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Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread

February 23, 2023
Shanika | Orchids + Sweet Tea
Make this rich, soft Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread that's incredibly moist and flavorful for your next breakfast or brunch.

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 dairy-free + vegan ingredients, entirely kid-friendly, and a gluten-free option available.

Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread on a wire cooling rack

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links via Amazon for products that I wholeheartedly love.

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! Granted, this isn't my first time making banana bread and it won't be my last, but I couldn't remember the last time I made a banana bread without a crunch topping. However, this Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread is definitely refreshing and actually is a strong contender although I'm obsessed with a good nutty topping. Haha.

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.

This banana bread is definitely one that you'll have on rotation in your house, especially when you have a few spotty (very ripe) bananas just lying around. Plus, I've turned this bread into muffins and it's BEYOND DLEISH! Really a nice switch up, especially when you have kids. 

What You’ll Love About This Banana Bread The Most?

  • Easy to make.
  • Super delish----major banana flavor.
  • A great amount of sweetness, but not too much.
  • Incredibly soft, tender, and fluffy in texture!
  • Fun baking activity for entire family.
  • Is entirely dairy-free, vegan, and has a great gluten-free option.
  • Did I mention the best thing to eat for breakfast, as a snack, or dessert? Yes!!

Tips When Baking Banana Bread

I know that many people have trouble with the amount of time needed to bake banana bread or have it fully cook through. Since the batter is pretty thick, it can be a bit tricky to ensure that the middle is fully solid and cooked through. 

However, after a bit of trial and error with many types of breads, I've found that the following tricks have be full proofed in baking my bananas breads perfectly:

  • Ensure that your batter is the "right" consistency. You want the batter to be "scoopable" which means that it's thick but also easily stirred versus really "liquidy" or super thick where it's hard to manage.
  • Midway through the baking time, poke small holes (using a toothpick or cake tester) around the tops of the bread to allow for the heat to penetrate through more easily and cook everything evenly. NOTE: I do this twice. Once halfway through the baking time and the second time in the last 10-15 minutes.
  • Place your bread at the top rack so that it browns but doesn't burn since it's in the oven for at least 1 hour.
  • Ensuring that your leaveners are fresh plays a role in the texture while your bread bakes, which also helps it to bake through more easily. 

Ingredients for Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread including bananas, vanilla extract, coconut oil, and maple syrup

How To Best Mash Bananas

When it comes to mashing bananas, you might assume that there's no best way to do it but there is! Mashed bananas are perfect and versatile for all kinds of foods like pancakes (these Healthy Banana Bread Pancakes are AMAZING), waffles (Flourless Vegan Banana Oats Waffles--YUM), muffins, breads, donuts, cinnamon rolls (These Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls are super fluffy)---you name it. Therefore, understanding how to best mash bananas is so important for the perfect texture and bake. Here are a few great ways to do so:

  • Use a fork and add your bananas to a bowl, mashing them until "puree-like" (with chunks visible).
  • Mash bananas on a cutting board which makes for an easier and faster way.
  • Use a potato masher or pastry blender to mash effectively.
  • Add bananas to a food processor and process until full broken down.

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. You can also do half all-purpose and half bread flour for a more "bread-like" texture.
  • Baking powder and baking soda. These are leaveners. Make sure that they're fresh.
  • 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. 
  • Coconut oil. I like to bake with melted coconut oil, however, you can sub with melted vegan butter, avocado oil, or olive oil.
  • Maple syrup. You can also use agave, but I love the warming flavor of maple in this banana bread. 
  • Vanilla. Adds great flavor to bread.
  • Chia seeds. I love using chia seeds from organic brands like Whole Foods or Navitas Organics. It's such a rich superfood. 
  • Spices. I love adding spices to the mix for an amplified banana flavor. You'll need cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Can I Use Another Plant-Based Milk for Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread?

Yes, you can use any dairy-free milk you like to make this vegan banana bread. Here are some easy recipes to make your own milk that’s cheaper and so easy!

Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread batter topped with banana slices and chia seeds in a bread pan

How Ripe Should Bananas be for Banana Bread?

When it comes to making banana bread, the level of ripeness of your bananas matter. I've made my banana bread with both types of bananas and to be honest, the VERY ripe bananas have made the BEST banana breads. 

Very ripe bananas make for a sweeter and more moist bread and the mashing is also a lot easier. 

Can I Use Frozen Bananas?

Absolutely! You can always use frozen bananas in your Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread, however, you'll need to thaw them out at room temperature and then drain off any excess liquid before mashing them and adding them to the mix. 

How to Know If Your Baking Powder + Baking Soda are Fresh

Baking is such a science, but more importantly because certain ingredients like your leaveners (aka baking powder + baking soda) are completely fresh so that your banana bread (and other baked goods) fully rise and bake through nicely.

Incase you weren't aware, there's an easy to double check both the baking powder and baking soda. Here's what you need:

BAKING SODA HACK:

-Add 1 teaspoon baking soda with ¼ cup vinegar or lemon juice in a bowl and if it's fresh, the mixture should "bubble/fizz". If no bubble/fizz is present, then your baking soda needs to be replaced.

BAKING POWDER: 

-Add 1 teaspoon baking powder with ¼ cup Hot tap water in a bowl and if it's fresh, the mixture should "bubble/fizz". If no bubble/fizz is present, then your baking powder needs to be replaced.

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

Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread near some forks

How to Ripen Bananas for Banana Bread

Have you ever had bananas that weren't fully ripe, but you were dying to make a banana bread? Well, I totally understand. I've definitely been there. Luckily, I've come across a few hacks to help you ripen your bananas if you're in a pinch and here's what you can do:

  • Keep the banana bunches together to avoid the ripening process from stalling. 
  • Store your bananas in a warm place like near a heater or atop your refrigerator. This helps them to ripen faster.
  • Using a paper bag, add your bananas inside and fold it over to close it. The gases from inside the bag once shut tight will ripen the bananas within 24-36 hours.

If you're looking to ripe your bananas more quickly for baking purposes then you can do one of the following:

  • Oven Method: Preheat the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit and place bananas (with peels on) unto a baking sheet and let them bake for 15-20 minutes or until skins are black. The bananas at this point should be soft and sweet.
  • Microwave Method: Poke holes into the peel bananas (all around) and microwave for 30 seconds at a time until the bananas are soft enough. 

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.

Closeup of Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread

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 flour or 1-to-1 baking flour from Bob’s Red Mill. I recommend using a GF Flour Blend (Bob’s Red Mills has a great version!) for greater ease. However, if using only GF All-purpose flour, be sure to add Xanthan Gum so that it acts as regular flour would.

Also, when making this Healthy Banana Bread gluten-free, I had success with the following adjustments:

  • Reducing the use of bananas to only 3 instead of 4.
  • Reducing Agave to ⅓ cup instead.
  • Using only 2 Tablespoons of a healthier oil like canola instead of melted vegan butter.

Everything else remains the same throughout the recipe.

How to Store and Freeze Banana Bread

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. You can freeze leftovers by wrapping the whole loaf in aluminum foil. Store it in a zip-top bag. Squeeze as much air out as you can without smooshing the bread.

My Fave Vegan Baking Recipes

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you make this Vegan Chia Seeds Maple Banana Bread, tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea!

Overhead shot of Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread

Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread 

February 23, 2023
4.74 from 30 votes
Make this rich, soft Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread that's incredibly moist and flavorful for your next breakfast or brunch.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Serves: 8 servings

Ingredients

BREAD:

  • 4 very ripe Bananas, mashed
  • 2 cups organic All-Purpose Flour (You can also use 1 cup all-purpose + 1 cup bread flour for a 'bread-like" texture)
  • ½ cup organic brown sugar
  • 2 tsps baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ cup chia seeds
  • 2 tsps ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¾ cup Almond milk, unsweetened (You can use your favorite plant-based milk!)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (You can also use lemon juice)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup melted coconut oil (See Notes!)
  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup (See Notes!)

TOPPINGS:

  • Sliced banana
  • Chia seeds, for garnish
  • Pure maple syrup, for drizzle

Instructions

TO MAKE THE VEGAN BUTTERMILK:

  • In a measuring cup or bowl, add the milk and apple cider vinegar, whisking together to combine. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it slightly thickens and "activates".

TO MAKE THE BREAD:

  • Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease it using vegan butter or coconut oil and line with parchment paper, leaving a hanging over on the sides for an easy "pull-out".
  • In a large bowl, combine the mashed bananas, coconut oil, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, chia seeds, and Almond milk-AVC mixture, whisking them together until combined.
  • Next, add in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and sea salt into the wet ingredients, stirring with a wooden spoon or spatula until just combined. NOTE: DO NOT OVER-MIX!
  • Pour/scoop the batter into the prepared loaf pan and evenly spread it out.

TOP THE BREAD:

  • Add the sliced bananas atop the bread batter, lining them side by side until the top is fully covered. Add sprinkles of chia seeds atop everything.
  • Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick or knife that is inserted in the middle comes out clean. NOTE: Midway, I like to poke VERY SMALL holes all over the bread to allow heat to penetrate through and to ensure it cooks through so that the centers aren't uncooked.
  • Once done, remove bread from oven and let it cool for 25-30 minutes before gently removing it from loaf pan to cool completely.
  • Once cooled, slice, drizzle with a bit of maple syrup (if desired), 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. You can freeze leftovers by wrapping the whole loaf in aluminum foil. Store it in a zip-top bag. Squeeze as much air out as you can without smooshing the bread.
  • SWEETENER: If you choose to opt out of maple syrup, you can always substitute with Date syrup, organic cane sugar,  or organic brown sugar as well.
  • GLUTEN-FREE OPTION: SEE RECIPE POST FOR GREATER DETAILS FOR MAKING THIS BREAD GF!
  • OIL: Instead of coconut oil, you can also use melted vegan butter, avocado oil, or olive oil, if preferred.
  • WHAT PLANT-BASED MILKS ARE GOOD FOR THIS RECIPE? You can always use your fave plant-based store-bought milk or one of the following: Almondcoconut milk, homemade oat milk, homemade cashew milk, flax milk, potato milkquinoa milk, etc.

Nutrition

Calories: 285kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 284mg | Potassium: 104mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 154mg | Iron: 2mg

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Tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea

Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread.

Script text: Xx, Shanika

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  1. Hi Shanika,
    I love your recipes, just amazing. I just wanted to give you a heads up FWIW. I'm going to make the Banana Chia seed bread and you mention using a healthier substitute like Canola oil. I would encourage you do some research on it because it's really rapeseed oil marketed as Canola because it came first out of Canada, Can-oil-a, and it not fit for human consumption, The body simply cannot metabolize it, Coconut oil is far superior and healthier

    • Hi Michael! Thanks so much for your feedback! I truly appreciate that and have since realized that it isn't the healthiest, which is why my newer recipes suggest other oils as a better option. However, I tend to give people a variety of choices and many people still use it---so you may see it as an option here or there. Thanks so much again! I hope that you enjoy my recipes. 🙂

  2. This recipe was so easy and by far the best banana bread I've had (better than the non-vegan recipes). This will become a family favourite I can tell!

    • Hi Michelle! WOW! I'm so happy that you enjoyed this banana bread! Thanks so much for giving it a try! 🙂

  3. I found your recipe today and thought I would try it. Very easy to put it together. I decide to do mini loafs, being diabetic and easy to store. They were moist and good. Thank you for sharing.

    • Hi Wendy! I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed this bread recipe and I love that you made them into mini loafs! Thanks so much for giving it a try! 🙂

  4. This recipe is excellent. My child and I enjoyed the mini muffins for breakfast every morning. I enjoyed the sweetness from the maple syrup and the moistness from the bananas. Thank you for sharing this recipe! I would love to see a breakfast, brunch, and lunch recipe book from you in the future!

    • Hi Korin! This makes me so happy to hear! I love that you made this into muffins! Such a genius idea! This recipe is definitely a staple in my house! Absolutely-----I currently have a cookbook available at retailers, incase you haven't seen it! 🙂

  5. wow, this looks so delicious and yummy seed maple banana bread. thanks for sharing this delicious recipe of bread.

    • Hi Ava! Thanks so much! Absolutely---I hope that you get a chance to try it! 🙂

  6. this bread looks so delicious and yummy. i just love this recipe. thanks for sharing this wonderful article.

  7. 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! 🙂

  8. 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 👍

  9. 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! 🙂

  10. 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! 🙂

  11. 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! 🙂

  12. 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!

  13. 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!

  14. 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!

  15. This banana bread looks so moist and delicious! It's definitely calling my name. You can never have too many banana bread recipes!

  16. 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!

  17. 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!

  18. 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!

  19. 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!

  20. 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

  21. 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!