Description
A moist, sweet, and easy vegan banana bread made with just five main ingredients plus chocolate chips and walnuts. This one-bowl recipe uses applesauce instead of oil or eggs for a tender crumb and requires minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large ripe bananas (about 1 ½ cups mashed)
- ½ cup unsweetened plain applesauce
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- ½ cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides, and lightly grease the parchment.
- In a large mixing bowl, mash the peeled bananas until smooth using a fork or potato masher.
- Add the applesauce, maple syrup, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Whisk until well combined.
- Add the flour, baking soda, and salt to the wet mixture. Gently stir with a wooden spoon until just incorporated; do not overmix. A few small lumps are okay.
- Gently fold in the chopped walnuts and chocolate chips using a spatula.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes. If the top browns too quickly after 40 minutes, tent loosely with aluminum foil.
- Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then lift it out using the parchment overhang and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
Ensure bananas are very ripe (black and brown spots) for maximum sweetness. Do not overmix the batter to avoid a dense texture. Toasting walnuts beforehand adds extra flavor. The bread can be stored at room temperature for 3 days, in the fridge for 5 days, or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
Keywords: vegan banana bread, chocolate chip banana bread, easy vegan recipe, gluten-free option, one bowl baking, healthy breakfast, plant-based dessert