Almond Flour Banana Bread (Gluten Free, No Sugar)

Published: Jun 15, 2024 · by Katie

This almond flour banana bread is a one-bowl banana bread recipe that turns out fluffy, moist and tender. It's completely gluten free and grain free (made with almond flour) and is only sweetened with bananas (no sugar added). The whole family will enjoy this loaf as-is or toasted and topped with anything from jam to nut butter or cream cheese.

I've always love baking with bananas, and banana bread tends to be one of my favorite baked goods. Ripe bananas provide the perfect amount of sweetness and an amazing texture - it's no wonder I have a whole bunch of banana recipes on the blog!

This particular almond flour banana bread is made with almond flour (obviously). It has a moist, tender texture and nutty banana flavor. This loaf is only sweetened with bananas - making it perfect for breakfast or snacking. My kids love a slice with homemade jam or sunflower seed butter.

Why You'll Love this Almond Flour Banana Bread

paleo friendly: made with minimally processed, whole food ingredients
gluten free & grain free: this banana bread is made with almond flour
dairy free: no butter, no milk
no added sugar: only sweetened with bananas
less than 10 ingredients
super easy to make: one bowl banana bread recipe

Piece of almond flour banana bread topped with sunflower seed butter and cinnamon.

Ingredients

This sugar free paleo banana bread is made with less than 10 ingredients. The full recipe can be found in the recipe card below, but here's a list of what you need:

ripe bananas: yellow with brown spots works best
eggs: for binding the ingredients and making the batter rise. I have not tested this recipe with an egg substitute.
avocado oil: for moisture and texture purposes
vanilla extract: gives this banana bread more flavor
blanched almond flour: since this is almond flour banana bread
tapioca starch: needed for texture purposes
cinnamon: for flavor
baking soda: makes the batter rise when baked
salt: enhances the flavors

Ingredients needed to make almond flour banana bread.

How to Make No Sugar Banana Bread

This banana bread recipe is super simple! All you need to make the batter is a mixing bowl, fork, spatula, lined loaf pan and the listed ingredients. Here are the steps:

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8" x 4" baking pan with parchment paper.

Combine the wet ingredients.

Mix in the dry ingredients.

Let the batter sit for 5 minutes to thicken.

Pour the batter into your lined loaf pan.

Place the banana bread in the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.
Remove the loaf from the oven and cool 10 minutes in the baking pan, then transfer to a wire cooling rack. Once cooled to room temperature, slice bread with a large knife.

Tope view of bread sliced on a wooden cutting board.

Tip: For best results, measure the ingredients by weight (when given). This ensures accuracy when measuring and will yield the best results. I like to use a small kitchen scale for baking.

Storage

This gluten free banana bread is best stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last well up to one week.

For longer storage, slice the bread, wrap it in parchment paper and place it in a sealed zip lock bag in the freezer. Defrost a slice or two for 20 minutes or warm in the microwave/toaster oven before enjoying.

Banana Bread Mix-Ins

Banana bread is one of those recipes with millions of various flavoring and add-in options. Some of my favorites include:

Chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans)
Seeds (sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds)
Grain Free Granola (my favorite brand)
Freeze Dried Fruit (apples, raspberries, strawberries)
Dried Fruit (raisins, chopped dates)
Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ground clove, ginger)
Dark Chocolate

Grabbing a slice from a stack of almond flour banana bread.

Bite of a slice of bread to show how soft and tender it is.

FAQ

Do you have to use ripe bananas for banana bread?

The short answer is "no". No, you don't have to use ripe bananas to make banana bread.

Green bananas are lower in sugar. They contain more resistant starch, which, as the bananas ripen turn into simple sugar. Using unripe bananas will result in a bread that isn't very sweet. But, this can easily be changed by adding sugar or sweetener to the batter. Furthermore, the bananas won't be as easy to mash. But if you're using a food processor to mix the batter, then this isn't an issue.

Ideally, you'll want to use bananas that are yellow with many brown spots. Or, at least that's my preference. Bananas that are yellow with many brown speckles are what I used in this recipe. I think they produce the optimal flavor and texture.

Lastly, using bananas that are nearly black will work as well. Many websites declare that over-ripe bananas are the best for baking. Personally, I don't like their flavor very much, as I find them too sweet.

How do you keep banana bread moist?

Paleo banana bread tends to be moist, so long as you store it in a sealed container. Any baked good will dry out left in the open air.

I recommend storing banana bread in an air-tight container, if storing in the pantry or fridge. For freezer storage, it is best to wrap banana bread in parchment or wax paper and then place in a sealed plastic bag. Defrost or heat in the microwave prior to eating.

Is this banana bread sugar free?

This healthy banana bread recipe has no sugar added to it. However, that doesn't mean that it is sugar free. It has sugar from the ripe bananas.

More Gluten Free Banana Bread Recipes

For more gluten free and paleo banana bread recipes, check out these reader favorites:

Enjoy!