Keto Banana Bread with Almond Flour

Keto Banana Bread is a moist, delicious, and super easy bread that is a perfect low carb snack or breakfast. Besides being gluten-free and grain-free, it’s a snack that the whole family will love. Add in some chocolate chips and you have yourself a winner!

I know I know….you’re probably like “Steph what are you talking about? You’ve already told me that bananas are a big no-no on keto.” While you are correct, there is a way around it, and it’s perfect. 

BANANA EXTRACT is going to be your new favorite extract! It gives you the taste you need when making keto banana bread but without all the carbs and sugar. Seriously if you don’t believe me, go make this sugar-free banana bread recipe right now. 

For those of you who have tried our Keto Banana Muffins then you know exactly what I’m talking about. 

Ok, but now let’s get to the “deets” about this easy low carb banana bread!

What is Banana Bread?

Banana bread is a type of cake made with mashed bananas baked in a loaf pan. Banana bread is more of a dessert or sweet bread instead of a traditional raised bread.

A lot of people typically like to spread some butter or peanut butter on their slices of banana bread butter.

What Does it Taste Like?

Keto banana bread tastes just like regular banana bread. In my opinion it even tastes like a banana cake, especially when you add in some chocolate chips.

Can You Eat Bananas on a Keto Diet?

Ok, let’s keep it super simple here…NO, bananas are not an approved fruit while eating a low carb or keto diet, or for those who are diabetics. 

Why not? Because sadly bananas are one of the highest carb fruits. To be exact just one banana has about 27 carbs. 

When push comes to shove, it’s just too high, which is the reason we used our SECRET INGREDIENT…BANANA EXTRACT. It’s really awesome guys and it doesn’t spike your blood sugar or kick you out of ketosis.

Is Banana Bread Keto-Friendly?

Depending on how you make your banana bread will determine whether or not it’s keto-friendly. 

Most banana bread recipes are made with cane sugar and wheat flour, making them super high in carbs. 

However, if you replace the cane sugar with a keto-friendly sweetener, and replace the wheat flour with almond flour and coconut then it’s a great keto-friendly option.

How Many Carbs in Keto Banana Bread?

As far as carb content in this sugar-free banana bread I’d say it’s pretty good, especially when compared to regular banana bread. Let’s compare:

• 1 Slice Keto Banana Bread has 4 NET CARBS. 
• 1 Slice of Regular Banana Bread can have as much as 35-40 NET CARBS. 

That’s quite a large difference! 

Oh and BTW….if you leave out the sugar-free chocolate chips then it drops down to 3.2 NET CARBS per slice.

What Ingredients are in Low Carb Banana Bread?

• Almond Flour – Our main ingredient for low carb banana bread. 
• Coconut Flour – We only add a little bit of coconut flour, you don’t want too much otherwise it will be way too dry. 
• Banana Extract – This is our SECRET INGREDIENT! Real banana flavor without the sugar or carbs, you won’t even know there aren’t real bananas in our keto banana bread. 
• Low Carb Sweetener – I chose to use granulated monk fruit in this keto banana bread recipe. But you can use powdered swerve, stevia or your favorite low carb sweetener. 
• Baking Powder – An essential ingredient to making baked goods rise properly. Always make sure the baking powder is fresh, it makes a huge difference. 
• Eggs – 5 eggs
• Almond Milk – Unsweetened almond milk, it helps to make the keto banana bread moist. 
• Coconut Oil – ⅓ cup melted refined coconut oil. You can use extra virgin coconut oil instead, but the flavor may change a bit. 
• Vanilla and Maple Extracts – I added maple extract for some more flavor, but you can omit it if you want. 
• Salt – Only a ½ tsp
• Cinnamon – I always add cinnamon to my banana bread or banana muffins. 
• Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips – My favorite brand is Lily’s Chocolate Chips.

Can I Use Actual Bananas in this Bread?

The number one question people have is if you can use real bananas in a low carb banana bread. Unfortunately, you shouldn’t add real bananas to this keto banana bread recipe. 

I know it’s sad but real bananas are just not a great option for low carb living. Why not? The main reason is if you are super strict on keto or a strict diabetic adding real bananas is just too much sugar and too many carbs. 

If you are not strict with your low carb diet, you could always add 1 mashed banana, but again keep in mind it’s going to raise your carb content. 

In my opinion, using banana extract is just an all around perfect option. It tastes like a real banana without adding carbs and spiking insulin levels….it’s a win-win situation.

Almond Flour vs. Coconut Flour in Keto Banana Bread

In this keto-friendly banana bread recipe, I used a combination of both almond flour and coconut flour. The base and majority is almond flour, with just a small amount of coconut flour. 

I actually used the same combo of flours in our keto banana muffin recipe as well, so I thought let’s go with the same idea for our keto banana bread. 

If you have a nut allergy, you can replace the almond flour with coconut flour. Keep in mind though that coconut flour is so much more absorbent, so you can’t replace the amount of almond flour with the exact same amount of coconut flour. 

A good rule of thumb is to substitute 1 cup of almond flour with ¼ cup of coconut flour, and be sure to add one egg for every ¼ cup of coconut flour used in addition to the eggs already called for in the recipe. 

• Substitute 1 cup of almond flour with 1/4 cup (1 ounce) of coconut flour, and add one egg for every 1/4 cup of coconut flour used in addition to the eggs called for in the original recipe.

Sweetener Options

You have options when it comes to low carb sweeteners. Here are just a few suggestions when sweetening your sugar-free banana bread. 

• Lakanto Granulated Monk Fruit – This is what I used and I really liked the way it came out. 
• Brown Sugar Substitute – My two favorites to use are Lakanto Gold and Surkin Gold. 
• Maple Syrup – To be low carb you must use a sugar-free syrup. Check out our recipe for keto maple syrup which goes perfectly in banana bread. 
• Swerve – Granulated or powdered both would work.

Butter or Coconut Oil?

I chose to use coconut oil mainly because I wanted to make a dairy-free almond flour banana bread recipe. Be sure to melt the coconut oil first or the texture won’t come out right.

I used refined coconut oil, but you can use extra virgin coconut oil instead. Something to keep in mind though is you may get more of a coconut taste.

Substitutions & Variations

Looking for some variations you can make to this gluten-free banana bread? Here are a few different ways you can do that:

Add-In Options

When it comes to add-in’s we have a few different options you can use in this sugar-free banana bread. 

• Chocolate Chips – Use sugar-free chocolate chips, I recommend Lily’s, they are probably my favorite. 
• Nuts – Chopped walnuts and pecans work great. 
• Peanut Butter – Banana bread and peanut butter go beautifully together. 
• Real Banana – This exact low carb banana bread recipe calls for banana extract making it low carb. But if you aren’t keto, or you don’t mind some extra carbs then replace the banana extract with real bananas. Again remember it will change the nutrition facts. 
• Blueberries – Fresh or frozen blueberries add some great extra flavor. 
• Extra Spices – We use cinnamon, but adding a small amount of allspice, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice would taste delicious. 
• Flaxseed – Adding in 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed will add a nutty flavor and will give extra healthy fats. 
• Collagen – Add in 1-2 scoops of powdered collagen. I prefer using the brand Vital Proteins but use your favorite one.

Can I Substitute the Eggs?

Hmmm…I have not personally tried making our almond flour banana bread without eggs. Is it possible? I don’t see why not, but keep in mind the texture may not be the same. 

If you want to give it a try, replace each egg with either 1 flax egg or chia egg.

Substituting Baking Powder for Baking Soda?

Baking powder can be replaced with baking soda but it’s not a 1-1 substitution. For 1 tsp of baking soda, you need to use 3x the amount of baking soda. 

Also, always use fresh baking powder….it makes a HUGE difference in how bread comes out.

How to Make Keto Banana Bread with Almond Flour

Let’s dive right into how to make the best keto banana bread recipe: 

STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

STEP 2: In a large mixing bowl add the almond flour, coconut flour, granulated monk fruit, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Stir together.

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STEP 3: Grab another mixing bowl and add the eggs, melted coconut oil, almond milk, banana extract, vanilla extract, and maple extract. Whisk all the wet ingredients together.

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STEP 4: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir together. Be sure to stir the ingredients together really well.

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STEP 5: Stir in the chocolate chips, or nuts if you are using either of them. Keep some of the chocolate chips or nuts aside for later.

STEP 6: Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Pour the batter into the loaf pan, and smooth out the top.

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STEP 7: Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips or nuts on top of the batter.

How Long Does it Take to Bake?

STEP 8: Bake for 20 minutes.

Then loosely cover the top of the keto banana bread with foil. This is so the top does not burn.

STEP 9: Bake for another 40 minutes or until completely cooked. To test the low carb banana bread, stick a toothpick or knife in the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean then it’s done.

Let It Cool

STEP 10: You must let the banana bread fully cool. After about 10-15 minutes pull the bread out of the pan by lifting the parchment paper. Place onto a cooling rack and let cool for at least 1-2 hours.

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STEP 11: Cut the bread into even slices, and enjoy.

FAQs & Best Tips

• Sweetener options: Lakanto granulated monk fruit, brown sugar substitute, sugar-free maple syrup, swerve, or another brand of erythritol. 
• Add-in Options: Chocolate chips, nuts, peanut butter, blueberries, flaxseed, collagen, nutmeg, and allspice. 
• I don’t recommend adding any actual bananas to the recipe. It will add too many carbs. 
• If the bread is too dry, you can add in ¼ cup of greek yogurt or sour cream. 
• Place a piece of parchment paper over the pan after 20 minutes in the oven. 
• Let the keto banana bread completely cool before cutting. If you cut it while it’s still hot, it will crumble.

How to Keep Almond Flour Banana Bread Moist?

If the almond flour banana bread comes out too dry, you can add in about ¼ cup of greek yogurt or sour cream. We use a little sour cream in our Keto Banana Muffin recipe and I found that it really helps to keep it moist.

Bread Not Rising Properly

If the gluten-free banana bread loaf did not rise properly, it’s most likely because the baking powder is not fresh. It happened to me and I couldn’t figure it out until it finally clicked. The baking powder needs to be light and fluffy.

How to Keep Low Carb Banana Bread From Collapsing After Cooking

Don’t cut the sugar-free banana bread until it’s completely cooled. Otherwise, it will fall apart and it can collapse on you.

What Does Baking Soda Do in Banana Bread?

In a lot of normal banana bread recipes, they call for both baking soda and baking powder. Baking soda works best when mixed with an acidic ingredient including bananas themselves. Typically baking soda helps to balance acidity in the batter. 

We don’t use it at all in our recipe and it’s not necessary.

Can I Make Banana Muffins from this Recipe?

Yes you can. We have a recipe for Keto Banana Muffins, which is very similar to this recipe with a few slight differences. In that recipe, we use sour cream and butter making it not dairy-free, unlike our keto banana bread which is completely dairy-free. 

You could try our other recipe, or you can make muffins with our keto banana bread recipe.

How to Serve Keto Banana Bread?

Not only are you going to love eating this easy no sugar banana bread but your friends will too, even if they aren’t on a low carb diet. 

The best ways to eat this low carb almond flour banana bread are: 

• Plain – Can’t beat the classic way. 
• Butter – Oh this is my favorite! I spread butter on top of my slice and it’s so good. 
• Nut Butter – A lot of people love to add peanut butter or almond butter to their slices. 
• Sugar-free Jam or Jelly

Making Banana Bread Ahead

Because keto banana bread takes a couple of hours to cool after being baked, it’s actually a really good idea to make it ahead of time.

How to Store

This keto banana bread recipe should be stored in the fridge. Whether it is whole or sliced, cover it with plastic wrap or place it into an air-tight container and keep it in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to 5-7 days.

Can You Freeze Keto Banana Bread?

Ummm…YES!!! Freezing keto banana bread is a fantastic idea! To be completely honest sometimes I actually will make 2 loaves of it so I can eat one and another loaf goes straight into the freezer. 

You can freeze keto-friendly banana bread 2 different ways: 

1. Cool completely. Wrap the entire loaf in plastic wrap, then again in foil. Place in the freezer for up to 6 months. 
2. Cool completely, and slice the loaf. Place the slices in Ziploc bags or in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 6 months. If you are using several slices per baggie, then place parchment paper in between the layers.

Tools to Use

• Mixing Bowls 
• Whisk 
• Parchment Paper
• Loaf Pan – This is the exact one I use
• Cooling Rack

Best Pan to Use?

A loaf pan is what I highly recommend using. I use a standard-size loaf pan which is 9”x5”. There are other sizes you could use, but the baking times may vary by a few minutes.

Other Diets This Recipe is Good For

• Gluten-Free: Most homemade banana bread recipes are made with gluten, but ours is completely gluten-free. We use almond flour and coconut flour instead. 
• Dairy-Free: I love being able to bring you guys a dairy-free keto banana bread! 
• Paleo: This isn’t quite a paleo-perfect recipe. But all you need to do is replace the erythritol with coconut sugar instead.

Other Similar Recipes

If you’re in the mood for some other Keto-friendly breads and cakes, check out our:

• Keto Banana Muffins 
• Low Carb Pumpkin Bread 
• Keto Zucchini Bread 
• Keto Blueberry Muffins 
• Keto Lemon Pound Cake 
• Keto Bread

All of them are Keto-friendly and low carb, and will have your friends raving!

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