The Best Homemade Banana Bread(with gluten-free option)

There’s something comforting about homemade banana bread filling the kitchen with the scent of cinnamon and sweet bananas. This loaf is delicious, and sweet enough to enjoy with your morning coffee or as an afternoon treat. It’s also easy to make gluten-free with one simple substitution.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Bake Time: 55–65 minutes

Makes: 1 loaf

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 3 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 1½ cups)

• 2 large eggs

• ½ cup melted butter (or avocado oil)

• ¾ cup granulated sugar

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Optional Cinnamon Crumble

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• 3 tablespoons flour

• 2 tablespoons cold butter

• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

• ¼ cup chopped walnuts(optional)

Mix together until crumbly and sprinkle over the batter before baking.

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

3. In a large bowl, mash the bananas. Stir in the eggs, sugar, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth.

4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir gently just until combined. Don’t overmix—the batter should still be slightly lumpy.

5. Fold in the walnuts if using.

6. Pour into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle with the crumble topping if desired.

7. Bake for 55–65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.

8. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Gluten-Free Version

Simply replace the all-purpose flour with:

2 cups gluten-free 1:1 baking flour that already contains xanthan gum

Examples include:

• King Arthur Measure for Measure

• Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Baking Flour

No other changes are needed.

Helpful Gluten-Free Tips

• Let the batter rest for 10–15 minutes before baking so the flour can fully hydrate.

• Bake 5–10 minutes longer if needed.

• Cool completely before slicing for the best texture.

Vine & Dandy Tips

🍌 The darker your bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be.

🍯 For extra moisture, stir in ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream.

🫐 Add blueberries, chocolate chips, shredded coconut, or chopped pecans for fun variations.

❄️ Banana bread freezes beautifully. Slice it first so you can thaw individual pieces whenever you’re craving one.

A Little Vine & Dandy Thought

Some of life’s sweetest moments are the simplest—a warm slice of banana bread, a cup of coffee, and a quiet morning on the porch. I hope this recipe brings a little comfort to your home and becomes one your family requests again and again.

Happy baking! 💚