Never let ripe bananas go to waste, they’re the BEST for banana bread! The riper the better! If you’re like my family every time we go to the store we are grabbing bunches of bananas! Bananas are one of my favorite fruits, but sometimes they go ripe before we can eat them all. If you notice your bananas going ripe, but you don’t have time to bake banana bread you can always freeze them. I just take the peel off put them in a ziplock freezer bag, put them in the freezer, and then pull them out at a later date. This is often what I find myself doing as we are always running from work, juggling a toddler, and going to appointments, and I’m sure you can relate!
When making banana bread I tend to make a few loaves and share them with family and friends! The wonderful smell of warm banana bread in the oven throughout the house is something of pure happiness.
This recipe is delicious, it’s gluten-free and nobody would ever know. If you’re going to a friend’s house, you don’t even need to tell them you used gluten-free flour. This bread will be gone before you know it!
A few tips before getting started with this recipe!
- The bananas, the riper they’re the better. As bananas ripen they naturally become sweeter helping make this banana bread even tastier.
- Mash the Bananas till their smooth. The more mashed the better.
- Gluten-free flours can act differently in recipes and result in different flavor and texture profiles. I usually use Namaste or cup for cup. If you do not have either of these on hand another 1-1 gluten-free flour will work but may result in a different flavor and or texture.
- Tip to measuring gluten-free flour: Spoon the flour into your measuring cup and then level. Do not compact or scoop from the bag.
- Making a few loaves? Try making some plain, with chocolate chips and or nuts so you have a variety.
- Serve hot or cold with butter on top!
- Freeze some to pull out for breakfast during the week or to bring to friends’ houses for snacks. You can freeze the loaf whole or slice it ahead of time so you can pull out what you need. Make sure the loaf of bread is completely cooled before freezing!
- Dairy Free? – No problem! Substitute the butter for dairy-free butter and if adding chocolate chips make sure they’re dairy free.
This recipe is fantastic and is truly one of the easiest ways to use up those ripe bananas!
Delicious Gluten Free Banana Banana Bread {Plain, Nuts, Chocolate Chip} (Dairy Free Option)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup very ripe bananas (3) Mashed Bananas
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/3 cup melted butter unsalted use dairy free butter if you'd like to make dairy free
- 1 1/2 cup gluten free flour blend I use Namaste flour
- 1/4 tsp xanthan gum leave out, if your flour already has it
- 1/8 tsp salt leave out, if using salted butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 cup OPTIONAL nuts, chocolate chips or both If adding both ensure equals only 3/4 cup, dairy free make sure to use dairy free chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven to 350 F.
- In a small mixing bowl mash the ripe bananas well.
- Add the baking soda to the bananas and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, I prefer to use my kitchen add mixer, but you can also mix by hand. Add melted butter, sugar, vanilla, salt (if using unsalted butter), mix well. Then add beaten eggs and mix again.
- Add flour to the batter and mix well.
- Add the bananas and mix till everything is well incorporated.
- Optional: add nuts, chocolate chips or both and stir well by hand.
- In a 9×5 or 8 1/2×4 1/2 greased loaf pan pour batter. Drop lightly a couple times on the counter to get the air bubbles out. Parchment paper works as well if you'd prefer to use that versus greasing.
- Bake on the middle rack for 50 -60 mins. Watch your banana bread closely starting at 45 mins as all ovens will cook differently. Once a tooth pick or cake tester comes out clean it's done.
- Remove banana bread from oven, let cool in pan for 5 mins then run a knife along the sides before turning over to cool on a rack.
- Cool, slice, & serve
- Store in an airtight container!
Share your results and tips you found along the way!