(Note: this post was originally published on September 15, 2023. It has since been updated with a few tweaks.)
Made with naturally high-protein chickpea flour, this banana bread is vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, and refined sugar-free, with no protein powder or trendy add-ins required. It’s a deeply nourishing take on banana bread that actually delivers on both flavor and nutrition.
This alternative flour banana bread addresses my own frustrations about never being able to find a recipe that was the right fit. Many vegan banana bread recipes still use refined sugar and oil. Many banana breads using nourishing alternative flours then rely on eggs and refined sugar for texture. Many so-called "healthy" banana bread recipes make one or two swaps but are mediocre nutritionally. No more! This chickpea flour banana bread was designed to solve more than just one nutritional goal at a time.
I can't wait for you to try this recipe! Chickpea flour banana bread has a lovely soft, dense, moist texture and is hearty without being heavy. This is the banana bread you're going to want to make again, since you can truly feel good about enjoying it and sharing it with your family.
This recipe was a product of a lot of development and testing, so I'm excited to share with you what I learned along the way. In order to create the most nourishing banana bread possible (that's still easy and inexpensive to make), I focused on several key areas:
This was not an easy quest. If you've done any alternative baking, you'll know that it's relatively simple to make a vegan quick bread and also relatively easy to make a quick bread with nutrient-dense flours. However it's not easy to do both of those things at once, which is exactly why I had been dissatisfied with all the other recipes I could find.
Like the name implies, chickpea flour is an alternative baking flour make from chickpeas. It has just one ingredient and is naturally high in protein and fiber.
Many other alternative flours are pricey (for example, almond flour), and some require blending a few different types of flours together to get the right texture. Additionally, certain alternative flours require eggs to reach a desirable texture (for example, coconut flour), and hence don't work well in gluten-free vegan baking. Chickpea flour, on the other hand, yields a light and fluffy texture, adds satisfying protein to baked goods, and costs about $3 per 16-oz bag.
Can you taste the beans in this chickpea flour banana bread? The short answer is no- with some caveats. Most importantly, resist the temptation to taste the batter while it's raw; the chickpea flour has a bitter taste until cooked. Additionally, I've loaded this chickpea flour banana bread up with a lot of rich flavors (sweet banana, fragrant vanilla, warming cinnamon, nutty tahini), so you won't be able to detect any taste of the beans.
This healthy banana bread recipe is easy to make. You'll just mix together the wet ingredients, mix together the dry ingredients, then combine them. It takes less than 15 minutes to prepare, then you'll bake it for about an hour. Because chickpea flour won't develop gluten like wheat flour does, you don't have to worry about the banana bread becoming tough if you over-mix the ingredients.
Banana bread made with chickpea flour is naturally rich in plant-based protein. If you cut the loaf into ten slices, which are the hearty slices I've shown in these photos, then each slice has about 7 g of protein. We can thank the chickpea flour, tahini, and walnuts for that. And unlike most protein banana breads, this one doesn't rely on protein powder, which can be expensive and sometimes contains artificial sweeteners, gums, etc.
You may be surprised to learn that tahini (sesame seed paste) is especially well-suited for oil-free banana bread and other quick breads. Because it adds fat, it can be used in place of oil or butter (although not as a 1:1 substitute; make sure you're using a recipe designed for tahini). It's actually the only fat in this chickpea flour banana bread, so it helps with moisture, texture, and richness. Tahini also has a delicate nutty taste, hence tahini baked goods usually have a much more interesting and complex flavor profile than those made with oil.
Want to learn more about this fabulous, versatile ingredient? Check out my how to use tahini guide, which is packed with information about sourcing, storing, cooking with, and baking with tahini.
I have many tahini baked goods here on the blog including tahini blondies, a blueberry lemon tahini bundt cake, tahini chickpea flour muffins, and tahini blender muffins. I promise that once you start baking with tahini, and once you make this healthy oil-free banana bread in particular, you'll wonder why you ever baked with oil.
Importantly, not all tahini is created equal. The quality of tahini matters for all recipes, but especially for baking. Some tahini can be grainy, clumpy, or bitter, none of which you want in this chickpea flour banana bread. I recommend Seeds of Collaboration tahini for baking. It has a delicate, nutty flavor and is wonderfully creamy. I'm happy to be able to set you up with a discount on this liquid gold; use the code ROGUE to get 20% off.
This chickpea flour banana bread uses simple, whole-food ingredients that each play an important role in texture, flavor, and nutrition. Here's what you'll need, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.
Although it may surprise you, chickpeas and chickpea flour are wonderful ingredients in healthy treats. Chickpeas are rich in fiber and protein, so they're a very nutritious choice. They also have a nice texture, meaning they can provide structure to both baked and no-bake recipes without having to use flour. Because they have a neutral taste, chickpeas completely disappear beneath flavors like chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter, coffee, and ginger.
If you enjoy this chickpea flour banana bread and want to experiment with another similar recipe, check out these chickpea flour muffins. Chickpea flour is inexpensive and behaves similarly to wheat flour during baking, so it's an easy ingredient to work with.
If you want to use whole chickpeas, you'll love these chickpea blondies and these no-bake chickpea birthday cake bars as healthy dessert options. Or, for a simple protein treat, try these chickpea protein truffles.
I'm beyond excited to share this recipe with you. This is the banana bread that I make and enjoy in my own home on a regular basis. It's delicious and versatile, but also loaded with good-for-the-body ingredients that meet all my nutritional goals. It's the banana bread recipe I've always been looking for but have never been able to find. Can you believe that this bread is basically just chickpeas, sesame seeds, bananas, and dates?
Because this chickpea flour banana bread has good protein, some healthy fats from the tahini and walnuts, and lots of great fruit thanks to the combination of bananas and dates, it's a nourishing breakfast, snack, or dessert. In fact, I'm convinced this is just about the most nutrient-dense banana bread recipe you'll find!
How will YOU enjoy this gorgeous loaf? Will you toast it in a skillet and spread it with peanut butter? Will you pack it in your gym bag or your hiking backpack for a protein-rich snack? Will you have it for dessert, maybe with a scoop of banana nicecream on top? With ingredients this nourishing, I can't wait for you to enjoy it in all of these ways and beyond.
It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.
This chickpea flour banana bread is vegan, grain-free, gluten-free, and packed with protein. Made with bananas, dates, and tahini, it's healthy, delicious, and easy to make for any occasion.
Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.
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