Easy & Healthy Banana Bread Bars {Gluten-Free} Recipe (2024)

Last Updated: By Linnie 6 Comments

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Healthy Banana Bread Bars recipe are the perfect way to welcome a morning with the soft, chewy low-sugar banana bread topped with a healthier creamy buttercream frosting.

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Easy & Healthy Banana Bread Bars {Gluten-Free} Recipe (1)

After creating Gluten-Free Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars, I knew these Healthy Banana Bread Bars were next up.

Create, Taste, Devour.

Yep, that is pretty much how long these lasted in my house. On a beautiful Saturday morning, paired with a cup of hot tea, these were gone.

It happens.

When banana bread bars are this decadent, it’s almost impossible to not eat them in the blink of an eye.

Almost done with the Thanksgiving leftovers?

No worries, I have you covered with these Healthy Banana Bread Bars. Regretting Thursday’s binge, but somehow just want to keep eating junk? Yeah, I feel you.

Say hello to your new weekend morning breakfasttttt. Or every breakfast for the rest of your life.

Helloooooo.

Easy & Healthy Banana Bread Bars {Gluten-Free} Recipe (2)

Easy & Healthy Banana Bread Bars {Gluten-Free} Recipe (3)

Eating Thanksgiving leftovers is by far my favorite.

By the way, I have decided it is totally and 100% possible to survive on pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. It is possible.

Gluten-free Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars on Saturday. Healthy Banana Bread Bars on Sunday. I think we just may have created the best weekend ever.

Did we just become best friends? Yep!

Feeling especially self-indulgent? You can make Low-Sugar Vanilla Buttercream Frosting on Saturday, pile it on these breakfast bars, and have two delicious, cozy, heaven-in-your-tummy kind of breakfasts.

Whoa, why did I not think about this to begin with? It’s official: Every weekend needs to be an oatmeal/banana bars kind of weekend.

Especially now that it is so frigid outside! Every inch of my body is begging for warm, cozy dishes to keep me warm. Not to mention, my fleece blanket has practically become attached to my body. Must keep warmth in.

Eat Banana Bread Bars.

Eat some more leftovers.

Best weekend ever.

Easy & Healthy Banana Bread Bars {Gluten-Free} Recipe (4)

Easy & Healthy Banana Bread Bars {Gluten-Free} Recipe (5)

Healthy Banana Bread Bars Recipe (Gluten-Free)

Breakfast

Gluten-free, low-sugar, vegetarian

American

Healthy Banana Bread Bars recipe are the perfect way to welcome a morning with the soft, chewy low-sugar banana bread topped with a healthier creamy buttercream frosting.

Yield: 10

Prep Time:10 min

Cook Time:20 min

Total Time:35 min

Ingredients:

  • 2 cupsoat flour
  • 1/2 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon all-spice
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 ripe bananas, smashed
  • 4-5 Tablespoons Honey (Maple syrup if vegan)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Additional Topping (if desired - highly recommended)
  • 10 Tablespoons vanilla buttercream frosting

Directions:

  • 1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • 2. Prepare bread pan by greasing the bottom and sides with olive oil or butter.
  • 3. In a medium bowl, stir together oat flour, cinnamon, all-spice and baking powder.
  • 4. Add bananas, honey, vanilla extract.
  • 5. Add mixture to bread pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes.
  • 6. If desired: Top with vanilla frosting.

Author: Linnie

Nutrition Information:

Serving size: 1 square Calories: 121 Fat: 2 g Saturated fat: 0 g Unsaturated fat: 1 g Trans fat: 0 g Carbohydrates: 25 g Sugar: 10 g Sodium: .7 mg Fiber: 3 g Protein: 3 g Cholesterol: 0 mg

Recipe, images, and text © Veggie Balance

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Easy & Healthy Banana Bread Bars {Gluten-Free} Recipe (17)Alie says

    What size pan did you bake these in? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Easy & Healthy Banana Bread Bars {Gluten-Free} Recipe (18)Lindsay says

      Hi Alie!

      So I used a bread pan which is a 9 x 5 inch pan.
      Hope this helps! Happy Baking! 🙂

      Reply

  2. Easy & Healthy Banana Bread Bars {Gluten-Free} Recipe (19)sallie posniak says

    can it be made in the microwave?

    Reply

    • Easy & Healthy Banana Bread Bars {Gluten-Free} Recipe (20)Lindsay says

      Hi Sallie! I have not tried making this recipe in the microwave. It’s baked oatmeal which tends to create a different consistency (denser) than in the microwave.

      Reply

  3. Easy & Healthy Banana Bread Bars {Gluten-Free} Recipe (21)Clare says

    Hi Lindsay, have you tried coconut flour with these instead of the oat flour? Would the quantity be the same? Thanks

    Reply

    • Easy & Healthy Banana Bread Bars {Gluten-Free} Recipe (22)Lindsay says

      Hi Clare! I personally have not tried coconut flour as I have a allergy to coconuts. From what I understand about coconut flour though, it is EXTREMELY absorbent. So I would not advise to swap just coconut flour with this recipe. If plain banana bread bars are more what you are looking for without oats involved. These other Healthy Banana Bread Breakfast Bars on the site might be what your looking for. Hope this helps, Happy Baking! 🙂

      Reply

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Easy & Healthy Banana Bread Bars {Gluten-Free} Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my gluten free banana bread so dense? ›

Gluten-free bread doesn't have the same properties as regular bread and is naturally more dense. Overmixing and improperly measuring your ingredients is often a huge factor in whether your gluten free banana bread is doughy or moist.

Why did my gluten free banana bread not rise? ›

If your gluten free bread didn't rise, here are some things to check: Was the yeast expired? Did you use the right type of yeast that the recipe called for? (Active dry yeast or Rapid-rise yeast.) What temperature was the water you proofed the yeast in?

Is banana bread healthy or unhealthy? ›

Even though some banana breads are high in sugar, fat, and overall calories, most banana breads serve as a good source of key vitamins and minerals. For example, bananas are rich in potassium and vitamin B6. Banana bread made with these fruits contains a good amount of these nutrients.

What can overripe bananas be used for? ›

38 Recipes for Ripe and Overripe Bananas
  • Banana-Stuffed Aquafaba French Toast. ...
  • Pineapple Ginger Smoothie. ...
  • Strawberry Nice Cream Sundaes. ...
  • Berry and Banana Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting. ...
  • Crispy French Toast Cups with Bananas Foster Topping. ...
  • Tricolor Nice Cream Cupcakes. ...
  • Blueberry-Banana Wraps.
May 16, 2024

What is the biggest challenge of making gluten free bread? ›

However, these alternative flours do not have the same properties as wheat flour, which can make baking gluten-free bread a challenge. One of the main challenges in making gluten-free bread is achieving the same texture and rise as traditional wheat bread.

What gluten free flour is best for bread? ›

If you'd like to turn your favorite bread recipe into a gluten free one, look no further than Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour. A great substitute for traditional bread flour, it is designed to be used in nearly every wheat flour recipe.

What is the secret to getting gluten free bread to rise? ›

Eggs are natural leaveners that help boost the rise and volume of bread. Eggs also add moisture, flavor, and protein to gluten-free bread recipes.

Does xanthan gum help gluten free bread rise? ›

Without xanthan gum in a gluten-free bread or cake recipe for instance, the dough or batter would be dry and crumbly and would not rise, despite the presence of a leavening agent.

How to keep gluten free bread from being gummy? ›

Use Psyllium Husk Powder as a binder for better Gluten Free Bread. Without gluten, bread dough lacks elasticity and the "stickiness" needed to hold together. Binders like xanthan gum, psyllium husk, guar gum and to some extent flaxmeal and chia seeds are used to perform the function of gluten.

What is the best bread for high blood pressure? ›

Whole-wheat bread.

Can dogs have bananas? ›

Yes, dogs can eat bananas. In moderation, bananas are a great low-calorie treat for dogs. They're high in potassium, vitamins, biotin, fiber, and copper. They are low in cholesterol and sodium, but because of their high sugar content, bananas should be given as a treat, not part of your dog's main diet.

Can you freeze ripe bananas for later use? ›

You can easily freeze bananas whole, sliced, or mashed, depending on how you plan to use them. You can use them directly from the freezer for recipes like smoothies or thaw them before adding them to baked goods like muffins, bread, and pancakes.

How ripe is too ripe for banana bread? ›

The best bananas for banana bread aren't yellow; they're black. Or they're at least streaked with black/brown, with just the barest hint of green at the stem. And again, the darker the better: there's no such thing as a too-ripe banana when you're making banana bread.

What makes gluten-free bread dense? ›

Traditional bread bakers would do a bulk rise of their bread dough and then a second rise in the tin. Without gluten to manage the activity of the yeast and to add structure, doing that first bulk rise may cause your loaf to be dense (more so for gf/vegan bread).

How do you make gluten-free baking less dense? ›

Gluten-free baked goods often benefit from extra liquid to hydrate the flour blends, eliminate grittiness, and achieve a less dense or dry texture. However, it's very important to drive off this extra moisture during baking, or you'll wind up with a gummy texture. The best way to do this? Longer baking times.

Why is my gluten-free bread so dense in the bread machine? ›

Dense loaf- you may need to use more liquid, gluten free dough is usually wetter than regular wheat flour dough resembling a thick brownie batter. How much liquid is enough in a recipe ultimately depends not on formulas but in observation. You may need more or less liquid than the recipe specifies.

How can I make my bread fluffier instead of dense? ›

Potato Flakes or Potato Water

Starch helps the dough by trapping the gas from the yeast in the dough and makes the bubbles stronger. This helps the bread to rise and be lighter and fluffier. If you are boiling potatoes, you can use the unsalted water in place of the water in your bread recipe to help out the yeast.

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