugar allows there to be more moisture in the bread.
Vegan butter: For this recipe, I used vegan butter, but any kind of cooking oil will work, too.
Applesauce: Smooth applesauce acts as a binding agent in this baking recipe and gives the bread additional natural sweet and moist flavors.
Vanilla extract: Rich vanilla extract is a must for this bread! Vanilla is a key ingredient in this sweet bread recipe.
Walnuts: The walnuts are completely optional in this recipe but highly recommended. Feel free to use pecans or almonds instead of walnuts.
Optional: Blueberries, chocolate chips, strawberries, etc. You can have a lot of fun getting creative with different types of banana bread!
How to Make This Recipe for Vegan Banana Bread
- First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, spray a loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon with a wooden spoon. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and the brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Next, in a separate bowl, mash the bananas with a fork, then add them to the buttery sugar mixture. Lightly mix everything together until just combined.
- Add the applesauce, vanilla extract, and chopped walnuts to the banana mixture and stir until smooth.
- Combine the banana mixture with the flour mixture, then with a rubber spatula or mixer, and combine all of the ingredients until just mixed. Do not overmix the batter.
- Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan, sprinkle chopped walnuts on top, then bake it in the oven for 50 minutes until a knife inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.
- Carefully, remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool for at least ten minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Chef’s Tips
- Be sure to not overmix the batter or the bread will have a strange texture.
- Use granulated, white vegan sugar instead of brown sugar.
- Replace the vegan butter with neutral cooking oil. The cooking times may vary.
- Serve the bread warm with your favorite softened butter, nut butter, or jam.
- If the batter is too thick, add a little bit of oat milk to it and mix.
- Baking times may vary with different types of ovens. If the bread is still soft in the center, bake it in five-minute increments until fully done.
FAQs
We recommend sticking to the oil or butter for this bread recipe. I like to use applesauce in place of eggs to help the batter bind together.
Unfortunately, unripe bananas are not filled with sweet flavors so they will not be the best for baking. I recommend using super ripe bananas that are soft and fragrant with brown spots.
Simply mix the applesauce into the mashed bananas right before adding it to the flour mixture, then pour the batter into a loaf pan for baking.
Here are some great options to use instead of applesauce: mashed sweet potatoes, pumpkin puree, pureed apples, vegan yogurt, or peanut butter.
More Vegan Favorites
- Vegan Quesadilla Without Cheese Recipe
- Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Blueberry Vegan Ice Cream
- Easy Vegan Chili Recipe with Beans
Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram to stay in touch! I love to see your creations! Tag me at #SeaSaltSavorings to show me what you’ve made!
Easy Vegan Banana Bread with Applesauce
Equipment
- 1 Loaf pan 9×5
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup vegan butter
- ¾ cup brown sugar vegan friendly
- ⅓ cup applesauce
- 3 bananas ripe; mashed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons walnuts chopped
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon with a wooden spoon. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
- In a separate bowl, mash the bananas with a fork, then add them to the sugar mixture. Lightly mix everything together with a whisk until just combined.
- Add applesauce, vanilla extract, and chopped walnuts to the banana mixture. Stir until smooth.
- Combine the banana mixture with the flour mixture, then with a rubber spatula or mixer, and combine all of the ingredients until just mixed. Do not overmix the batter.
- Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan, sprinkle chopped walnuts on top, then bake in the oven for 50 minutes until a knife inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.
- Remove the baked bread from the oven and allow it to rest for 10 minutes prior to slicing.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates, for exact values consult a nutritionist.
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