Foolproof Banana Bread Without Baking Soda Recipe

Need a foolproof banana bread without baking soda recipe? Then this banana bread without baking soda recipe is just for you. It’s baking soda and baking powder free, egg free, dairy free, vegan and most importantly, it’s delicious! Our secret is raising flour.

Baking soda helps cakes rise, and a recipe for banana bread without baking soda often leads to a flat cake or needs baking powder. Our healthy banana bread without baking soda requires neither and uses self raising flour to achieve a light and fluffy crumb. 

Click the jump to recipe button to get right into it or stick around to read more about these topics:

Why do you need baking soda or baking powder? Let’s answer that question in the next section.

What Does Baking Soda Do To Banana Bread?

They say baking is a science meets precision. Baking soda is part of that equation. Baking soda:

1. Helps banana bread rise
2. Gives banana bread a crumbly texture by tenderizing the gluten (in the flour)
3. Actually adds a subtle flavor to your cake.

There are plenty of banana bread recipes out there. Some gluten free, some more banana cake than banana bread but most of them have leavening agents like baking soda and baking powder. 

It’s an important ingredient but it doesn’t mean an easy banana bread recipe no baking soda isn’t possible. Before we give you our foolproof banana bread without baking soda recipe, let’s answer a few banana bread baking soda FAQ in the next part.

Banana Bread Baking Soda FAQ

Here are some questions you may have about making this banana bread no baking soda recipe:

What Happens If You Forgot To Add Baking Soda?

Soda bicarbonate is baking soda and it is a type of salt that helps tenderize food or makes cakes light and fluffy. If you leave it out or forget to add baking soda, your cake won’t rise too much or come out flat. You’re safe if the recipe also calls for baking powder and you added that.

Is Baking Soda Necessary For Banana Bread?

Yes and no. As mentioned before, baking soda is an important ingredient in cakes and breads like banana bread because it serves as a leavening agent. But if you don’t have baking soda and want a banana bread recipe no baking soda, you can use baking powder or even yeast..

What Can Be Used In Place Of Baking Soda In Banana Bread?

3 baking soda substitutes you can use are:

1. Baking powder: Swap equal amounts of baking soda for baking powder
2. Self raising flour: Self raising flour is a lifesaver as it is typically a mix of flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Yeast

Baking Powder vs. Baking Soda

Bicarbonate soda (also known as baking powder ) is a type of salt or sodium bicarbonate that is a rising agent. Baking powder is made of an acidic ingredient with cornstarch and cream of tartar in it, which is also a rising agent. But they aren’t the same thing. 

Do Baking Soda And Baking Powder Do The Same Thing?

Even though they look and sound about the same, baking soda needs an acid and a liquid in order to make cakes or baked goods rise.

Whereas baking powder contains sodium bicarb and an acid; it’s a complete, all in one leavening agent that only needs a liquid and some heat for it to activate.

What Can I Use If I Don’t Have Baking Soda?

No baking soda or baking powder? Here are 2 baking soda alternatives you can try at home:

1. Self raising flour: Self raising flour is not magic flour, it’s actually got baking powder added in it to help any baked goods rise! 
2. Yeast

We know you can swap out baking powder for baking soda, but can you do it in reverse?

Can You Substitute Baking Powder With Baking Soda?

Not really, no. Baking powder is an all in on leavening agent that only needs water and a little bit of heat to activate it. If you swap out baking powder for baking soda and there isn’t anything acidic in your recipe, then your cake will remain flat.

Now that we’ve covered everything about baking soda and baking powder, it’s time to finally get baking! The next part of this post will walk you through each step of this easy banana bread without baking soda recipe.

How To Make Banana Bread Without Baking Soda Recipe

Some notes before we get started: 

• Use over ripe bananas: They’re the best for banana bread. The riper the better. Under ripe or green bananas will affect the texture of your banana bread and will not mash into a proper consistency.
• You can use frozen bananas for this recipe. Just be sure to defrost them completely.

To start making this banana bread no baking powder or baking soda, preheat the oven to 350f or 176c. Add your bananas to a bowl and mash them using a fork, mixer, or masher to your desired consistency.

Add in the brown sugar, non-dairy milk, and oil. We used almond milk and sunflower oil. Whisk everything until fully combined. Make sure the oil doesn’t separate and float to the top. 

You don’t have to sift the flour for the next step. Simply ensure the flour and salt are mixed well and add the dry mix to your wet mix. Do not overmix this batter. Switch to a spatula or large spoon and fold the flour through until you don’t see any more dry clumps of flour.

Transfer the batter into a loaf pan and bake in the oven for 40 minutes. Cover the banana bread with foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Check if the banana bread is done by sticking a toothpick through the center. It’s done if the toothpick is clean. Bake the banana bread covered for another 5-10 minutes if the banana bread is not done.

This is your everyday basic banana bread without baking soda recipe. Go right ahead to the next section if you’re looking for a way to jazz this recipe up.

7 Banana Bread Flavor Combinations

A basic banana bread recipe includes cinnamon but if you’re looking for something more exciting, try these 5 flavor combinations instead.

1. Blueberry Banana Bread: Add a cup of fresh, dried or frozen blueberries to the batter.
2. Christmas Spiced Banana Bread: To the flour, mix 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon cardamom, 1/4 teaspoon, 1/8 teaspoon cloves or 1 teaspoon allspice powder.
3. Chocolate Banana Bread: Remove 2 tablespoons of flour from the recipe and replace it with 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder.
4. Chocolate Chip Banana Bread: Follow the recipe and fold through a cup of chocolate chips in the batter.
5. Cinnamon Raisin Banana Bread: Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to the flour and fold in 1/2 a cup of raisins. 
6. Nutty Banana Bread: Add as many chopped nuts through the batter for a nutty banana bread. 
7. Top it with icing: Make icing in seconds by mixing confectioners sugar or icing sugar with a bit of water or milk. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a chocolate ganache, sweetened cream cheese or serve it with custard.

There you have it folks, the secret to banana bread without baking soda recipe is actually self raising flour. Do you have a banana bread recipe that always works for you? Or have you got any banana bread combinations that you swear by? Let us know in the comments below!

Looking for more sweet treats? Try making this Basque New York Cheesecake With Salted Caramel, Fried Vegan Coconut Jam Puffs or Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Without Brown Sugar. Check out or list of low FODMAP desserts while you’re at it.

Trying to squeeze in desserts with dietary restrictions? Check out our guide to low FODMAP baking!

Print Recipe

Banana Bread (Without Baking Soda or Baking Powder) Recipe

Snack, Dessert

By Yummyble -Aisha – Serves: 6-8

Prep Time: 5 minutes – Cooking Time: 50 minutes – Total Time: 55 minutes

Need a light and fluffy banana bread without baking soda recipe? We've got you covered with this foolproof banana bread without baking soda or baking powder recipe. It's also egg free, dairy free, and vegan!

Ingredients

• 480g ripe bananas (4 large bananas or 16.95 oz)
• 100g brown sugar (1/2 cup or 3.55 oz)
• 50ml non dairy milk of your choice *we used almond milk (1/4 cup or 1.75 oz)
• 50ml vegetable oil (1/4 cup or 1.75 oz)
• 240g self raising flour (2 cups or 8.45 oz)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Optional flavorings:
• 1 tsp cinnamon or;
• 1 cup fresh blueberries or;
• 1 cup chocolate chips or;
• Chopped nuts of your choice.

Instructions

1

Preheat the oven to 350 f or 176c.

2

Peel bananas and mash with a fork, mixer, or masher. Feel free to make this as smooth or as chunky as you'd like.

3

Whisk in the sugar, oil, and plant milk until combined.

4

Mix the salt and self raising flour (cinnamon if using) together before adding it to your wet mix of bananas, sugar, oil and milk.

5

Switch to a large spoon or spatula and fold in the flour.

6

Do not over mix the batter. This will over work the gluten and result in a gummy cake.

7

Transfer the banana bread batter into a loaf pan and bake for 40 minutes.

8

Cover the cake with foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

9

Stick a toothpick through the center. It should come out clean. If it doesn't, bake covered for another 5-10 minutes.