This low carb and keto banana bread is truly incredible (at 2g net carbs a slice!)!! Totally flavorful and moist, you’ll surely be hard-pressed to notice the actual lack of bananas.
The Incredible Keto Banana Bread
Completely Sugar-Free & Banana-less!
Just like our ‘apple’ muffins (and pie!), this keto banana bread is bound to fool everyone! Super moist and bursting with an incredible banana flavor, its dense yet cakey texture is truly spot on.
So whip it up as a loaf or make as muffins (and of course, cupcakes!). Make solo or add pecans, walnuts or chocolate chunks(!!). I’m thinking a pat of butter and drizzle of our keto salted caramel will go nicely too ;)!
Honestly, truly incredible at just 2g net carbs a slice!
The Banana Extract
A high quality banana extract is an absolute must! Out of the handful I’ve tried, the Pure Banana extract from Olive Nation is the one I’ve liked best (not sponsored!).
It simply tastes like ripe bananas (ideal!) and is completely sugar-free and nil carbs (super ideal!). But if you’ve tried other good ones, be sure to drop them in the comments (always love your recs!)
The Sweetener
You’ve got good options here! Allulose is my favorite for best texture and no aftertaste now (you do need to add 30% more though), Lakanto Golden (baked goods with erythritol can have a slight hard texture, still not big deal here though), xylitol (non-corn though to avoid tummy troubles!).
Pyure (an erythritol and stevia blend) is also a good one for muffins and quick breads, particularly if you’re trying to limit your sugar alcohol consumption (it’s added stevia makes it twice as sweet as sugar… i.e. you add half!).
Oh, and if not restricted by sugars, simply sub 1-to-1 with coconut or regular sugar.
Also note that adding a teaspoon of blackstrap molasses adds that brown sugar kick (i.e. a tonne of umami and improves browning!). Keep in mind that blackstrap molasses is considered a low glycemic sugar. One teaspoon (7g) adds 5g net carbs, so just 0.4g net carbs a slice (i.e. half the sugar of a strawberry!). But carbs aside, it’s also known to be a nutritional powerhouse rich in vital vitamins and minerals; such as iron, calcium, magnesium, vitamin B6, and selenium.
Fun fact: Molasses contain high amounts of chromium, which has been studied to increase glucose tolerance levels.
But if it’s still not your thing, just leave it out or do a brown sugar sub (such as Lakanto Golden!)!
And if using xylitol, make sure to be careful if you have a pup (or kitty!) around the house, as it’s highly toxic to the little guys! 
The Flours
I like a mixture of super fine almond flour, psyllium husk, coconut flour and golden flaxseed meal best. (Click through for the exact brands I use).
Just keep in mind that for best texture and rise, you’ll always want to regrind your flaxseed meal in a dry blender or bullet. And be sure you’re either using either very finely ground psyllium powder or to regrind your husks!
The Incredible Keto Banana Bread
This low carb and keto banana bread is truly incredible (at 2g net carbs a slice!)!! Totally flavorful and moist, you'll surely be hard-pressed to notice the actual lack of bananas.
Oh, and if baking with cups rather than grams is your thing, just click on US Cups for an instant conversion.
Ingredients
- 114 g grass-fed unsalted butter
- 128 g almond flour
- 46 g golden flaxseed meal finely ground*
- 18 g psyllium husk finely ground*
- 14 g coconut flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 eggs
- 2/3-1 cup golden erythritol allulose, xylitol or coconut sugar, to taste (I use 3/4 cup)**
- 1 teaspoon blackstrap molasses totally optional!
- 2-3 teaspoons banana extract I use 3 tsp***
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 90 g full fat Greek-style yogurt or sour cream
- 2/3-1 cup roughy chopped pecans or walnuts optional
Instructions
Heat up the butter in a small saucepan over medium/low heat. Continue to simmer the butter, stirring once in a while, until fully browned (about 4-6 minutes). Set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the rest. Note: browning the butter is totally optional, but it does add a tonne of flavor so it comes highly suggested!
Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Line (or grease and flour with coconut flour) a 8.5x4.5" or 5x9" loaf pan. I used the smaller size, but the larger one will work just as well (just expect a shorter bread!).
Whisk together in a medium bowl almond flour, golden flaxseed meal, psyllium husk, coconut flour, baking powder, xanthan gum and salt. Set aside.
Add eggs, sweetener and molasses (optional) to a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 3-5 minutes until airy and lighter in color. With the mixer on, add in the banana and vanilla extracts, apple cider vinegar and browned butter.
Add in the dry flour mixture in two parts, alternating with the yogurt. Mix for 2 to 3 minutes until fully incorporated and elastic, the batter will thicken as you mix (think cookie dough!). Fold in the nuts (optional).
Distribute batter evenly into pan, smoothing out the top with a wet spatula. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, until deep golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Check in on the bread after minute 15, and cover with aluminum foil as soon as it begins to turn golden (about minute 20 for me). Alternatively, feel free to make 12 muffins out of a batch (bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean).
Allow to cool for 15 minutes in the pan before removing, and cool completely in a rack before glazing or cutting. Keep in mind that your banana bread will continue to cook while it cools, so don't slice it before!
Recipe Notes
*For best texture and rise, always regrind your psyllium husk (or powder) and flax meal in a dry blender or bullet.
**The perception of sweetness changes for all of us while on a keto diet, which is why I always like to give you a range for the sweetener (i.e. so you can adjust it to your new taste buds!). The higher amount will give you equivalent sweetness of traditional baked goods, while the lower the least amount of sweetener you can get away with (at least imo!).
***A high quality banana extract is an absolute must! Out of the handful I’ve tried, the Pure Banana extract from Olive Nation is the one I’ve liked best (not sponsored!). It simply tastes like ripe bananas (ideal!) and is completely sugar-free and nil carbs (super ideal!). Also note that you can add it to taste: with 2 tsp giving you a mild banana flavor and 3 tsp a more intense one (my pick!).
Please note that nutrition facts were estimated per slice, assuming a yield of 12 (2g net carbs!).
This has become my Master Muffin recipe! I love it’s original incarnation of banana bread but have used the base recipe (minus the banana extract and walnuts) to make almond poppyseed muffins (1/2 tsp almond extract, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 1 or 2 T poppyseeds, 1/2 cup sliced almonds): blueberry muffins (1 tsp vanilla, 3/4 cup blueberries), strawberry muffins (1 tsp vanilla, 3/4 cup sliced strawberries), lemon poppyseed muffins (1 tsp lemon extract, 1 or 2 T poppyseeds), chocolate chip muffins (1tsp vanilla, 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar free chocolate chips), and plain sweet muffins (1 tsp vanilla). Every incarnation of these muffins has been amazing! In the banana nut muffins and chocolate chip muffins I use 3/4 cup Lakanto golden, in all the others I use 3/4 cup Lakanto classic. Also works well with 1 cup allulose, but that can get expensive so I save my allulose for your brownie recipe. 😍 Even the nonKeto eaters in my family love these muffins. Best low carb muffin recipe there is! Thanks so much, Paola! So happy you are doing well in your recovery and have ditched your “wheels”. 👍🏻😊
Thank you Cat, so grateful to be getting back to full mobility!! And thanks for reporting back with your twists, I never fail to learn so much from you guys 🙂
Anyone have a conversion of all the grams in recipe Into cups
Never mind..found it…duh
Hi i would love to mal a this banana bread but impossible really allergic To flax seed
What would you use to substitute it to the recipe??
Please help me i would love to fond something To be able to make bread of all Kind
Best regards
Rene! Psyllium husk is a good sub, but its not perfect- your bread will likely come out a tad bit denser. xo!
To me, this is a very important question!
Do you like all the Olivenation extracts you have tried…over and above the banana flavour? Which have you tried? Do you regard Olivenation products as real quality?
This is important to me, a couple of months ago, I bought their GLUTEN FREE Za’atar Lebanese Spice blend. (Suddenly all the major brands sold on Canada suddenly include gluten) so, when I found gluten free Olivenation brand, i was over joyed and I hurried up to purchase it. What a disappointment, the product is of such poor quality that I slammed it in my review on Amazon Canada. I recommended that reps actually travel to Dearborn, Michigan to taste what real za’atar is. I also openly disclosed that based on a simple spice blend being so wrong…. I openly doubted the quality of the handful of baking extracts that I had my eye on to buy. But, alas, once bitten, badly bitten, once shy! I do not want to pay this company any more money for expensive garbage products.
Please, advise.
Please clarify!
Za’atar is a tangy blend of thyme, sumac for lemon zing, and sesame seeds. It is combined one to one with extra virgin olive oil, spread on pizza dough, now gluten free Keto dough…and baked until golden. It is a pizza pie of just spice and olive oil. I grew up eating this due to the fact my mother has the pleasure of growing up in the Middle East.
Regards,
Gladys O’Brien,
Toronto, Ontario
Hi Gladys! I’m sorry you had that experience…! I do like (most) of the olive nation extracts I’ve tried. But, correct me if I’m wrong, the za’atar I know is usually a spice blend used in savory Mediterranean cooking and not an extract?
I haven’t tried that one specifically so I can’t comment on it. But I do stand behind my recommendation of the banana extract, as its all natural and does taste great (and I know many of you have confirmed in your reviews!) xo!
I have made this several times. My husband and my 5 year old granddaughter love it. I changed it up once and made it pumpkin spice. I substituted the sour cream with pumpkin puree and added 1.5 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice instead of the banana extract. Came out great also. Two great recipes to make in the next holiday season. Thanks
This is the best Keto baked good I’ve made. (And I’m not a rocket scientist). Props to you!!! Thanks to Highfalutin’ for linking your site and featuring your recipe!
Love love love this recipe. I’ve made it numerous times and even my kids devour it.
Quick question: can you make it dairy free? What would be the substitute for butter and sour cream? Need to make it for my sister but she can’t have dairy.
This banana bread is amazing especially since you don’t use real bananas to make it. I decided to add some sugar free chocolate chips as well as diced walnuts. I have made this several times and it comes out awesome every time. My partner loves it since there is no real sugar in it.
Is this a no fail, recipe?! I couldn’t get to the mixer, so I used the food processor. My loaf pans were in the wash, so I divided the recipe between two disposable foil pans. To top things off, I had to leave before they were done baking, so 20 minutes at 350, then oven turned off and left for a couple hours. They came out perfectly!!!
Also, I added 1 1/4 cups Lily’s Chocolate Chips. Happily, I had already purchased the banana extract without knowing it was “the” one. Next time, I will probably use 4 teaspoons!
Just made in a loaf. Really spot on. I used a countertop Breville Smart convection Oven. I covered the top after 15min and baked for a total of 45min. Perfect!
I tryed to get the psyllium husk on Amazon and it’s unavailable, is there anything to substitute?
You might try your local pharmacy. No kidding! Just look for plain psyllium in the fiber section not in the baking section (Walmart). You’ll have to read the labels. In a pinch, I’ve taken psyllium capsules apart, too.
Absolutely, the best cake I’ve had since doing keto. Came out fluffy, and moist. I buttered my slice, just my way. I reduced the ‘sugar’ less than the minimum, and I think it’s just right. If possible don’t leave out the nuts. Keep those recipes coming, please!!
This is one of my very favorite keto recipes. I have always made banana muffins for my daughter during the first week back to school. It’s a 12 year tradition. We both started keto last year, and I was so worried about missing that tradition. She’s in college and I wanted to send her back with a batch of mom- made muffins! I made this recipe and we both loved them! I make them about once a month now. I have also used the apple extract from the same company with cardamom for a fallish flavor. I have always loved super duper moist (almost under done) muffins, so I doubled the sour cream. They are amazing! Thank you!
My instant conversion button is not working and has not been working… 🙁
I love you and your recipes so much and you are so brave.
Paola – just discovered your site a few weeks ago and your recipes are amazing. We have been LCHF/Keto since 2010 and have a running joke in our house when I say “it tastes just like ….” and my husband responds – “you do not remember what that tastes like!”
Made this one over the weekend and cannot believe how much it take like the real thing…. even hubby approved. Thank you for all you do!
It takes a rocket scientist to follow you’re recipe.
I have made this recipe several different times. I just can’t get enough of it! I added 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and made them into 8 mini loafs. I’m writing this review right now and shoving banana bread in my mouth at the same time.
Sophie, how long did you bake the mini loaves for?
Ok kids, you got to try this ALMOND poppy seeds muffins. I used exactly the same recipe. The only changes I made was no molasses, 2 tbls lemon extract and 7 drops of lemon essential oil . I added 1/ cup sliced toasted almonds and sprinkled a few on top. Also 2 tbls of poppy seeds. Really you could add them or not. They do have under 1 carb per tbls. After
you minus the fiber . Anyway you are going to love them I promise. Next try 2 tbls orange extract 7 drops of orange essential oil ( only oil that can be consumed internally, I use doterra.) Maybe almonds, or not.
Ok kids, you got to try this ALMOND poppy seeds muffins. I used exactly the same recipe. The only changes I made was no molasses, 2 tbls lemon extract and 7 drops of lemon essential oil . I added 1/ cup sliced toasted almonds and sprinkled a few on top. Also 2 tbls of poppy seeds. Really you could add them or not. They do have under 1 carb per tbls. After you minus the fiber . Anyway you are going to love them I promise. Next try 2 tbls orange extract 7 drops of orange essential oil ( only oil that can be consumed internally, I use doterra.) Maybe almonds, or not.
This was Simply Delicious and what I’ve been missing on a Keto diet!! Made mine into muffins as you suggested too. Soooooo Yummy!!! One question, in your Nutrition Facts, are you counting in the ‘optional’ nuts? Love Love your recipes!!
Please respond re does nutrional info include nuts.
YOU ARE A FREAKING LOW CARB DESSERT GENIUS! I have made quite a few of your recipes (all amazing) and just made this ‘banana’ bread for my mom’s birthday. I was the only person there on the keto diet, yet everyone devoured this bread. The only things I did differently was add a tsp of cinnamon and subbed the nuts for Lilly’s sugar free chocolate chips. I will absolutely be making this again! Thank you!!!
My pleasure Courtney, how wonderful to hear ;)!!
Is that you Courtney Labelle ?
lol!
Delicious banana bread. Keep making it over and over. Always have some individuality frozen in the freezer. Think we could do a lemon bread exactly as per recipe but switching lemon extract for the banana extract. Good job Paola. Your the best
This is truly an exceptional recipe. The texture was spot on. Everyone that has tried this can not believe it’s A. Sugar free and B. Not made with flour. The browned butter does make the flavor. The only thing I will do differently is toast the nuts prior to baking. Thanks and keep your excellent recipes coming. I am a huge fan.
It’s so funny right Gina?! My friends who tried it were also like whaaaaaat?!
And great tip on toasting the nuts before baking, I’m definitely doing that too in the future 😉
I made 12 muffins and the entire family loved them. A truly incredible recipe!
Wow…this banana bread is “AMAZING”!!! and you have no idea the misery I had to go through to make it!!! My fault not yours at all!!! I did not read the first paragraph of your description nor did it register through the ingredients that there were absolutely no bananas in it, or that Keto will not let me have bananas! I won’t go into the lengthy day I had trying to figure out what to do with the entire bunch of bananas I mashed up (was going to make multiple loaves and freeze) before I even found a recipe to make banana bread. I am just so more than thankful it turned out as AWESOME as it did. I did add some bananas to it thinking it was going to be way to gooey but it wasn’t, well just a tad, and I can’t wait to make it again without them.