This gluten free carrot cake banana bread is moist, easy to make and bursting with delicious spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. It’s dairy free friendly and takes just 15 minutes to prep.
My gluten free banana bread and gluten free carrot cake are two of my favorite and most popular recipes, so I decided to combine the two with this gluten free carrot cake banana bread!
This recipe is moist, tender, so easy to make and perfect for a mid afternoon snack. I topped mine with a simple cream cheese frosting, but you can also leave it as is for a slightly healthier version.
It’s perfectly sweet, moist, fluffy from eggs and dairy free friendly. If you love this recipe, try my gluten free carrot cake muffins next!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Perfectly spiced
- Gluten free
- Dairy free friendly
- Easy to make
- Moist & tender
Key ingredients
FLOUR. A mix of gluten free all purpose flour and oat flour will help create a really moist and tender texture that feels just like a classic loaf.
SUGAR. I like to use a mix of white and brown sugar to get the best flavor and texture. However, you are welcome to use all white, all brown or even coconut sugar for a refined sugar free option.
EGGS. Two eggs will add a lot of moisture to the carrot banana bread as well as help it rise and provide structure. Super important with gluten free baking!
BUTTER. Butter will add a more rich flavor, but you can swap for oil if you prefer.
BANANA. About 3-4 large ripe bananas will add a rich banana flavor and provide natural sweetness to this laof.
CARROT. I like to freshly shred/grate the carrot because it has a better flavor, but store bought shredded carrot will work in a pinch!
SPICES. Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves create that delicious carrot cake flavor.
How to make carrot banana bread
Add the bananas to a blender and blend until smooth. You can mash them, but I prefer the texture with pureed banana. Measure out 1 1/2 cups worth.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all wet ingredients until smooth.
Whisk in the dry ingredients (aside from the carrot), making sure to spoon and level the flours, don’t scoop from the bag.
Fold in the carrot. Transfer to your prepared loaf pan and bake for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for about 20 minutes, then lift onto a wire rack to finish cooling.
Beat the room temperature cream cheese for about 30 seconds with an electric mixer. Beat in the sugar and then the vanilla until smooth. Add in a splash of milk as needed to thin.
Once the loaf has cooled completely, top with the frosting and some crushed walnuts. Slice and enjoy!
How to store
Once prepared, this gluten free carrot banana bread will keep for about 3-5 days on the counter. You can store it in the fridge for a bit longer (5-7 days) if you prefer.
I find that with any baked good that uses fruit, like bananas or apple sauce, it keeps better on the counterbut not in an air tight container.
I like to just leave it on a plate with a some foil on top, but leave a little air so it can breathe and doesn’t get mushy.
This loaf also freezes well! Let it cool completely, slice and place in a freezer safe ziplock bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Let thaw at room temp or reheat in the oven until warm through the center. Be sure to freeze without the frosting.
Can I make it dairy free or vegan?
You can definitely make this recipe dairy free! Just swap the butter for a vegan butter or oil of choice and use a non-dairy milk such as almond or soy. For the frosting, I suggest Kite Hill plain cream cheese.
Unfortunately, I don’t recommend swapping out the eggs in this recipe because they’re so important in providing structure to the bread. You run the risk of having a really gummy loaf if you omit them.
More gluten free snack recipes you’ll love!
- Oat Flour Banana Bread
- Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread
- Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins
- Gluten Free Zucchini Bread
If you want more recipes straight to your inbox, be sure tosubscribe to my email list! As always, if you make this recipe, be sure to tag me oninstagramso I can see your creation!
5 from 5 votes
Gluten Free Carrot Cake Banana Bread
by: claire cary
This gluten free carrot cake banana bread is moist, easy to make and bursting with delicious spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. It's dairy free friendly and takes just 15 minutes to prep.
/ /
Prep: 15 minutes mins
Cook: 1 hour hr
Total: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
10
Ingredients
Wet
- 1 ½ cups pureed banana about 3 large ripe bananas
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup butter melted
- 2 tablespoons milk dairy or non-dairy
- ½ cup white sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry
- 1 ½ cups gluten free all purpose baking flour
- ¾ cup oat flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup freshly grated carrot
Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon salt
US Customary – Metric
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Line a 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.
Add the bananas to a blender and blend until smooth. You can mash them, but I prefer the texture with pureed banana. Measure out 1 1/2 cups worth.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all wet ingredients until smooth.
Whisk in the dry ingredients (aside from the carrot), making sure to spoon and level the flours, don't scoop from the bag.
Fold in the carrot.
Transfer to your prepared loaf pan and bake for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let cool in the pan for about 20 minutes, then lift onto a wire rack to finish cooling.
Beat the room temperature cream cheese for about 30 seconds with an electric mixer.
Beat in the sugar and then the vanilla until smooth. Add in a splash of milk as needed to thin.
Once the loaf has cooled completely, top with the frosting and some crushed walnuts.
Slice and enjoy!
Notes
You are welcome to use all white sugar, all brown or even coconut sugar for a refined sugar free option.
Serving: 1slice / Calories: 317kcal / Carbohydrates: 59g / Protein: 6g / Fat: 7g / Saturated Fat: 2g / Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g / Monounsaturated Fat: 3g / Trans Fat: 0.003g / Cholesterol: 34mg / Sodium: 437mg / Potassium: 176mg / Fiber: 3g / Sugar: 37g / Vitamin A: 277IU / Vitamin C: 2mg / Calcium: 125mg / Iron: 1mg
Introduction
As an expert in gluten-free baking and recipe development, I have extensive knowledge and experience in creating delicious and healthy gluten-free treats. I have spent years experimenting with different flours, ingredients, and techniques to perfect my recipes. I have also studied the science behind gluten-free baking to understand how different ingredients interact and how to achieve the best results.
Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Banana Bread
The gluten-free carrot cake banana bread recipe you shared combines two popular recipes, gluten-free banana bread and gluten-free carrot cake, into one delicious treat. It is moist, easy to make, and bursting with flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. It is also dairy-free friendly, making it suitable for those with dietary restrictions.
Key Features of the Recipe
- Perfectly spiced: The combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves creates the classic carrot cake flavor that is loved by many.
- Gluten-free: The recipe uses a mix of gluten-free all-purpose flour and oat flour to achieve a moist and tender texture that is similar to traditional wheat-based bread.
- Dairy-free friendly: The recipe calls for melted butter, but you can easily swap it with oil for a dairy-free option. Additionally, non-dairy milk can be used instead of regular milk.
- Easy to make: With just 15 minutes of prep time, this recipe is quick and straightforward, making it accessible to both novice and experienced bakers.
- Moist and tender: The addition of ripe bananas and grated carrots adds moisture and natural sweetness to the bread. The eggs also contribute to the texture and structure of the loaf.
Key Ingredients
- Flour: A mixture of gluten-free all-purpose flour and oat flour is used to achieve a moist and tender texture that closely resembles a classic loaf.
- Sugar: A combination of white and brown sugar is recommended for the best flavor and texture. However, you can use all white, all brown, or even coconut sugar for a refined sugar-free option.
- Eggs: Two eggs are crucial in providing moisture, helping the bread rise, and giving it structure. These factors are especially important in gluten-free baking.
- Butter: Butter adds a rich flavor to the bread, but you can substitute it with oil if desired.
- Banana: Ripe bananas contribute a rich banana flavor and natural sweetness to the loaf.
- Carrot: Freshly grated carrot is preferred for its superior flavor, but store-bought shredded carrot can be used as a substitute.
- Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves are the key spices that give this carrot cake banana bread its delicious flavor.
Preparation and Baking
To make the carrot banana bread, start by blending or mashing the bananas until smooth. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients until smooth. Then, gradually whisk in the dry ingredients, excluding the grated carrot. Fold in the grated carrot and transfer the batter to a prepared loaf pan. Bake for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the loaf to cool before adding the cream cheese frosting and any desired toppings.
Storage and Variations
Once prepared, this gluten-free carrot banana bread can be stored on the counter for about 3-5 days. For longer storage, it can be refrigerated for 5-7 days. It is recommended to store it without an airtight container to maintain its texture. The bread can also be frozen for up to 2 months, but it is advised to freeze it without the frosting.
Dairy-Free and Vegan Options
To make this recipe dairy-free, you can substitute the butter with a vegan butter or oil of your choice. Non-dairy milk, such as almond or soy milk, can be used instead of regular milk. For the frosting, Kite Hill plain cream cheese is suggested as a dairy-free option. However, it is not recommended to omit the eggs in this recipe as they play a crucial role in providing structure to the bread.
Other Gluten-Free Snack Recipes
If you enjoyed this gluten-free carrot cake banana bread recipe, you may also be interested in trying these other gluten-free snack recipes:
- Oat Flour Banana Bread
- Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread
- Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins
- Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread
If you would like more recipes like this, consider subscribing to the email list of the recipe creator. Don't forget to share your creations on Instagram and tag the recipe creator to show off your delicious gluten-free carrot cake banana bread!
Note: The nutritional information and serving size for this recipe are provided in the original article.
