This gluten free banana bread is made with almond meal for a rich nutty flavor.
I’m one of those people who won’t eat a banana, but I love banana bread. It’s because I don’t like the mushy consistency of bananas, but I don’t mind the taste. My Mom made banana bread often when I was a kid, and it’s one of my favorite breakfast foods. I thought that I would experiment with making a gluten free banana banana bread with almond meal. It took a couple tries, but I am really happy with the final recipe.
I should start by explaining what Almond Meal is. It’s ground with the almond skins on, so it has flecks of brown in it, and it’s slightly courser than almond flour. I used only almond flour for my first attempt at gluten free banana bread and while it was delicious, instead of rising in the center, the center was sunken, and the bread itself didn’t hold together well. So I kept testing the recipe, and I learned that I needed to use almond meal instead of almond flour.
After some research, I learned that you need to use a mix of almond meal and gluten free flour to get it to rise in the center. Problem solved. The courser texture of the almond meal held the bread together and the gluten free flour helped it rise. Gluten free flour is usually not very good, you want to use it sparingly in recipes. It’s made from a mix of flours, and the smell is less than appealing. (If you have a great gluten free flour suggestion, please share it in the comments). But! In this recipe the almond, banana, and walnut overwhelm the odd taste of the gluten free flour resulting in a delightful bread that you wouldn’t even realize was gluten free!
How to Make Gluten Free Banana Bread:
Yields 4-6
10 minPrep Time
55 minCook Time
1 hr, 5 Total Time
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Butter (at room temperature)
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
- 3 over ripe Bananas
- 2 cups Almond Meal
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1/2 cup Gluten Free Flour
- 1/4 cup Chopped Walnuts
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 350 degrees. Then in an electric mixer, cream the butter and brown sugar together. Then add the bananas and mix until smooth.
- Next add the almond meal. Once fully incorporated add the eggs and gluten free flour. Then add the walnuts, baking soda, nutmeg, salt and vanilla. Mix to incorporate.
- Pour the batter into a bread pan, and bake for 45-55 minutes. You want the bread to be golden brown, and you want a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread to come out clean.
ERIFILI TSOUKALAS
Friday 5th of November 2021
Want to try this recipe but guessing that the gluten free flour you use is plain and not self-raising since there is baking soda in the recipe. Please clarify.
Kit
Sunday 7th of November 2021
Great question! Yes, it is plain.
Swati Tushar
Tuesday 23rd of February 2016
This bread looks rich and delicious. I tried to make some banana bread before but not with the almond meal. It will make a great alternative to enriched wheat flour :).
Ahead of Thyme
Saturday 20th of February 2016
Yum, I love banana bread and love that this is gluten-free! I will have to give this recipe a try. Thanks for sharing!
Ilona K.
Friday 19th of February 2016
Definitely I want to make this. My children will love this. Pinning!
Homemade & Yummy
Friday 19th of February 2016
I have tried a few gluten free baking items...and so far have been happy with the results. This looks great and I bet it smells wonderful while it is baking.
Kit Graham
Monday 22nd of February 2016
Yeah - if you find the right mix of flours it works out well!