Best Easy High Altitude Banana Bread Recipe (+ Gluten-Free Option) (2024)

The best High Altitude Banana Bread, read the reviews! A banana bread with 4 bananas that is more moist and amazingly delicious! It freezes great, too! Plus instructions to make at any altitude, gluten-free adjustments too.

Great banana bread should be easy to bake with simple ingredients, moist, subtly flavored with banana, not overly sweet, and baked to a golden brown.

Enjoy these other classic recipes: NewEngland Whoopie Pies,Copycat Crumbl Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe,Basic Fudge BrowniesorMimi’s Copycat Honey Bran Muffins.

I’ve been experimenting with high altitude recipes for several years now – I’m at 9,000 feet. Nothing has even come close to being as good as this recipe – thank you so much for sharing it. I used ½ gluten-free flour and ½ oat flour (both Bob’s red mill), and left out the chocolate chips and nuts. I baked for 45 minutes. It was by far, the best banana bread I’ve ever made and quite possibly tasted.

Gretchen

I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!

Reader Reviews

“This recipe was absolutely fantastic! I followed exactly for high altitude (6300 feet here) AND for gluten-free using the King Arthur blend of GF flour. I think it’s my best loaf ever! Thank you for such specific directions for all options.” ~ Mary

“I followed this recipe exactly as written. I am at 8,000 feet, and it was DELICIOUS and looked beautiful. My family devoured it. Thank you for sharing such agreat recipe!” ~Alison

“Made this wonderful banana bread yesterday. I live in the mountains of Colorado – our altitude is 7700 feet – and it turned out great! Baking at high altitude is a challenge and you made this easy for me! Thanks so much!” ~ Jacynthe

High Altitude Banana Bread

Right now, banana bread is trending everywhere; not fancy, boutique ingredients banana bread like myBanana Nutella BreadorMoist Banana Graham Oat Breadbut basic, simple, classic banana bread recipes.

Baking at high altitude, banana bread requires the right recipe; I will give you tips on how to bake ataltitudeorsea leveland adjustments forgluten-free banana bread.

Simple Ingredients

• FLOUR| I use organic, unbleachedall-purpose flourin my baking; for Gluten Free, use a good GF 1-to-1 flour or try half GF oat flour, halfGF AP Flour
• SPICES| Cinnamon, Salt, and Baking Soda; we won’t usebaking powderin this recipe.
• GRANULATED SUGAR| I love using organicall-natural cane sugarin my recipes, but I have also successfully used quality cup-for-cup sugar replacements, like Monk fruit.
• EGGS| I use large eggs in all my baking,room temperatureeggs are best, if you forget, place eggs in a small bowl, fill with warm (not hot) water, and let sit 5-7 minutes.
• OIL| Adds simple, healthy moisture; I love using Avocado oil orGrapeseed oilin my baking. You could also try usingmelted butter; I have never tried it, so let me know how it works.
• OVERRIPE BANANAS| This is a banana bread 4 bananas recipe, whereas most other recipes use only 2 or 3brown bananas.
• CREME FRAICHE| You may also substitutesour creamorGreek yogurt, if you prefer.
• VANILLA EXTRACT| Try making homemade vanilla or try Rodelle brandvanilla extract, which is so good!
• ADD-INS| Keep it naked, or loaded; add chopped walnuts orchocolate chips, or go crazy and add both!

Flour’s Famous Banana Bread

A few years ago, while visiting colleges in Boston for our son, I had heard so much aboutFlour‘s Famous Banana Bread.

I adore Joanne Chang’s cookbookFlourand have made several of her recipes, including her brioche (WOW!) andbrowned butter rice krispie treats(WOW-WOW!).

The beautiful bakery in the heart of downtown Boston, with all sorts of delectable pastries, and yet I went for theirFamous Banana Bread.Simple ingredients, outstanding texture, and flavor!

Chocolate Chip Banana Breadvs.Banana Nut Bread

What do you prefer? For me, there is no contest, it’sbanana NUT breadall the way or plain without nuts, but my family, they are all about thechocolatechips; you might like thisDouble Chocolate Banana Breadtoo!

I will show you how to add your own mix-ins easily.

How to Make theBest Banana Bread Recipein the World!

I know that is quite a claim, but this banana bread is truly the best…in the world, my world at least! I hope you will give it a try!

It’s easier for a recipe to come together when you collect and measure all the ingredients ahead of time.

Step 1 | Preheat the Oven and Prep Pans

Preheat oven to 350°F / 177°C (325°Fsea level, 163 °C) unless using a dark or glass pan; position the rack in the middle of the oven. Spray a 9 x 5-inchloaf panwith non-stick spray and dust with flour. Or spray, then line withparchment(at least the bottom of the pan) for easy removal. May also butter pan.

Mash bananas in a small bowl and set aside.

Many ovens run 25-50° hot or cool, know your oven. Get an oven thermometer to measure youroven temperatureproperly. This is theoven thermometerI have.

Step 2 | Prepare the Banana Bread Batter

Mix sugar and eggs in the bowl of astand mixer, beating on medium speed forabout 5 minutes, until light and fluffy (8 minutesif using natural cane sugar or ahand mixer). The goal in beating eggs and sugar is toincorporate plenty of air into the mixture for light yet textured banana bread.

While sugar and eggs are creaming, in aseparate bowladd flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a medium orlarge bowl, whisk to combine, and set aside.

If addingchocolate chipsor nuts, keep them from sinking in your banana bread by reserving 1 tablespoon of theflour mixtureabove and tossingchocolate chipsand nuts in the flour before adding.

Step 3 | Finish Banana Bread Batter

On low speed,slowlydrizzle in oil. Don’t just dump it in, but slowly drizzle while it incorporates, it should take about a minute; you don’t want to deflate the egg and sugar batter!

Addmashed bananas, creme fraiche, and vanilla, mixing on low until just combined.

Foldflour mixtureinto thewet ingredients. I use thisspatulafor folding, as it grabs more batter at a time. Make sure no flour streaks are visible.

Step 4 | Divide Batter for Mix-Ins (Optional)

Since this recipe makes 2 loaves, divide the batter evenly if you would like one plain or one withchocolate chipsand one with nuts.

I scoop half into a mediummixing bowland add nuts to one, adding thechocolate chipsto the other half of the batter. Or if you like all the same mix-ins, gently fold them into the batter before dividing them into loaf pans. Pour batter into preparedloaf panand smooth top.

Step 5 | How to Bake Banana Bread atHigher Altitudes

Bake starting at 45-50 minutes, but bake up to an hour and 15 minutes if needed or until golden brown and the center springs back when you press it. If your finger takes off the crust or sticks when you press it, it needs a bit longer. It should not be jiggly.

Allow the bread to cool on thewire rackfor at least 30 minutes, then flip the banana bread onto the rack to complete the cooling process. Remember to turn the bread back right side up to avoid getting marks from the rack on the top of your bread.

How to keepchocolate chipsfrom sinking

Toss your mix-in (chocolate chips, other chips or nuts) into about a tablespoon of yourflour mixtureand coat thechocolate chips, or nuts well. The flour coating helps the mix-in “stick” to the batter while baking, preventing thechocolate chipsor nuts from sinking to the bottom during baking. You may also use cocoa powder if baking brownies or other chocolate based desserts.

Gently fold nuts orchocolate chips(or other mix in) intoflour mixture, then foldflour mixtureinto wet batter. I use thisspatulafor folding. Ensure no flour streaks are visible and nuts/chocolate chipsshould be evenly distributed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Storage Tips

• It is very important to cool your banana bread completely before wrapping, storing, refrigerating or freezing. Store cooled banana bread in anairtight containeron the countertop 3-5 days (if it lasts that long).
• ​Refrigeratewell-wrapped banana bread loaf and place in fridge for 7-10 days.
• Freeze loaf of banana bread that has been wrapped tightly inplastic wrapthen place in a freezer baggie for up to 3-4 months. Sometimes I cut the loaf in half, wrapping separately then I have a quick little something to give to a neighbor in need or when we have abanana nut breademergency! LOL! Thaw frozen bread overnight atroom temperature.
• I also like to slice it ahead of time into ¾ – 1″ slices, wrap the slices inplastic wrap, freeze — they toss well into lunch boxes! Check out my post on CreativeLunch Box Ideasfor more “pop-in-the-lunch” snack ideas.

Recommended Tools

• Loaf Pan| A must for these delicious loaves,thisis my favorite pan, but I still have an old clay loaf plan, as well as a glass pan (remember to reduce the oven temp by 25° if using dark coated or glass pans)
• Mixer| Astand mixerworks best, but ahand mixerworks also.
• Parchment Paper| Make it easy non-stick by lining theloaf panwith a sheet ofparchment paper.
• Measuring Cups & Spoonsfordry ingredientsandLiquid Measuring Cups.

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What are the best bananas forhigh-altitude banana bread recipe

I confess that I buy extra bananas sometimes to have the “excuse” to make banana bread.

The browner the banana, the better; thebest bananasare black bananas! That means that the sugars in the banana have done a great job breaking down the flesh, making them even sweeter!

If usingfrozen bananas,be sure to defrost them on the counter first, draining the liquid that comes out before using it in your recipe. Use 4large bananasfor this banana bread recipe!

How to make high-altitude gluten-free banana bread

This is a greatGluten-Free Banana Bread recipe!

• I have had great luck swapping out regularwhite flourfor a good1-to-1 gluten-freeflour (<< my favorite) replacement.
• Coconut flour is a great gluten-free option, but it can give banana bread a strong coconut flavor. Not a bad thing if you’re a coconut lover though!
• Substituting half the flour with GF oat flour or a 50/50 mix of oat flour and gluten-free all-purpose flour is also worth trying.
• You might also try substituting half the flour withGFoat flouror a 50/50 split between oat flour and gluten-free all-purposeflour.
• My favorite combination is halfalmond flour, ¼ Gluten-Free cup for cup flour and ¼ cup oat flour.
• Bake as directed; watch on the earlier side, my experience is that you do not want to over-bake gluten-free recipes. Remove when a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.

Sugar-Free Banana Bread Recipe

Replace your sugar with a good sugar substitute, I like Monk Fruit Golden sugar as it mimics regular sugar best. You won’t get the creaming and lightness when mixing the eggs and sugar, but it still turns out great.

Variations and Substitutions

Banana bread is a versatile and delicious baked good that can be customized with various toppings, mix-ins, and substitutions. Here are some ideas:

1. Nuts: Walnuts, pecans, almonds, and hazelnuts work well in banana bread. Chopped or crushed nuts can be mixed into the batter or sprinkled on top of the bread before baking.
2. Chocolate chips:Semi-sweet or darkchocolate chipscan be added to the batter or pressed onto the top of the bread before baking for a sweet and decadent touch. Use butterscotch, white chocolate or peanut butter too!
3. Peanut butter:Add a delicious twist to traditional banana bread by swirling peanut butter into the batter or drizzling it on top before baking.
4. Fruit: Fresh or frozen berries, diced apples, or chopped peaches can be mixed into the batter to add extra flavor and texture.
5. Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger are all great spices to add to banana bread for a warm and cozy flavor.
6. Substitutions: For a healthier twist, try using whole wheat flour, melted coconut oil, orGreek yogurtinstead of some of the traditional ingredients. You can also substitute mashed sweet potato or pumpkin puree for some or all of themashed bananas.
7. Toppings: Once your banana bread is baked and cooled, you can top it with various toppings, such ascream cheesefrosting, whipped cream, or a drizzle of honey. Sliced bananas, chopped nuts, or fresh berries also make great toppings.

11 Different Ways to Eat Banana Bread

Looking for the best way to eat banana bread? Craving a healthy snack? Try any or all of these great ways to eat and enjoy banana bread!

1. Plain and simple: Enjoy a slice of banana bread on its own, for a quick and healthy snack.
2. Toasted: Toast a slice of banana bread and spread some butter or cream cheese on top for a delicious breakfast or snack.
3. With a spread: Try topping banana bread with good butter, peanut butter, Nutella, or honey for an extra sweet and flavorful treat.
4. Grilled: Cut banana bread into thick slices and grill it with a little bit of butter until it’s golden brown and crispy. Serve with vanilla ice cream for a delicious dessert.
5. French Toast: Use slices of banana bread to make French toast for a decadent and flavorful breakfast. Add a drizzle of maple syrup, and you are all set.
6. Parfait: Layer banana bread with yogurt, fresh fruit, and granola for a healthy and satisfying breakfast or snack.
7. Bread Pudding: Turn banana bread into a delicious dessert by using it to make bread pudding. Add milk, eggs, sugar, and vanilla and bake until golden brown.
8. Ice Cream Sandwich: Slice banana bread into thin pieces and use it to make ice cream sandwiches with your favorite flavor of ice cream.
9. Make a sandwich: Use slices of banana bread to make a sandwich with cream cheese, jam, or sliced fruit for a fun and tasty twist.
10. Dip it: Cut banana bread into bite-sized pieces and serve it with your favorite dipping sauce, such as caramel, chocolate, or peanut butter, for a fun and indulgent snack.
11. Toppings: Top banana bread with chocolate chips (for the chocolate lover), nuts, shredded coconut or fresh fruit for an extra flavor and texture.

Best side dishes to serve with high altitude banana bread recipes

Banana bread is of course, delicious all by itself, but if you are making a breakfast or brunch out of it, try this easy and refreshing Tropical fruit salad or this Rhubarb and Strawberry fruit salad.

Best drinks to serve with banana bread

A hot cup of tea or coffee is one of our favorites, serve banana bread in the afternoon with these delicious hot drinks.

More Easy Quickbread Recipes

• Buttermilk Rhubarb Bread with Cinnamon Streusel Topping
• You have to try this easy Banana bar with cream cheese frosting recipe.
• Healthy Moist Pumpkin Bread
• Healthy Strawberry Bread
• Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
• Banana Nutella Bread

I hope you enjoyed thishigh altitude banana bread recipe— if you did, would you share your creation onInstagram,FacebookandPinterest? And be sure to comment below!