Easy Buckwheat Banana Bread

Name: Buckwheat Banana Bread
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal; 5 tablespoons water; 3 tablespoons tahini; 5 tablespoons warm water; 2 tablespoons maple syrup; 1 1/2 cups buckwheat flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional); 3 large ripe bananas; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice ((about 1/2 lemon)); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/3 cup nondairy milk

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A healthy gluten-free banana bread recipe made with buckwheat flour that's high in fiber and protein, and may have anti-inflammatory effects. Naturally sweet, easy to make, and good for you. Plus, this recipe is made with flaxseeds which are an excellent source of omega-3s.

A slice of buckwheat banana bread on a white plate next to a baking dish with the remaining loaf.

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This recipe is wizardry! Now you can have your cake and eat it too! This Buckwheat Banana Bread tastes like dessert but it's so good for you! Did you know buckwheat is a good source of nutrients, bioactive components, phytochemicals, and antioxidants?

This healthy gluten-free recipe was inspired by my Gluten-Free Vegan Banana Bread with blueberries, as well as these one-bowl Easy Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies on my site.

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📖 Ingredients
🍌 Substitutions
📖 How to Make Buckwheat Banana Bread
✔️ Expert Tips
🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs
🍰 Related Recipes
👩🏽‍🍳 Made This Recipe?
Buckwheat Banana Bread
💬 Comments

📖 Ingredients

Lemon, maple syrup, tahini, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, nondairy milk, buckwheat flour, flaxseed meal, and cinnamon.

Buckwheat flour: Did you know that 1 cup of buckwheat flour has 15 grams of protein, 4.8 mg of iron, and 12 grams of fiber? Plus, it's made from buckwheat groats, which is a seed, and not a grain, so it's naturally gluten-free.
Bananas naturally sweeten this banana bread and add potassium and fiber.
Cinnamon: Two main types of cinnamon are Ceylon and cassia, with the latter being more common. However, cassia contains a compound called coumarin, which can be harmful to the liver at high doses. Consuming even small amounts of cassia cinnamon, unless specifically labeled as Ceylon, may exceed safe limits, especially for children. While Ceylon cinnamon lacks this compound, studies suggest it may not offer the same blood sugar benefits as cassia. The toxic coumarin itself may have been the active blood-sugar-lowering ingredient in the cassia cinnamon. I still encourage Ceylon cinnamon consumption, given that it is a safe option and one of the cheapest common food sources of antioxidants.
Flaxseed meal: Ground flaxseed added to baked goods has been shown to keep its omega-3 health benefits.

See the recipe card for quantities.

🍌 Substitutions

Nondairy milk - Use soy, oat, almond, cashew, or your choice of milk. I prefer soy for its high protein content and creamy texture.
Flaxseed meal - use golden flaxseed meal or regular ground flaxseed.
Sweetener - Add vegan chocolate chips, extra maple syrup, or date paste to the batter if you prefer a sweeter banana bread.

For more healthy breakfasts, visit my Vegan Breakfast Recipes page.

📖 How to Make Buckwheat Banana Bread

For the full recipe with quantities, scroll down to the bottom of the post. This is an overview.

Golden flaxseed meal and water mixed in a small white bowl to make flax egg.

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 380ºF. Make the flax egg: In a small bowl, mix the flaxseed meal with water and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes.

Buckwheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon in a glass bowl.

Step 2. In a medium bowl, mix the dry ingredients. Combine the buckwheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon.

Mashed bananas in a glass bowl with a steel masher.

Step 3. In a small bowl, mix the tahini, water, and maple syrup until smooth. Transfer the bananas to a large bowl and mash until smooth.

Banana bread batter mixed with nondairy milk in a glass bowl with a wooden spatula.

Step 4. Add the lemon juice, flax eggs, tahini mixture, and vanilla to the mashed bananas. Add the mixed dry ingredients and fold to incorporate. Then add the milk.

Cake batter in a glass bowl with a wooden spatula.

Step 5. Fold to combine.

Buckwheat banana bread batter in a beige baking dish topped with granola.

Step 6. Transfer the mixture to a 9-inch baking pan or similar pan. The batter should not be more than about 2 ½-inches high. Top with granola (optional).

Buckwheat banana bread in a baking dish topped with granola.

Step 7. Bake Buckwheat Banana Bread for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the loaf.

✔️ Expert Tips

Follow this recipe as written for the best result. I guarantee your Gluten-Free Buckwheat Banana Bread will be perfectly moist and delicious if you stick to the recipe.
Do not overmix the batter. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet, and then fold in the milk.
30 minutes at 380ºF should be the perfect baking time.
For serving: Enjoy as is, or warm your slice in the microwave or oven.
For a sweeter Buckwheat Banana Bread, mix a little maple syrup or agave with some warm water and drizzle over the warm banana bread. Or add vegan chocolate chips plus more maple syrup or date paste to the batter.
Storage: Place the remaining Buckwheat Banana Bread in an airtight container and store it on the kitchen countertop for up to 3 days.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

Can you replace wheat flour with buckwheat?

It's advised to start by subbing buckwheat for 25% of the wheat flour in a non-yeasted recipe (by weight or volume). If your bake is a success, you can introduce more buckwheat next time. Classic crêpes tend to be more forgiving than other recipes because you can easily adjust the liquid.

Is buckwheat anti-inflammatory?

Buckwheat constitutes a good source of bioactive components that show anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo.

Can I use buckwheat flour instead of bread flour?

For bread, try subbing buckwheat for 15% of the wheat flour in a yeasted recipe (by weight or volume).