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If you are hoping to bake with oat flour more often, you’re in good company here. I’m a big fan of oat flour because it can be used in gluten-free baking without the need for extra gums or binders. (It does require eggs, but nothing special like xanthan gum.)

I spent several weeks developing this banana bread recipe until I was confident it would turn out like “normal” banana bread for you. You can’t taste the oat flour at all!

If you don’t keep natural sweeteners on hand, like coconut sugar, be sure to read the comments, along with my substitution notes below. I’ve tested this several different ways, so the guesswork is done for you!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Featured Review

“I dream about this recipe. It’s seriously so delicious.” -Kami

oat flour banana bread sliced on parchment paper.

Oat Flour Banana Bread Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Oat Flour. If you’re not familiar with oat flour, it’s simply pulverized oats. You can even make oat flour at home if you have rolled oats on hand. While oats are naturally gluten-free, they can be contaminated during the manufacturing process, so shop for “certified gluten-free” oats if needed.
  • Ripe Bananas. Wait to make this recipe until you have three very ripe bananas sitting on your counter. This recipe tastes best when using bananas that are almost overripe, making them as naturally sweet as possible.
  • Eggs. Since oat flour is gluten-free, it doesn’t have the same binding protein (gluten) that wheat flour does. As a result, you’ll need to use more eggs to get a familiar banana bread texture. Don’t use an egg substitute! If you need an egg-free recipe, try my Vegan Banana Bread recipe, which has already been tested for you.
  • Olive Oil. There’s a reason this recipe doesn’t call for butter or coconut oil. Those two options solidify when chilled, making the bread less tender as it cools. Use olive oil, or another mild vegetable oil, for the best texture.
  • Coconut Sugar. If you prefer working with natural sweeteners, this is the best granulated sugar option, as it gives the bread an authentic taste and texture. Refer to the substitution notes below if you need to make a swap or want to reduce the sweetness.
  • Baking Powder. In my experience, this works better for breads and muffins than baking soda. It provides lift, so your bread won’t be soggy in the middle.
  • Spices. Ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt complete the flavor, making each bite taste delicious.
oat flour, bananas, eggs, oil, coconut sugar, and spices labeled on a white surface.

How to Make Banana Bread with Oat Flour

Step 1:

Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan. Press a piece of parchment paper into the bottom of the pan to guarantee easy removal later.

Peel the bananas and add them to a large mixing bowl. Use a fork to mash the bananas until they are smooth and pureed. It’s okay if a few small lumps are still visible.

Add the eggs, olive oil, and vanilla extract to the bowl and mix until well combined.

bananas mashed in a bowl and mixed with wet ingredients.

Step 2:

Next, add the oat flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Stir until the batter looks relatively uniform.

It’s okay if you still see a few small lumps of banana, but there should be no clumps of flour remaining.

dry ingredients added to banana bread batter and mixed well.

Step 3:

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Sprinkle a few walnuts or chocolate chips on top, if you’d like extra texture. (This is optional.)

Bake until the center of the loaf feels firm to the touch, about 45 to 50 minutes. A crack should form in the center of the loaf, so it’s a good sign if you see it!

Remove the loaf from the oven and let it cool completely in the pan, or for at least 1 hour. It’s easiest to slice if the loaf is cool. Cut it into slices that are slightly less than 1 inch thick, yielding about 10 slices in total.

banana bread in a loaf pan before and after baking.

Storage Tips

You can store oat flour banana bread in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It’s delicious when served chilled, or you can let it come to room temperature again.

Alternatively, you can freeze individual slices for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the fridge overnight before serving, or reheat quickly in the microwave using 30-second intervals.

banana bread slice in half to show texture

Banana Bread FAQs & Substitutions

Can I use oat flour instead of all-purpose flour for bread?

Yes, but it’s best to substitute oat flour by weight, rather than by cup measurements. You’ll typically need to use more oat flour than all-purpose flour, because it’s less dense. Check out the formula in my homemade oat flour post for easy conversions.

Can I use less sugar?

Yes, I’ve this recipe with only 3/4 cup of coconut sugar, and that still works well, texture-wise. It just doesn’t taste as sweet as a banana bread you’d buy at a coffee shop. I’ve also tested this recipe with 1/2 cup of honey, and that turned out too sweet with a gummy texture. I don’t recommend that swap. If you need to use brown sugar instead of coconut sugar, 1/2 cup should be sweet enough.

Can I make this egg-free?

I have successfully used Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer in this recipe, and the results are great! The egg-free banana bread is a little flatter, but it still cracks in the center and isn’t gooey in the middle with this substitution. I assume other store-bought egg substitutes will work as well, but I don’t think flax eggs will work. I think the “powdery” egg substitutes with arrowroot or tapioca starches are most effective with gluten-free baking. (FYI– using carbonated water as an egg substitute does NOT work here. I tried it, and it was inedible.)

oat flour banana bread slice topped with peanut butter on a plate.

Oat Flour Banana Bread (Ridiculously Good!)

5 from 43 votes
My son has deemed this recipe the "best banana bread ever." I love that it uses affordable, gluten-free oat flour while tasting like something you'd buy at Starbucks. (With no refined sugar!)
prep10 mins cook45 mins total55 mins
Servings:10

Ingredients
 
 

  • 3 large ripe bananas
  • 3 large eggs
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ¾ cups oat flour
  • 1 cup coconut sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt (I use Real Salt brand)
  • chopped walnuts or chocolate chips (optional topping)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with oil. Press a piece of parchment paper into the pan for easy removal later.
  • In a large bowl, add the bananas and use a fork to mash them well. Then add the eggs, oil, and vanilla extract and mix again. Add the flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt, and stir until the batter looks uniform. (It's okay if you still see a few small banana lumps.)
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and smooth the top. Sprinkle chopped walnuts or chocolate chips on top, if desired. Bake at 350°F until the top rises and cracks in the middle, about 45-50 minutes. It should feel firm to the touch in the center.
  • Let the loaf cool completely before slicing, then serve. I think this bread tastes best when served at room temperature, but I store it in the fridge to extend the shelf life. It will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, and you can bring it to room temperature again 1 hour before serving.

Video

Notes

Nutrition information is for 1 of 10 slices. For a lower-calorie snack, you can cut the slices thinner. This information is just an estimate, and not a guarantee. 
Banana Note: In my experiments, three large bananas yielded approximately 1 1/4 cups of mashed bananas. It’s okay if you end up with a little more or a little less than that each time. 
See the FAQs section in the full post if you need other substitution ideas. 
Need to make your own flour? If you have a food scale, measure out 220 grams of rolled oats and blend them to make your own flour. This is approximately 2 cups plus 3 tablespoons of rolled oats, if you prefer to measure it out before blending.

Nutrition

Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 171mg | Potassium: 300mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Snack
Cuisine: gluten-free
Keyword: oat flour banana bread

More Healthy Banana Recipes

If you try this oat flour banana bread, please leave a comment below letting me know how you like it! And if you make any modifications, I’d love to hear about those, too. We can all benefit from your experience.

Megan Gilmore leaning on her white countertop.

Megan Gilmore

Hi, I’m Megan. A former fast food junkie turned best-selling cookbook author. As a Certified Nutritionist Consultant (CNC), I love to make healthier food using simple ingredients. I test these recipes multiple times in my kitchen to make sure they will turn out perfectly for you.

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Comments

  1. I have made this time and time again. I add much less coconut sugar as the bananas add plenty of sweetness already. This banana bread works out every time.

    1. I also wanted to reduce the sugar in the recipe. Megan said 3/4 doesn’t change the texture. Do you do even less? I also think the bananas are sweet enough, but I didn’t want to lose the original texture.

      Thank you in advance,
      Bela

  2. Hi Megan,
    Oat flour banana bread just melts in our mouth. It turned out super light, soft and moist. My family loved it. I used 1/2 cup brown sugar, semisweet chocolate chips and raisins. Next time I will try with toasted walnuts. Thanks a million for this recipe.

  3. Grey November day over here in England, banana bread cooking…ping! I’ll be back…

    Okay, it’s staying in the loaf pan until it’s cooler, then onto the cake rack to cool completely. If it sounds as though I’m an expert, it may be because I’ve been following your recipe since June. We both love it.

    Thank you, Megan. Have a lovely weekend.

    Best wishes to you and yours.

  4. I dream about this recipe. It’s seriously so delicious. We add chocolate chips! Thank you for sharing!!

  5. I made this recipe about 4 times now and every time it turns out great! Thank you! I love all your recipes. I’ve made the almond flour banana bread also 3 times and every time I make it, it turns out great as well!

  6. Omg! I just tried this recipe amazing. However I use 4 bananas! Came out perfect

    How’d I add a pic?

  7. Since 05/2022 I have made this at least once a month. It is perfect! I’ve added blueberries and mini chocolate chips in the batter. I just tried chopped pecan mixed with a little coconut sugar for the topping.
    It looks like work but it all gets put together in one bowl and comes out clean after it is baked with a parchment paper “sling”.