Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread
Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread
This Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread is super moist, tasty, packed with healthy nutrients including superfoods like Chia Seeds, and 100% delicious! It takes less than 10 minutes to whip together and makes for a great healthy alternative for a little sweetness in the morning for breakfast or even for dessert after dinner. All vegan ingredients, entirely kid-friendly, and a gluten-free option available.
I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love baking any form of banana bread. My most favorite banana bread recipe has to be my Vegan Cinnamon Crunch Banana Bread, which is incredible and is topped with a crunchy pecan + walnut topping. It’s a MUST! However, this recipe definitely comes in at a strong second!
Of course, if you’re a chocolate and/or bourbon lover then I have this Vegan Chocolate Bourbon Banana Bread for you too! It’s so rich and decadent all at the same time. Such a sweet treat to treat yo’self to for sure! Yes, I had to write it how I said it. Haha.
How to Make Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread
This is a simple recipe to make. And chances are you probably already have the ingredients on hand. Here’s what you need to know about the ingredients for vegan chia seed maple banana bread.
INGREDIENT NOTES
- Bananas. You’ll want to use really ripe bananas for the densest, sweetest flavor.
- All-purpose flour. I like Bob’s Red Mill or King Arthur’s organic flour, which is certified vegan.
- Brown sugar. Again, choose organic to make sure it’s vegan.
- Almond milk. You can use any plant-based milk, including a nut-free option like oat or soy milk.
- Apple cider vinegar. My trick is to combine vegan milk with some ACV to make vegan “buttermilk.” It’s tangy and acidic, which helps the baking soda rise. You can also use white vinegar.
- Vegan butter. I like to bake with the buttery sticks from Earth Balance, they’re easy to measure.
- Maple syrup. You can also use agave, but I love the warming flavor of maple in this banana bread.
- Chia seeds. I love using chia seeds from organic brands like Whole Foods or Navitas Organics. It’s such a rich superfood.
Looking for a Healthier Sweetener Option?
The Best Healthy Sugar Alternatives + Substitutes list is all about finding better ways to enjoy your favorite sweets without compromising your healthy lifestyle. For those who follow a vegetarian and/or vegan lifestyle, this lists offers a few great ideas to incorporate healthy sweeteners into your diet.
When it comes to Banana Bread, I’ve found a new love for it. Honestly, I never use to be a fan of it, especially the traditional way that it was often made when I was growing up. However, since putting my own spin on things, I’ve realized just how delicious it can be and just how versatile it is as well.
Let’s take this Almond-Cinnamon Crunch Blueberry Banana Bread, which is a fun balance between crunch and fluffiness. Best during breakfast, as a snack, or for dessert, this banana bread uses healthier ingredients which include a blend of whole wheat + all-purpose flour, toasted almond nuts, organic blueberries, coconut oil, and non-dairy milk. Plus, it’s completely dairy-free and vegan which is a real special sweet treat for those taste-buds!
Can I Make Gluten-Free Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread?
Usually when turning my breads into gluten-free bread, I simply swap regular all-purpose flour for the gluten-free all-purpose from Bob’s Red Mill or King Arthur. It’s usually a pretty equal swap, but I always recommend slightly adjusting the liquids to ensure that it’s not too wet. I talk more about this in the recipe notes!
Also, if you’re looking for a delicious Oat Flour version of banana bread, this Oat Flour Banana Bread from The Toasted Pinenut is pretty amazing!
Why Chia Seeds Anyway?
OK, so did you know that Chia Seeds are considered a superfood? Yup. It is. For those of you who are wondering what a superfood is anyway—-whelp, it’s pretty simple. Superfoods are nutrient-rich foods that are considered to be especially beneficial to one’s health and well-being.
While there isn’t just one type of food that can fight away any one disease, etc.; having an array of good foods (including superfoods) and a well-balanced diet is the key to overall good health.
When it comes to Chia Seeds, this type of food falls under the ‘Nuts and Seeds’ category of superfoods. They are generally rich in fiber, vegetarian protein, and heart-healthy fats. Research has indicated that eating nuts and seeds helps to protect us against heart disease.
While some nuts and seeds are dense in calories, Chia Seeds have very few calories which often makes it a great option when adding it to meals and drinks.
Why I Love Using Maple Syrup or Agave as a Sweetener.
When it comes to both syrups, I often use them interchangeably, although I love to use pure maple syrup mostly. Agave is said to have a lower glycemic index, which makes it perfect for those with diabetes. On the other hand, pure Maple syrup has tons of antioxidants because it comes directly from a plant’s sap.
Health Benefits of Bananas
Believe it or not, Bananas not only taste great but they provide essential nutrients in our daily diet. In addition, Bananas hold a fair amount of fiber, several antioxidants, while just ONE banana contains about 105 calories, and contains mostly water and carbs.
Other Benefits:
- Potassium
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin C
- Magnesium
- Copper
- Manganese
- Protein
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you make this Vegan Chia Seeds Maple Banana Bread, tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea!
Ingredients
BREAD:
- 4 very ripe Bananas, mashed
- 2 cups organic All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 cup organic brown sugar
- 2 tsps baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 3/4 cup Almond milk, unsweetened (You can use your favorite plant-based milk!)
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup vegan butter, melted (See Notes!)
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup (See Notes!)
TOPPINGS:
- Sliced banana
- Pure maple syrup, for drizzle
- Chia seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a loaf pan with parchment paper and lightly grease it using vegan butter or coconut oil.
- In a bowl or measuring cup, add the milk and apple cider vinegar together, whisking until combined. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until the mixture slightly thickens.
- In a large bowl, combine the mashed bananas, melted butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and Almond milk-AVC mixture, whisking them together until well combined.
- Next, add in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sea salt into the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. NOTE: DO NOT OVER-MIX! Fold in chia seeds.
- Pour batter in the prepared loaf pan and evenly spread it out.
- Gently place the banana slices on top of batter (lightly pressing them in so they stay in place) and sprinkle the top of batter with a bit of chia seeds.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick or knife that is inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Once done, remove bread from oven and let it cool for 10-15 minutes before gently removing it from loaf pan to cool completely.
- Once cooled, slice, drizzle with maple syrup, and enjoy!
- Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
- STORAGE: Refrigerate leftover bread by tightly wrapping it in foil paper or keeping it fully covered in a cake stand—lasts up to a week. Can also be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- GLUTEN-FREE VERSION: To make this bread GF, I recommend using a GF Flour Blend (Bob’s Red Mills has a great version!). **NOTE: If the bread mixture is too ‘thin + runny’, simply add additional GF flour, 1/4 cup at a time.**
- OIL: Instead of vegan butter, you can also use vegetable oil coconut oil, if preferred.
- MILK: You can use any plant-based milk for this recipe. I love using Califia Farm’s Almond Vanilla or Oats + Roasted Almonds Milk or So Delicious Dairy-Free’s Almond Milk, however, you can use Soy, regular Almond, Macadamia, Coconut, etc.
DID YOU MAKE THIS recipe?
Tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea
Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread.
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LET US KNOW!
This looks amazing! I definitely want to try it but just wanted to confirm: if I’m not vegan can I just use regular butter instead of vegan butter? Thanks!
Hi! Absolutely! I’ve tested it with both regular butter and vegan butter! Can’t wait to hear how it turns out! 🙂
Hi! I made 2 batches of this banana bread this weekend. One I made muffins out of and the other was a bread. The muffins came out perfectly! Even my 8 year old who isn’t much into banana bread loved it! My house smelled divine while these were cooking, too. However, like one reader commented, with the bread I had the issue of my bread burning, while the inside was undercooked. I feel I need to tweak the recipe for the bread, but they were ah-mazing as muffins!! I mean THEY. ARE. GOOD! I’ve definitely saved this to my “tried and true recipes” Pinterest board because I’ll be making these again and again. Thank you!
Hi Allen! I’m so happy to hear that you ad your family enjoyed this recipe! The trick to making the bread is to “poke small holes” in the center and around the top midway through baking to ensure that it cooks thoroughly and quickly before the outside gets too dark. Also, ensure that you are baking it on the top rack of your oven if you weren’t already doing so. I do hope that the bread turns out better for you the next time around! 🙂
Shanika, I’ll definitely try that next time! I finished my last muffin today. I’ve been really enjoying them for breakfast! I split mine in half, toast them, then spread on vegan cashew butter. 🥰 Again, thank you for this recipe! I’m glad I made a double batch and will be pulling the bread out of the freezer this weekend!
I forgot to correct the auto fill, so my husband name is what posted 😅 My name is Dana 👍
Haha! No worries at all, Dana! 🙂
This turned out so moist and tasty! Made it as is no alterations. Thank you for the recipe. Going to be making it more often 🙂
Hi Amanda! I’m so glad that everything turned out great and that you enjoyed it! It’s definitely one of my faves! 🙂
I was out of chia but I did have flax meal so I subbed that. I also added half of an uneaten dark chocolate bar shaved as a bonus (since the hubs wanted chocolate in it too). Very good!!
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it as much as I did! Chocolate + Banana Bread is a killer combo for sure! 🙂
I read the recipe and I thought I should try it asap. But I have to say, that it did not come out nice, it was in the oven for an hour and the outside was getting burnt while the inside was still not done at all. Not just moist, I mean just the same way it was before getting in the oven, all mash, not baked at all! I have baked many banana breads using a different recipe but this one was such a disappointment! Sorry for the negative comment, trust me I wanted this to work, but the comments I read below were from people that want to try it, so I am thinking maybe it was not my bad baking technique after all.
Hi! I’m so sorry to hear that your Bread didn’t come out great! When making it, was your batter on the thick side or very wet?
It was as thick as other batters I have made for a banana bread, however I do think that it needed a lot more flour added, judging from the result. Next time I may change the amount of flour, because I really like the recipe.Thank you for your reply.
Ok, got it! Yes, I definitely recommend trying to add more flour if needed. Also, I tend to lightly prick the bread using a knife at the centers once it’s halfway baked to help it thoroughly bake through. Hopefully this helps! 🙂
Oh my, I am making this over the weekend. Yummy! Cheers! and Bottoms up!
Absolutely love chia seeds! Just another way to add them into my daily life, to my hubby’s chagrin lol. Can’t wait to make this banana bread, girl. Pinning!
How you got the banana slices to Carmelita perfectly is amazing! Thanks for the recipe.
I have a bunch of chia seeds to use up, and this seems like the perfect recipe to do it in! This bread looks so flavorful and amazing – I can’t wait to try it out!
I always have a stash of overripe bananas just waiting to hop into a banana bread. And I love trying new banana bread recipes, especially one that’s on the healthier side with so many chia seeds. Perfect for breakfast tomorrow!
This banana bread looks so moist and delicious! It’s definitely calling my name. You can never have too many banana bread recipes!
I love chia seeds and use it often on my yogurt, cottage cheese and protein drinks but haven’t tried it in banana bread. I can’t wait to try yours!
Never thought to add chai seeds to banana bread before – must be so yummy! I need to try this asap! Thank you for the inspiration!
Love this vegan version of banana bread. So moist and delicious.
I love to use chia seeds in recipes, I hadn’t seen them used in baked fruit bread before but it looks amazing!
Banana bread is one of my favourite things to bake, I always save a bunch of bananas and keep them for few days just so they’re nice and ripe and ready to go into banana bread. I like added chia seeds for some extra texture and nutrition too!
Hmm yum! This Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread looks super delicious! I am sure my family will love this. Got to go to my kitchen!
This sounds great! Always love a new banana bread to try!
What a beautiful loaf of bread! I love the way you’ve arranged the sliced bananas on top.
I love that you used almond milk and maple syrup in this recipe. It sounds just incredible!
I love a good banana bread and love the idea of adding chia seeds in it to make it even healthier – and for the little crunch as a well! Have to try it asap
This banana bread looks so moist and hearty at the same time! I will definitely have to try this out thanks for the lovely recipe!
This looks amazing. I need to try adding chia seeds to my banana bread.