A gluten-free bread recipe made with white beans and bananas. This vegan banana bread is sweetened with ripe bananas and maple syrup – no refined sugars here! Adding beans when baking ups the creaminess and protein and fiber. This white bean banana bread is a healthy snack for kids and adults alike.
I’m not gonna lie – my kids (ages almost-13, 10, 8 and 5) don’t always welcome my homemade foods with welcome arms. I guess I should be used to it by now, and I guess with four kids this is pretty normal. So let me explain what happened with this white bean banana bread – be sure to read on, because after the fact, (spoiler alert!) they loved it.
Have you tried bean bread?!
In full transparency, I had a weak moment. It could be that I get super excited about making a new healthy food because I believe so strongly in giving them proper nourishment. It could be that I had *snuck* in (though I did have the can on the counter – oops) white beans. Or it could be that I had PMS. Nah, probably not the last choice.
Upon their question of “what’s for snack” on the way home, I told them that I made them bread with a secret ingredient. Lemme tell ya right there – probably not the best tactic. It’s banana bread, okay? Punched up with a dash of protein. Sure you can tell them that it’s actually white bean banana bread if they ask, but hey – the name is not necessarily the hottest sell. The taste, on the other hand, sure is. Oh, and let’s not forget the ease. I digress.
I told them that we’d each try a taste of the bread first. My 10 year-old proceeded to ask, what if we don’t like it? I (very maturely) responded that that was snack, to which her body began to melt, shoulders shrugging forward and all. Deep breath, deep breath. But that’s not what I did. I was hurt. Most parents can relate that preparing home-cooked, real food for their family is a labor of love. And these types of reactions, while sometimes frequent, can get to the best of us. I didn’t yell or scream; I just told her that it was very hurtful. Oh, and that I didn’t care what she ate;).
She ended up cutting a piece of the vegan banana bread and then apologized – she actually liked it, she admitted. Ha! So did the rest of my kids. The texture is this different type of moist; a squeezable loveliness. But let’s talk about the recipe:
White Bean Banana Bread Recipe: an Oat Flour Banana Bread with Beans
I love baking with beans because one, it adds this creamy texture, but it also adds a healthy dose of fiber and packs in some protein, too. You can prepare this bread in literally 10 minutes – easy real food, right?! I use my blender to make the oat flour (put oats in blender, blend and voila) and also to mix the wet ingredients. Super simple – you can do it!
And one last note … I recently updated my baking pans and now use this loaf pan which I absolutely love. No more scraping the sides to get the bread out, it cleans simply, and goodbye questionable metal toxins. I highly recommend it!
A gluten-free bread recipe made with white beans and bananas. This vegan banana bread is sweetened with ripe bananas and maple syrup - no refined sugars here! Adding beans when baking ups the creaminess and protein and fiber. This white bean banana bread is a healthy snack for kids and adults alike.
- 2 cups oat flour (use GF oats/oat flour to make this GF)
- 1 TBSP cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 tsp baking powder (gluten free)
- 1 1/2 large bananas mashed see directions - do this in the blender
- 1 cup cannellini (white beans), rinsed and drained
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup milk (you can sub almond milk)
- 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
-
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a loaf pan.
-
In a medium-sized bowl, mix dry ingredients.
-
Place bananas, beans, maple syrup, milk and vanilla in a blender. Blend to combine.
-
Make a well (hole) in the dry ingredients; pour wet ingredients in and mix to combine. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and place in the middle of the preheated oven. Bake for 30 minutes. When the timer goes off, turn the oven off but LEAVE the loaf in the oven for 5 minutes. Total cooking time is 35 minutes.
-
Let cool before enjoying.
How are your kids about your cooking? Do they always love whatever you make? And if so – I’d love your secrets!
If they love this recipe (sure hope they do!!) I hope you’ll check out my post with lots of other gluten free bread recipes. And if you have other extra ripe bananas on hand, here are 8 Uses for Ripe Bananas – enjoy!
This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.
I made this for this week and all 3 of my kids approve! Thanks for the great recipes.
Oh yay!! I’m so glad that they enjoyed it:).
Hiay would this work with any other flour other than wheat or oat? Thanks
I have not tried it with gluten-free 1:1 flour, but I would try it with that and see how it works!
Hi! I made this and thought it tasted good, my toddler ate a nice sized piece. But as I got to the middle it was very sticky, almost like it was undercooked. I bought the same loaf pan you used and followed the directions exactly. I know there is no egg so I wasn’t worried about anyone getting sick from trying it but I wasn’t sure that was the consistency should have ended up with. The batter was thick, should it have been? Any tips? Maybe it was just a one off. We will definitely try it again!
Hmmm … it could just be a difference in our ovens. Did you leave it in the oven for 5 minutes after turning the temp off (after the 30 minutes)? I’d try leaving it in for 10 next time to see if that does the trick. Ironically enough, I made this myself today following the directions and it’s all cooked through. Let me know if that helps!!
Why is it called flourless when you use oat flour?
I will definitely be making this banana bread again. It’s so good!
What a super recipe! Looking forward to making this one soon as possible!
Love the ingredients and will check out your loaf pan recommendation.. (I need a new one!)
Thanks!
It’s one of my faves! Well, the recipe AND the loaf pan. Haven’t looked back since I got it. Hope you love both! 🙂
I love banana bread. It’s so moist and delicious. Saved for later!
I can’t wait to try this — looks amazing!
I am going to try this today. I have been in a cooking lull. My kids are getting more particular as they get older and I cannot slip healthy things by as easily as I used to be able to. It is so hard to cook healthy food and have everyone love what you make. Thank you for all of your ideas and for letting us know we are not along in this struggle. ;).
Thank you for your comment .. I completely feel your struggle! The older they get, it’s almost tougher since they have their own opinions. It’s a balance to respect those, yet still encourage them to eat well, knowing that one day they’ll need to make their own decisions. I’m routing for you!:)
Exactly!! :). All 3 of my kids devoured the bread after school! Yay!! Thank you!
Oh yay! I love it! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Ive not made yet. But have questions. Can I use a mix of beans? Can I sub oat flour for Bobs Redml gluten free? Can I use sorgum or h honey in place of maple?
Hi! You can definitely mix up the beans and use honey instead of maple syrup. I have not tried subbing the oat flour, so if you try, please let us know in the comments again. Thanks!
My kids approved of this one! Yay!!
Oh yay – love it!! Thanks so much for commenting. So glad you enjoyed it!
Had the same issue. Sticky. I used baby oats which is finely ground. But not cooked enough per instructions. Might cook 40 minutes next time
Did you follow the directions and leave it in for the full 35 minutes? Also make sure to let it cool completely before slicing. Hope this helps!