Award-Winning Oatmeal Banana Bread (+ Vegan Substitutions)
You are going to go nuts over the flavor and texture of this brilliant Oatmeal Banana Bread. The recipe is easily adjusted to make Vegan Banana Bread, plus it’s an Award-Winning Banana Bread Recipe!
Award-Winning Banana Bread
Is there anything more comforting than warm soft banana bread?
I have made a lot of banana bread variations over the years, but this is the recipe we always come back to… Hearty Oatmeal Banana Bread.
It involves simple ingredients, no-fuss preparation, pure banana-oat flavor, and a decadent texture.
In fact, I friend of mine used this recipe in a local bake-off and won the quick-bread category of the competition. Then her sister used the same recipe, in a baking competition in another state, and also won!
Oatmeal Banana Bread for the Win
The combination of ripe bananas and oats creates a lovely tender, yet rustic, texture. The oats soak up and hold the moisture from the bananas, so the bread doesn’t dry out quickly.
The sweet earthy flavor of bananas, grains, and spices is simplistic and alluring. This is truly a recipe you will keep and reuse.
Banana Oat Bread can be served at room temperature, or warm, slathered with butter. It makes a marvelous breakfast or midday snack!
Vegan Banana Bread?
Our oatmeal bread recipe is so versatile! Although it includes animal products (like butter and eggs) the recipe is very easy to adjust for dietary needs.
For a dairy-free version, substitute nut milk and plant-based butter spread for the dairy.
For vegan banana bread, you can swap the eggs and dairy for vegan butter, nut milk, and flax eggs or a store-bought vegan egg substitute.
You can also make a gluten-free banana bread variation by swapping the wheat flour for a good gluten-free 1-to-1 baking mix.
As-is, our oat bread recipe is already nut free!
What You Need To Make This Recipe
- All-purpose flour – Or GF baking mix
- Quick oats
- Light brown sugar
- Very ripe bananas
- Unsalted butter – Or vegan butter or coconut oil
- Eggs – Or vegan egg substitute
- Milk – Or nut milk or soy milk
- Vanilla extract
- Apple pie spice – Or pumpkin pie spice blend
- Salt
- Baking powder and baking soda
How To Make Oatmeal Banana Bread From Scratch
Prep the Pan. Set out a 9X5 loaf pan. Cut a strip of parchment paper 9 inches wide. Then fold it to fit down into the bottom and long edges of the pan. Spray or grease the pan and paper.
Smash. Smash the bananas and measure out 1 ½ cups. You can do this with your hands or in a small bowl with a wooden spoon.
Mix it up. Set out a large mixing bowl. Add the flour, oats, brown sugar, apple pie spice, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix well. Then mix in the mashed banana, melted butter, eggs, and milk. Mix again until smooth. (There’s no need to separate the wet ingredients from the dry ingredients in this recipe.)
Bake! Pour or scoop the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the top with extra oats if desired. Then bake for 45-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted deep into the center comes out clean. Allow the bread to rest in the pan for 15 minutes. Then lift is out by the edges of the parchment paper.
Get the Full (Printable) Award-Winning Banana Bread Recipe + Video Below!
Is Banana Bread Healthier Than Other Bread?
Well, no, not really. Although this banana bread recipe includes “healthy” bananas and oats, it also involves a decent amount of butter, sugar, and white flour, making it more like cake than bread.
Therefore, it does have more fat, carbs, and calories than standard sandwich bread or french bread.
Think of our banana oatmeal bread as more of a decadent breakfast or snack than a health food. *wink*
How Ripe Should Bananas Be For Banana Bread?
Very. The darker and softer the bananas are, the more flavor they lend to the bread. Also, the squishy texture makes the bread ultra moist and luxurious.
Banana Oat Bread is a great way to use up the black bananas sitting on your countertop.
Can I Freeze This Banana Bread?
Absolutely! Be sure to wrap it well with plastic, then with foil. If the wrapping is tight, you can freeze the bread for 3-6 months.
What About Add-Ins?
Want to make this oatmeal bread chunkier? Consider adding…
- Chocolate Chips
- Chopped Pecan or Walnuts
- Shredded Coconut
- Dried Fruit
- Pineapple Chunks
- Coffee Granules
- Shredded Zucchini or Carrots
More Bread Recipes You Will Love
- Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread
- Sweet Irish Soda Bread
- Easy Garlic Bread
- Crock Pot Yeast Rolls
- Croatian Lepinja Bread
- Hawaiian Luau Bread
- Zucchini Parmesan Bread
- Socca Flatbread
- Focaccia Bread with Olives and Garlic
Award-Winning Oatmeal Banana Bread (+ Vegan Substitutions)
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour (or GF baking mix)
- 1 cup quick oats
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 3 very ripe bananas (1 ½ cups mashed)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons apple pie spice (or pumpkin pie spice)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Set out a 9X5 loaf pan. Cut a strip of parchment paper 9 inches wide. Then fold it to fit down into the bottom and long edges of the pan. Spray or grease the pan and paper.
- Smash the bananas and measure out 1 ½ cups.
- Set out a large mixing bowl. Add the flour, oats, brown sugar, apple pie spice, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix well. Then mix in the mashed banana, melted butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.
- Pour or scoop the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the top with extra oats if desired. Then bake for 45-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted deep into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the bread to rest in the pan for 15 minutes. Then lift is out by the edges of the parchment paper. Wait until the loaf is fully cooled to cut.
This recipe worked out great! Moist and delicious! I used a flour blend (spelt and white) and Splenda brown sugar. I will be using this recipe again!
I’ve made this bread many times now and it’s soooooo good. Like I wish I could eat it all in one sitting good. Next time I’m hoping to make it into muffins for my kiddos. For anyone reading – make this! You won’t regret it.
I doubled the recipe with no problem, however I did cut back a little bit on the pumpkin spice, I also split the brown sugar with Splenda. Recipe came out fantastic, got rave reviews from the family including my mother-in-law!
I’ve made this recipe a bunch of times. My kids love it. The only thing I added was 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. It’s my go-to banana bread recipe.
Hi- I DID make your recipe, however, I made some alterations. I write and edit recipes, and this recipe of yours peaked my interest- because, I got back in town and the bananas in the fruit bowl were going brown. I didn’t want to throw them out, so I basically combined one of my recipes for a Zucchini Bread, and your recipe for Oatmeal Banana Bread. I also used buckwheat flour in place of some of the AP flour, less sugar, also added shredded zucchini and sweet potato. It made my house smell like the holiday season- as I usually only bake then (we live in TX and it is SO hot!) Anyway- your recipe is a “winner!” I plan to serve it in the morning for my son’s birthday in place of cake with a good sea salted French butter- that I have room temp in a butter bell.
I baked this banana bread twenty minutes ago and it was the most delicious moist banana bread love it and will make it again .
Are steel cut oats okay for this recipe?
I made this recipe as instructed and it was excellent. Making it again now. Steel cut oats take a lot longer to cook, so I don’t think that they will work for this recipe. They’re also a different texture and may require more liquid. I suggest looking for a recipe specific for steel cut oats. I found a yummy bar recipe a few years ago.
Hi Rosie,
Unfortunately, no. The only way to use steel-cut oats in this recipe would be to grind them first into powder. Hope this helps!
Love you for the banana nut bread recipe thank you I will be trying the recipe soon.
Take care and God bless Sommer 🤠👍
I made this oatmeal banana bread today and it is a winner! Followed the recipe to a tea . No changes. Delicious banana flavor and kicked up by the apple pie spice. Oatmeal a texture that was delightful. Thank you for sharing this recipe. In my recipe book it will go . 👍👍
I love this recipe and come back to it each time. I sub chia eggs and occasionally coconut oil for butter and alternative mills but it tund out great each time. I do think I prefer the texture with the chia eggs though. So glad to have this recipe, the oats make it so lovely!
I made this today for my toddler. I skipped the sugar completely and he still loved it with a little margarine on top :)
fantiastic, but the texture was too crumbly. any suggestions?
Always delicious! Have made several times. Easily adaptable such as, I sub 1/4 of the sugar to coconut sugar and 1/4 cup of the flour to coconut flour and it does not affect it. I have also subbed almond milk with no issues. I am trying half buttermilk and half milk this time but it’s still in the oven so cannot comment on that. I love extra cinnamon, so I add a teaspoon along with the pumpkin pie spice (Only b/c I don’t have apple pie spice). I also use a 9×9 pan so I can store it in the same pan as baked, just add the lid. The main reason though is because if it is in a loaf, I will whack off a giant hunk and it will only last a few days! When cut in squares, I can make it last much longer and just have a square at a time. I added nuts the first time which I love, but keep forgetting to add them. Not matter what pan you use, what alterations you sub, it always turns out fabulous! Try it, it does not disappoint. Stays moist and delicious until it’s all devoured.
What can I replace for Apple Pie Spice?
Hi Dre!
You can use Pumpkin Pie Spice blend if you like, or mix your own a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
This turned out great ; ) Instead of butter i used 1/2 cup apple sauce this cut out lotsa fat and left out the eggs and used ground flax . As well as subbing 1/2 cup coconut milk based yogurt for the milk Turns out really moist cooked it for 55 min.
Amazingly good! So much better with the addition of oats!