Easy and gluten-free banana bread that is sweetened with just fruit. It’s oil-free, grain-free, refined sugar-free and nut-free (if you don’t decorate with hazelnuts like in the photo).
The basic recipe is for a rich cacao chocolate bread. If you want it sweeter then double the amount of raisins or add some liquid sweetener. I like my dark chocolate so just use half a cup of raisins. For non-dark chocolate lovers, you will want to add some more sweetness.
Overripe bananas that are almost too soft to eat are perfect for this recipe as they are super sweet, soft and fluffy. It’s the perfect recipe to use up bananas.
This base recipe is nut-free but I just love hazelnuts and chocolate so couldn’t resist sprinkling a few chopped on top. These are totally optional and can be replaced with seeds like sunflower seeds or coconut shreds if you prefer.
For only mild banana lovers you can replace the frosting with something like my chocolate avocado frosting then the banana bread will only contain two bananas. Just about any of my frostings work well on this but I wanted to use a lighter low-fat frosting as many of the others contain nuts or coconut and I know some prefer a lighter topping.
It’s best to soak your quinoa overnight, but a 15 min soak is still fine if that’s all you’ve got the time for. This helps to make the seed more digestible and able to cook in the oven. Do not boil your quinoa for this recipe – it’s cooked in the oven so you can disregard the cooking instructions on the back of the packet.
The chia only needs a few mins to soak up the water so if you soak it first while adding everything else it will be ready to add as the final ingredient. I recommend grinding the chia seeds before soaking in a small blender or coffee grinder.
The icing is a bit on the soft runny side using just a banana and cacao powder. It does set more in the fridge overnight but if you want something more solid try mixing the banana with melted chocolate. Also if you have a sweet tooth add some liquid sweetener to the icing.
Quinoa Chocolate Banana Bread
Healthy banana bread made from quinoa and sweetened just with banana. Naturally gluten free, vegan and bursting with nutrition. This healthy banana bread is low GI as all the fibre from the fruit remains and whole sprouted quinoa is used.
Ingredients
- 2 Bananas
- 1 cup / 180g Quinoa, soaked overnight
- ½ cup / 75g Raisins
- ½ cup / 50g Cocoa/Cacao powder
- ½ cup / 50g Desiccated coconut
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 3 tbsp Chia seeds, soaked in 9 tbsp water
- pinch of Salt
- 1 cup Water
TOPPING
- 2 Bananas
- 2 tbsp Cocoa/Cacao powder
- 2 tbsp Nuts or seeds like Hazelnuts or Coconut
Instructions
- Soak the quinoa for an hour or at least 10 mins, then drain and rinse.
- Soak the chia while adding everything for the banana bread into a blender then add the chia last.
- Blend smooth all the ingredient for the banana bread and pour into a greaseproof paper-lined tin.
- Bake for an hour at 190C / 375F until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
- Leave to cool and firm while you make the icing. It will firm up as it cools.
- Mash two bananas with 2 tbsp of cacao powder.
- Spread the icing on the cooled quinoa banana bread and top with chopped nuts or seed.
- Enjoy chocolate gluten free banana bread within 3 days and keep in the fridge.
Notes
Equipment: Blender, Oven, 8″ Baking dish and Greaseproof paper
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Nutrition Information
Yield
16Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 122Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 0mgSodium 38mgCarbohydrates 19gFiber 3gSugar 10gProtein 3g
I don’t see anywhere in the recipe to use the raisins and dissected coconut. Confusing.
Hello K, the raisins and desiccated coconut aren’t mentioned specifically in the recipe as I just say to “add everything for the banana bread into the blender.” I’m trying to keep the method as short and concise as possible. There’s a quick video if anything is unclear 🙂
Just made this and I love it. It’s very dark chocolate bitter like so for my husband I added honey to the icing and then he liked it. If you are used to very sweet normal cakes you will want to add some honey and dates into chocolate bread!
Looks wonderful
1 cup Quinoa….is it 1 cup of soaked Quinoa or 1 cup of Quinoa before soaked?
Hello, it’s before being soaked 🙂 all directions on my recipes are for the dry amount unless otherwise stated
Can I leave out the coconut or will it change the recipe
If will change it, but it should still work fine without it 🙂
hi, I have quinoa flour, can I use the same weight of flour instead of whole grain?
Yes you can use the same gram amount, will need to add a bit of water though. Not sure on the exact amount, check out the video to get the right consistency.
Will differently give this a try! Thank-you! Will let you know how it turns out!
Would dates instead raising work on this recipe?
Yes it sure would, I often use raisins myself
Thumb Print cookies using Medjool Dates instead of raisins worked beautifully! I like the flavor better ???? Just personal choice.
Thank you Bastian for introducing me to so many great and healthier recipes!
Great to hear! Thanks for sharing and glad you like my recipes
Is it ok to freeze it (without the icing)? It look delicious!
Hi yes it is, I don’t do it myself but others say it works well frozen
Looks delicious… Is there any way to know the calories/macros in your recipes?
Hi there, I list the calories at the top – plan to put the full macros in but need to re-do every recipe on the site for that. Thanks glad you liked it
In the book you list 1/2 tsp baking powder int the ingredient list, but not here. Here, you list 1 tsp vanilla but not in the book. Which is right?
Hi, sorry about that – always go by the site as I might have made a few mistakes in the book. The baking powder is kind of optional – I don’t think it makes much difference but the vanilla should be added. Lots of my recipes are rough ideas to add any extras to them that you like
Hii,can i use oats istead of quinoa?plse reply..i want to make this for my grandchildren.
To make with oats I would use my other recipe here – https://www.nestandglow.com/healthy-recipes/3-ingredient-raisin-banana-oat-biscuits
Can it be done with cooked quinoa?
I would say it’s better and easier to do with raw as can be sprouted and less effort. Haven’t tried it with cooked myself
If you need a thicker topping, add two small avocados. It makes it rich and creamy.
if I should be strapped for time, is ut ok to soak the quinoa in warm/hot water for less than an “overnight”? Thanks
Yes, I often just do 10-15 minutes. Overnight is probably a bit too much, I’ll update the recipe as I don’t tend to do that anymore. Especially in the summer as quinoa can rot quickly somewhere warm overnight.
Tried this and it was horrible. No idea what went wrong but followed recipe and quinoa didn’t sprout or cook. It was crunchy and went straight in bin. Was thinking I should have soaked but this says not so doubt will try again. Disappointing, was first recipe I tried too.
Hi there, sorry to hear that. You definitely do need to soak the quinoa- just 10 mins in warm water is enough. Then blend until it’s all ground up and no hard bits remain. The first step is the soaking, maybe you missed this by accident?
Hello can i use this batter to make them like pancakes ib the pan ? 🙂 thank you
What can i replace the dessicated coconut with?
How about ground buckwheat?
Can you make this recipe into muffins?
Sure, I haven’t tried it but that should work with 5 mins less baking