Gluten Free Banana Bread with Walnut Crumble (Dairy Free)

This Gluten Free Banana Bread with Walnut Crumbleis soft, moist, and packed with banana flavor, but the real star is the crunchy cinnamon walnut crumble on top. Made with ripe bananas, olive oil, applesauce, and maple syrup, this healthy gluten free banana bread is naturally dairy free and refined sugar free without sacrificing that classic cozy banana bread flavor.

I've baked a lot of banana bread over the years. During COVID quarantine, I made a loaf almost every week, so I feel pretty qualified to call myself a banana bread expert. And as the self-proclaimed crumble queen, I obviously had to make a banana bread with a crumble topping.  I've made plenty of versions, but this remains my favorite banana bread recipe because the soft banana bread paired with the crunchy, cinnamon-spiced walnut topping is just ridiculously good.

Why You'll Love This Gluten Free Banana Bread with Walnut Crumble

• Gluten and dairy free: this walnut crumble banana bread recipe is gluten free, dairy free, corn free, and soy free making it a great option for people with multiple dietary restrictions.
• Refined sugar free: ripe bananas and maple syrup provide plenty of sweetness without refined sugar. We mostly rely on the natural sweetness of the bananas so this loaf isn't overly sweet.
• Soft and moist: ripe bananas, olive oil, and applesauce help create a tender, moist crumb without needing dairy or extra fat.
• Crunchy walnut crumble: the walnut streusel topping adds texture and upgrades classic banana bread into something much more special.
• Easy quick bread recipe: this banana crumble bread requires no complicated techniques or equipment. Just mix the simple ingredients for the batter, make the crumble, and bake.

Ingredients for Gluten Free Banana Bread with Walnut Crumble

• Bananas: you'll need 3 large, very ripe bananas with plenty of brown or black spots. The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your banana bread will be.
• Eggs: 2 large eggs.
• Olive oil: keeps the banana bread moist and gives it a light, tender texture. Use a mild-tasting olive oil if you don't want its flavor to come through.
• Applesauce: adds moisture while allowing you to use less oil, helping create a soft, tender crumb without making the loaf greasy.
• Maple syrup: a refined sugar free sweetener that complements the bananas and walnuts perfectly. Be sure to use pure maple syrup and not pancake syrup.
• Gluten free flour: be sure to use a 1:1 gluten free all purpose flour blend with xanthan gum for best results.
• Tigernut flour or almond flour: adds a subtle natural sweetness and works with the gluten-free flour to create a tender texture. Almond flour can be used instead as a 1:1 substitute.
• Walnuts: chopped walnuts are used in the crumble topping for just the right amount of crunch!
• Coconut oil or butter: this holds the crumbly streusel topping together.
• Baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, vanilla extract: opt for a corn and aluminum free baking powder like the one I have linked and don't forget the cinnamon for the perfect cinnamon crumb topping!

How to Make Gluten Free Banana Bread with Walnut Crumble

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper.
2. Whisk together the dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
3. Mash bananas in a large bowl. Add the eggs, oil, maple syrup, applesauce, and vanilla and beat on medium speed with a hand mixer or stand mixer until combined.
4. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix on low until just combined. Don't over mix. 
5. Pour the banana bread batter into the lined loaf pan and set aside while you make the topping.
6. Combine all walnut topping ingredients together in a small bowl. The result should be a slightly sticky streusel that holds together when pinched.
7. Crumble the walnut streusel evenly over the top of the batter. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until the top of the banana bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out with a few crumbs on it.
8. Let the whole loaf cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before removing to a wire rack to finish cooling.
9. Cool completely, preferably overnight, before slicing.

Substitutions and Variations

• Olive oil: you can try using melted coconut oil or (dairy free) butter. Keep in mind that the loaf may end up being  denser.
• Applesauce: you can also use dairy free yogurt.
• Maple syrup: stick to a liquid sweetener like the maple syrup or agave syrup. I have not tested honey and don't suggest it for this recipe.
• Flours: you can use almond flour in place of the tigernut flour.
• Walnuts: pecans would also taste delicious for the crumb topping. If you want a nut free alternative, try my Gluten Free Coffee Cake Banana Bread recipe.
• Variations: add chocolate chips or extra walnuts to the batter itself. Make a cinnamon swirl banana bread base by swirling a couple tablespoons of cinnamon sugar throughout before adding the walnut crumble.

How to Make the Best Gluten Free Banana Bread with Walnut Crumble

• Mash bananas well. For any banana bread recipe, you want to make sure to use well mashed bananas. This helps distribute the banana flavor throughout the batter (and bite!), so you don't just end up with clumps of banana in only certain parts of the finished product.
• Measure flour correctly. Gluten-free baking can sometimes be a miss, leaving your baked goods dry or rubbery. This is often because the flour wasn't measured properly. The best way to measure flour when using measuring cups is to scoop it into your measuring cup with a spoon then level it off. This ensures it's not packed and you don't end up with too much flour, resulting in dry baked goods.
• Don't over mix the batter! Over mixing, especially with gluten free baking, can result in a dense and gummy texture. You want to mix the flour into the wet ingredients until it's just combined.
• Make sure the crumble sticks.​ When adding the walnut crumble, evenly distribute it over the top of the loaf then gently press it into the top of the batter so that it sticks during baking.
• Don't over bake. Gluten free baked goods dry out quickly, so you don't want to over bake this banana bread crumble. You want a tooth pick inserted in the center of the loaf to come out with a few crumbs on it and the top to spring back when pressed gently.
• Let the banana bread sit. I know it's hard to wait, but if you can let the banana bread cool completely before slicing (overnight is even better) the texture becomes more cohesive and the banana and cinnamon flavors have time to develop. 

How to Serve and Store This Gluten-Free Banana Bread

This bread tastes amazing warmed up, so warm slightly in the oven or microwave then top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you're feeling frisky! Alternatively, it pairs great with a morning cup of coffee or afternoon tea.

You can store this walnut crumble banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days or pop it in the fridge for up to 5. This bread also freezes nicely. Just wrap individual slices with plastic wrap. Place in a freezer safe bag for up to 3 months.

How to ripen bananas quickly

If you're craving this delicious banana bread recipe ASAP, but your bananas aren't quite ripe yet then pop them in a brown paper bag with an apple. This concentrates the ethylene gas given off by fruit which is what triggers the ripening process. This will take 1-2 days, so if you want to bake now you can soften underripe bananas in the oven or microwave. 

These methods won't develop quite the same flavor as naturally overripe bananas, but they're useful in a pinch. Bake unpeeled bananas at 325F for 10-20 minutes until soft. Another option is to poke holes in the skin then pop them in the microwave on a microwave safe plate at 30 second intervals.

FAQ

More Gluten Free Banana Recipes

Fun twists on classic banana bread:

For grain free options, try my Paleo Banana Bread (Nut Free) or Paleo Banana Chocolate Chips Bars

Gluten Free Banana Bread Coffee Cake

Gluten Free Fudgy Chocolate Banana Bread.

Muffin variations

Gluten Free Chocolate Walnut Banana Muffins

Gluten Free Banana Pudding Muffins

If you try this recipe, please leave a rating and review. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to comment below!