Easy Vegan Banana Bread (No Egg, No Dairy)

The riper and browner the bananas, the better this works. Those black bananas sitting on your kitchen counter are perfect. No eggs needed — the banana acts as the binder. One bowl, minimal washing up.

Ingredients

• 3 very ripe bananas (the browner the better)
• 280g plain flour
• 150g caster sugar (or light brown sugar for a deeper flavour)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• Pinch of salt
• 80ml vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Optional: 50g walnuts or vegan chocolate chips

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Line a 2lb loaf tin with baking parchment or grease it well.
2. Mash the bananas in a large bowl with a fork until mostly smooth. A few lumps are fine.
3. Add the wet ingredients. Stir in the sugar, oil, and vanilla extract.
4. Add the dry ingredients. Sift in the flour, baking powder, bicarb, and salt. Fold gently until just combined — do not overmix.
5. Add extras. Fold in walnuts or chocolate chips if using.
6. Bake. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 50–60 minutes. It is done when a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean (or with just a few moist crumbs).
7. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Tips

This keeps well wrapped in cling film for 3–4 days at room temperature, or slice and freeze individual portions. Toasted slices with vegan butter (Flora Plant, Naturli, or similar) for breakfast are excellent. Check which spreads are vegan in our bread guide.

Is sugar vegan in the UK?

Yes. Unlike in the US, UK sugar is not processed with bone char. All sugar sold in UK supermarkets — white, brown, caster, icing, demerara, muscovado — is vegan. Read more about hidden ingredients.