Vegan and Gluten-Free Banana Bread with Dark Chocolate Chips

This banana bread is a delightful treat that’s vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and free of refined sugars. Made with wholesome almond and oat flours, it’s a guilt-free indulgence perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert.

Wet Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups banana purée (about 4 ripe bananas)
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/4 cup avocado oil
• 1/2 cup organic coconut sugar
• 1 flax egg (1 tbsp flax meal combined with 2 1/2 tbsp water, let sit for 5 minutes to thicken)
• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients:

• 2 cups oat flour
• 1 cup almond flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp table salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips (plus more for topping)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a standard loaf pan with parchment paper for easy removal of the banana bread.
2. Prepare the flax egg by combining the flax meal and water in a small bowl and setting it aside to thicken.
3. Puree the bananas in a blender until smooth, ensuring there are no lumps. Measure out 1 1/2 cups of the puree.
4. In a large bowl, combine the banana puree with almond milk, avocado oil, coconut sugar, flax egg, apple cider vinegar, and vanilla extract. Whisk together until well mixed.
5. Add the oat flour, almond flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon to the wet ingredients. Using a rubber spatula, mix until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
6. Gently fold in the dark chocolate chips into the batter.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. If desired, sprinkle additional chocolate chips or nuts on top for decoration.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 42-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. After baking, place the pan on a cooling rack and let the bread cool for 15 minutes. Then, remove the bread from the pan and let it cool completely on the rack for about 90 minutes.
10. Once cooled, slice the banana bread and serve.

This banana bread’s moist and fluffy texture combined with the rich flavor of dark chocolate chips makes it a versatile and satisfying option for various occasions. Enjoy a slice with your morning coffee or as a sweet treat any time of the day. It’s a delicious way to enjoy your favorite flavors while sticking to your dietary preferences.