Oat Flour Chocolate Banana Bread

The easiest one bowl (!) oat flour chocolate banana bread features a sweet, tender-crumbed loaf that's packed with bits of bittersweet chocolate. This recipe is naturally gluten and dairy-free and totally delicious.

Oat Flour Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe

The world cannot have too many versions of banana bread and here is another worthy entry: an oat flour chocolate (chip) banana bread that literally takes about one minute to stir together. It's moist and dense, flecked with banana and chocolate, and slices are as good plain as they are topped with butter or margarine, or cream cheese. This deceptively simple loaf is one you'll make again and again.

Ingredients Needed

I've included the short ingredients list for this gluten free banana bread below (the full amounts will be in the printable recipe card lower down).

• Bananas - Use very ripe bananas for the best flavor and natural sweetness.
• Oat flour - Oat flour is a great flour in quick breads because it's sturdy and creates a lovely, fluffy crumb.
• Eggs - Most of my recipes are developed using large, so please use large eggs here for the best results!
• Brown sugar - Light or dark brown sugar is fine. Substitute coconut sugar or maple syrup to make this refined sugar-free.
• Olive oil - I use extra virgin olive oil. You could also use coconut oil.
• Baking powder - To help the bread rise perfectly.
• Cinnamon - A little ground cinnamon adds warming spice.
• Salt - I always use fine sea salt!

Why Use Oat Flour?

Oat flour is my absolute favorite gluten-free baking flour. It's naturally gluten-free (although you'll want to buy certified gluten-free oats or oat flour to be safe) and performs beautifully in baking recipes. It can often be used in a 1:1 swap by weight for all-purpose flour and is similar to whole wheat flour. Plus, you'll get a punch of whole-grain goodness in every bite. The slight nutty sweetness of oat flour works well with the natural sweetness of the bananas, making it an ideal choice for oat flour banana bread.

How to Make Oat Flour Banana Bread

Here's a quick overview of how you'll put together this easy sweet bread. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card.

• Make the batter: Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl except for the chocolate chips.
• Mix: Stir well to combine.

• Add chocolate: Fold in the chips.

• Add to pan: Grease a standard-size loaf pan and line it with parchment paper. Pour in the batter, smoothing the top. Preheat the oven to 350℉ and rest the batter while the oven heats.
• Bake: Bake the bread for 50-60 minutes, then cool in the pan on a rack for 20 minutes.

Recipe Tips & Variations

As always, my main tip is to rest the batter fully so that the oat flour hydrates before you bake the bread. This will result in the smoothest, best crumb. I love how sturdy and sliceable this loaf is, and it will benefit from a few best practices, outlined below:

• Use ripe bananas - One of the beauties of this banana bread is that it doesn't call for a lot of added sugar - just ½ cup of brown sugar sweetens the whole loaf. This is due to using ripe bananas which add natural sweetness. Use soft, brown or browning bananas for the best results.
• Oat flour substitute - Swap sorghum flour by weight for the oat flour, or use a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose baking flour of choice.
• Try other spices - Do a blend of cinnamon and ginger, just ginger, add a pinch of nutmeg, or stir in cardamom to make this oat flour banana bread even more cozy.
• Add nuts - Add nuts like chopped walnuts or pistachios for a little crunch.
• Make it refined sugar-free - Substitute coconut sugar or maple syrup for the brown sugar.
• Bake mini loaves - This loaf can also be baked as mini loaves - enjoy one now and freeze the other for another time. You will get two mini loaves out of the batter or one standard-sized loaf.
• To serve: I love slices of this loaf spread with a little softened, salted butter, dairy-free butter, margarine, or cream cheese! Peanut butter or almond butter are also some of my favorite topping options.

Proper Storage

Here's how to store your oat flour chocolate banana bread:

• Counter – Wrap the bread in plastic or foil, or place it in a sealable bag, and keep it on the counter for up to 2 days. In warmer climates, you may want to pop it directly into the fridge.
• Fridge – Place the wrapped bread in the fridge or transfer it to an airtight container and store it for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. I like to eat the bread straight from the fridge, or I'll let it come to room temperature. Either way is delicious!
• Freezer – Wrap individual slices of bread in plastic wrap, place them in a freezer-safe, sealable bag, and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge before serving.

More Banana Recipes

• Gluten Free Banana Blueberry Muffins
• Gluten Free Banana Chocolate Chip Cake
• Gluten Free Strawberry Banana Muffins
• Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting