1-Step 1: Preheat and Prep First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). It is important that the oven is fully heated before the batter goes in to ensure proper rising. While the oven heats up, grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan lightly with coconut oil. Alternatively, you can line the pan with parchment paper, which makes removing the bread later much easier and prevents sticking.

2-Step 2: Mash the Bananas Peel your three ripe bananas. Place them in a large mixing bowl and use a fork or potato masher to mash them until they are mostly smooth. Some small lumps are okay and can add nice texture to the bread. These mashed bananas act as the natural sweetener and the liquid base for our batter.

3-Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients Add the melted coconut oil (or your chosen oil) and the vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Pour in the honey or maple syrup as well. Mix these wet ingredients thoroughly until they are well combined. The mixture should look creamy and consistent.

4-Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. Whisking these dry ingredients together ensures that the baking soda is evenly distributed throughout the flour, which helps the bread rise uniformly.

5-Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir gently with a spatula or wooden spoon. Be careful not to overmix at this stage. You only want to stir until the flour streaks disappear. Overmixing can make the bread dense and chewy rather than tender.

6-Step 6: Add Eggs and Liquids Crack the two eggs into a small bowl and beat them lightly. Fold the beaten eggs into the batter. If you are using the milk or water, add that now as well to loosen the batter slightly. If you are using flax eggs for a vegan version, add the prepared gel-like mixture now. These ingredients provide the structure and lift needed for a good crumb.

7-Step 7: Add Mix-ins If you decided to customize your bread with walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips, fold them in gently now. This is also the time to check if you want to swirl extra cinnamon on top for a beautiful presentation.

8-Step 8: Bake Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Spread the top evenly with a spatula. Place the pan in the center of the oven. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Every oven is different, so start checking around the 50-minute mark. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached. If you are using gluten-free flour blends, the baking time might vary, so keep an eye on it.

9-Step 9: Cool and Serve Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and set it on a heat-proof surface. Let the sugar free banana bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. This cooling period allows the bread to set and makes it easier to remove. After 10 minutes, carefully lift the bread out using the parchment paper or turn the pan over onto a wire rack. Let it cool completely before slicing. Slicing while it is too warm can cause it to crumble.