Applesauce Banana Bread (Oil-Free!)

Vegan and gluten-free banana bread made oil-free with strawberry apple sauce! Naturally sweetened with bananas and a hint of coconut sugar.

Yesterday I looked up from photographing banana bread to see giant balls of white drifting across the view of my deck door window.

I did a double take, taking my attention away from the loaf on my cream backdrop board to stare at snowflakes.

I guess it’s not weird, considering that it’s February and all, but it was also 43 degrees outside with zero chance of accumulation.

But it’s been an unseasonably warm here in Virginia, with more days in the mid 50’s than days in below freezing.

Sometimes it feels like we skipped the whole winter thing and went straight to a pseudo-spring situation.

I’m not really complaining, because when it comes to winter I prefer more of a highlight reel than the real real, you know?

Anyway, I’m still baking indoors like it’s winter outside to stay seasonal.

And you’re going to want more than the highlight reel on this new vegan and gluten-free banana bread I have to share.

This Applesauce Banana Bread (Oil-Free!) is packed with spotty bananas and real-fruit applesauce.

If you’ve been here a while you know I’m oil-free curious, meaning, I love creating recipes with oil-free options even though I don’t eat that way ALL THE TIME.

But I love the challenge in oil-free baking to make the recipe super moist and delicious without any added oils.

One of my favorite oil replacements in baking is to sub apple sauce for oil.

You can do this in a 1:1 ratio, using the exact measurement in applesauce as you would in oil.

The applesauce has a wonderful way of adding moisture and a touch of sweetness, reducing the oil and sugar for your recipes!

It’s so easy.

The first time I ever subbed oil for applesauce was on a boxed brownie mix.

This was years and years ago, before I did my own recipe creation or any baking at all, really.

I remember stirring thick apple purée into the brownie batter bowl while thinking, “How exactly is this going to work?”

But it worked!

And if it can work for brownies, it most definitely works to compliment your bananas in this super simple banana bread recipe!

Here’s what you need:

• flax eggs
• bananas
• coconut sugar
• Eden Foods Organic Strawberry Apple Sauce (or your favorite Eden Foods plain apple sauce or flavored apple sauce!)
• gluten-free oat flour
• almond flour
• gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats

That’s it!

Instead of hiding the applesauce in this recipe, I decided to highlight it as one of the main attractions

Eden Foods makes it easy with their organic apple sauce that comes in four delicious flavors: Organic Apple Sauce, Organic Apple Strawberry Sauce, Organic Apple Cherry Sauce, and Organic Apple Cinnamon Sauce.

I used the Organic Apple Strawberry Sauce to infuse my banana bread with a hint of strawberry.

I love Eden Foods applesauce because they have a rich fruity flavor without any added sugars or preservatives.

The only ingredients are fruit; like it should be!

The apple strawberry sauce, for example, contains 90% apples and 10% strawberries.

Pick out your favorite clean apple sauce flavor and bake in this recipe to enhance your banana bread flavor!

Most of my bread on the blog rely on nut butter to add creaminess to my baked goods.

This bread is different because it’s a bit lighter, using applesauce as a binder and thickener! 

For flour, I used a mix of gluten-free oat flour, almond flour, and gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats to create a hearty texture.

For even heartier bread, add even more rolled oats and decrease the oat flour.

Let’s talk bananas.

I used 3 large bananas in this recipe in addition to the bananas that I pressed on top for decorative purposes.

The recipe is forgiving, so anywhere from 2-3 medium to large bananas will work in the recipe!

I think we can all agree that banana bread, while delicious, isn’t always the most photogenic.

Try halving your bananas down the middle and placing them on top of the batter for an aesthetically pleasing banana accent.

My banana bread was done within 55 minutes of baking, so watch yours closely within the last 15 minutes of baking to ensure it doesn’t burn!

This Applesauce Banana Bread (Oil-Free!) is perfect for a healthy and hearty breakfast or snack.

I left mine simple and easy, but I think this banana bread would be delicious with some optional mix-ins!

Here are some ideas: crushed walnuts, dried fruit, berries, or chocolate chips.

I recommend folding in 1/2-1 cup of your desired add-ins with the batter before baking.

Try serving your applesauce banana bread with a smear of nut butter for the ultimate treat.

Enjoy!

If you make this Applesauce Banana Bread (Oil-Free!), let me know!

Be sure to leave me a comment, rating, and review so I can use your feedback to create more yums.

Give me a shout on Instagram and use #floraandvino to show me your creations.

Check out my Pinterest page to pin more recipes like this one to make later.

Want more oil-free, gluten free, and refined sugar free banana breads?

Check out my Black Sesame Butter Banana Bread and Vegan & Gluten-Free Chocolate Chunk Bread.

Do you love this post and want more? Go to my homepage and subscribe to get updates delivered right to your inbox!

XO Lauren

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This post is brought to you by Eden Foods, but all words and eats are my own. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that keep me hungry!