Oat Flour Banana Bread with Maple Syrup

Does the world need another banana bread recipe?  Probably not.  But I'm going to share with you anyways because my family absolutely loves this oat flour banana bread.  I mean, they love it so much that a whole loaf is basically a single serving.  

With the addition of maple syrup, it has less refined sugar than traditional banana bread and with gluten free oats added in, I don't feel so bad about letting them splurge on this treat.  Besides, banana bread is super easy to make and almost foolproof so this is a great recipe for a baker of any experience level.

I love how oat flour upgrades this simple banana bread recipe. If you want to try more of my gluten-free oat flour recipes, check out my oat flour waffles or these fluffy oat flour pancakes.

Ingredient Notes

This homemade quick bread recipe uses just a handful of wholesome ingredients that can be found in any grocery store. It is both gluten free and dairy free as written.

• Gluten-Free Flour Blend - I use Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 gluten free flour blend in my quickbread recipes.  You can use your favorite brand, but your results may vary.  If you do choose another brand ensure it contains xanthan gum or a similar binder. 
• Oat Flour - While you can buy gluten free oat flour, it's very easy to make your own oat flour at home.  You only need to add gluten free oats to a food processor or high-powered blender and process until they resemble flour.  For this recipe you will need ½ cup + 2 tablespoon (or 9 tablespoons total) of oats to make ½ cup of oat flour. If you're following a gluten free diet, make sure you use certified gluten-free oats.
• Overripe Bananas - For the best banana flavor, you want to use very ripe bananas with lots of brown spots on the peel all the way up to completely black peels.  As bananas ripen they become sweeter and have a stronger banana flavor.  If your bananas are leaking or smell fermented, then they are spoiled and need to be discarded. 
• Real Maple Syrup - I've used a combination of granulated sugar and maple syrup to get the right texture with that delicious maple flavor.  Use the highest quality maple syrup you can afford, since the flavor will really shine through.

See recipe card below for full ingredient list with measurements.

How to Make Banana Bread with Oat Flour

Homemade maple banana bread is a great recipe for a beginning baker.  It's very easy to make and doesn't require an electric mixer.  

STEP 1: Combine the gluten free flour, oat flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a large mixing bowl.

STEP 2: Crack the eggs into a second bowl and whisk them until they are frothy, like soap bubbles.

STEP 3: Add the oil, vanilla extract and maple syrup to the beaten eggs. Whisk again until smooth.

STEP 4: Add the wet ingredients
to the dry ingredients and fold together with a rubber spatula, about 10 strokes.

STEP 5: Add the mashed banana and walnuts to the batter and fold together about 5 more strokes.

STEP 6: Pour banana bread batter into your prepared pan and sprinkle the top with oats. Then bake!

Storage

Store leftover banana bread in an air tight container.  Technically banana bread does not need to be refrigerated.  However, if you like in a warmer climate like I do, you may want to stick yours in the refrigerator because the bananas can begin to ferment after a day or two at warmer temps.