Traditional and Gluten-Free Banana Bread Recipe

Reader Contribution by Malorie Davis
1 / 2
2 / 2

Am I alone in saying that family meals sometimes require several different versions of the same dish or a couple completely different dishes altogether? I think not.

That goes for just about everything. I’m sure everyone has had to prepare eggs at least three different ways for one breakfast at one point in their life. Or, make four different turkey sandwiches for one picnic. People like what they like. As a self-proclaimed “Super Mom”, I like to please them all.

Personally, I follow a mostly gluten-free diet. I still love traditional foods, but I currently love finding new ways to make the classics with gluten-free ingredients. My husband is not gluten-free and doesn’t really care to join me on this wagon. Almost daily, I make my Husband and I different versions of the same dish. For example: when making his all-time favorite Chicken Pot Pie, I make a version for myself with gluten-free biscuits and added greens. I do the same when baking or packing lunches.

The other day, I noticed I had a whole bunch of overripe bananas. As they say, “when life hands you spotted bananas, make banana bread!” Keeping with the trend, hubby gets traditional banana bread and I make a gluten-free and extra-nutritious version for myself. Here are my favorite recipes that I’ve created for both.

Photo by Malorie Davis

Gluten-Free Banana Bread Recipe with Blueberries

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (or coconut oil)
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/4 cup coconut flour
• 1 cup gluten-free oat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 mashed bananas
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup frozen or fresh blueberries

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease a loaf pan with butter or coconut oil.

3. In a bowl, whisk together the butter, eggs, maple syrup, bananas and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined.

4. In a separate bowl, mix the flours, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and flaxseed meal by stirring with a fork.

5. Combine the two mixtures and stir with a spatula or wooden spoon until thoroughly combined. Fold in the blueberries.

6. Bake for 50 minutes or until the center is cooked through and tested with a toothpick.

Traditional Banana Bread Recipe with Walnuts

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3 1/2 extra-ripe bananas, mashed
• 2 cups all purpose flour (can sub whole wheat)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease two loaf pans with butter or coconut oil. I used muffin pans and paper liners here.

3. In a bowl, whisk together the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and mashed bananas until thoroughly combined.

4. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and nutmeg by stirring with a fork.

5. Combine the two mixtures and stir with a spatula or wooden spoon until thoroughly combined. Fold in the walnuts.

6. Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until the center is cooked through and tested with a toothpick. If baking muffins, bake for 25 minutes.



Malorie Davis is a classically trained chef, holistic nutrition counselor, wife, and mother. She created the True American Diet and has a passion for natural homemaking. Malorie offers up recipes and nutrition tips on her new blog Malorie Davis Nutrition, as well as online nutrition counseling services.

  • Published on Jul 11, 2014
Tagged with: Reader Contributions
Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-800-456-6018
Free health and natural beauty tips from Mother Earth News!