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Home » Recipes » Bread Recipes

Gluten Free Black Sesame Banana Bread

Published: Apr 11, 2020 · Modified: Dec 30, 2020 by Sandi Gaertner · 14 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

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If you love banana bread, this fun dairy-free, and gluten free black sesame banana bread is amazing! This moist Japanese sesame cake has slight crispiness from black sesame seeds!

Moist and delicious, this gluten free banana loaf cake recipe is bursting with banana flavor. If you love bananas as much as I do, you will also want to try this moist Gluten Free Banana Bread with fresh cranberries recipe!

a loaf of gluten free banana sesame bread sliced on a cutting board
Jump To:
  • Why this recipe is great:
  • How to ripen bananas:
  • Top tip:
  • Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:
  • Mix-ins:
  • More banana recipes to try:
  • Recipe
  • Comments

If you love bananas, this Japanese banana bread recipe is going to be a special treat. I have been enjoying a batch of gluten free banana bars but I still have several very ripe bananas to use up.

This post was originally written by me in 2014 and I wanted to update it and reshare it with you because this recipe is perfect if you have limited ingredients.

My friend, Chef Nagano of Skool Restaurant in San Francisco, shared this gluten free and dairy-free banana bread recipe with me many years ago. When Chef Nagano mentioned her mother's banana bread recipe, I was intrigued. Her family isn't gluten free and I was curious how bread could work with only rice flour.

Why this recipe is great:

Times have been hard and many need to stick to a budget while maintaining a gluten free diet. Many of my readers are saying they can't find gluten free flour blends in their stores. This recipe uses only brown rice flour and has no need for Xanthan Gum or any other gum!

I love this recipe uses plain simple ingredients, yet it tastes like it was baked in a professional bakery. This banana loaf bread is that good!

Front view of an uncut loaf of black sesame bananan bread

Baking with black sesame seeds

This banana bread has a surprise Japanese flavor twist from black sesame seeds. Black sesame seeds are incredibly nutritious and add a slight crunch to this homemade bread.

  • They are high in protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Black sesame seeds are not hulled, so they not only have more flavor, but they are also higher in fiber than white sesame seeds.
  • Black sesame seeds are not hulled, so they not only have more flavor, but they are also higher in fiber than white sesame seeds.
  • In Japan, black sesame seeds are added to salads, sushi, and baked goods. I really like the nutty flavor they add to this banana bread recipe, and I hope you do as well.

You can find these ground black sesame seeds at most grocery stores in the spice section. I found these at our local Japanese market.

(I also bought whole black sesame seeds to experiment with. They seem like an excellent way to sneak protein into my baking.)

A stack of slices of black sesame banana bread

How to ripen bananas:

The star of this recipe is super ripe bananas. If your bananas are not quite ripe, you can try some of these hacks:

  • Heat the bananas in the oven at 300º F for about 15 minutes.
  • Place the bananas in a brown paper bag and close the bag. Check-in 24-48 hours
  • Sometimes you can ask in the produce department for over-ripe bananas. They often have some in the back!

(And if you really love bananas, check out my Gluten Free Banana Donuts recipe and my Gluten Free Matcha Green Tea Banana Bread recipe. They are some of the most popular recipes on my blog!)

Top tip:

DO NOT substitute sweet white rice flour in this recipe or it will turn out very gummy in the middle. This recipe is made with brown rice flour only.

Black sesame banana bread dry ingredients in a bowl

Step 1: Add all of the dry ingredients, including the brown rice flour to a large bowl.

Step 2: In a smaller bowl, smush the banana with a fork and then add the wet ingredients and whisk to blend.

Note, this bread is not super sweet. If you want your bread to be sweet, add an extra ¼ cup of brown sugar to the dry ingredients.

Wet and dry ingredients in a bowl ready to mix

Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well. **NOTE: This batter is going to be runnier than you are used to and that is normal.

Sesame banana bread batter in a loaf tin ready to bake.

Step 4: Pour your batter into a greased bread loaf tin and bake at 350º F for 40-45 minutes. ¾ the way through baking, you may need to put a piece of tin foil over the baking bread.

When the bread is done, remove from the oven and allow to cool on a cooling rack. Slice and enjoy!

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:

How do you know when it is done baking?

My favorite way to know if something is done baking is the toothpick test. Just insert a toothpick into your bread. If the toothpick comes back clean, your bread is done baking. If there are crumbs or batter on the toothpick, it will need to bake a little longer.

What happens if you use white rice flour?

If you use white rice flour, this recipe will turn out very gummy and not very edible. Please use brown rice flour as indicated.

Can you omit the sesame seeds?

You can easily omit the sesame seeds.

Can you add chocolate chips or berries?

You can add anything you like but please note, this batter is runnier than others and your heavier mix-ins may sink to the bottom. If you want to use chips, I suggest using the mini chocolate chips because they are much lighter.

A slice of black sesame banana bread on a plate.

Mix-ins:

  • If you can't eat sesame, feel free to omit the seeds, or use poppy seeds.
  • You can substitute flax seeds (whole) for the sesame seeds.
  • Mini chocolate chips
  • Shredded coconut

More banana recipes to try:

  • Easy Gluten Free Banana Oatmeal Muffin Recipe
  • Gluten Free Banana Bread Pudding
  • Moist Gluten Free Banana Bread with Fresh Cranberries
  • Gluten Free Banana Flour Waffles

If you love bread pudding, don't forget to check out this easy gluten free banana bread pudding recipe too!

Recipe

Chef Nagano’s Gluten Free Black Sesame Banana Bread

Sandi Gaertner
A moist, decadent Japanese style gluten free banana bread with black sesame seeds.
4.75 from 12 votes
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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 50 mins
Total Time 1 hr
Course Gluten Free Bread Recipe
Cuisine American
Servings 10 slices
Calories 234 kcal

Equipment

  • Loaf pan

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ripe banana mashed
  • ⅓ cup olive oil or light oil
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 ¼ cups brown rice flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • pinch salt
  • ¾ cup milk or dairy free substitute (I used almond milk)
  • ¼ cup black sesame seeds crushed is best

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 325º F.
  • Grease a bread loaf pan.
  • Mix all of the wet ingredients in a small mixing bowl.
  • Add the dry ingredients to a large bowl and whisk to blend.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix.
  • Do not over mix.
  • Pour into loaf pan.
  • Bake for 45-50 minutes until done in the center.

Notes

  1. If you can't have sesame, omit the sesame seeds.
  2. This recipe calls for brown rice flour. Do NOT substitute with white rice flour or another flour or it can turn out gummy in the middle.
  3. Other dairy-free kinds of milk will work but I do not recommend canned coconut milk.
  4. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the loaf. If the toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking. If you see batter or crumbs, the bread needs to bake longer.
  5. This banana bread will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 234kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 4gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 81mgPotassium: 208mgFiber: 2gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 85IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 91mgIron: 1mg
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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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(*This post was updated from an older February 2014 post.)

a loaf of gluten free banana sesame bread on a cooling rack

More Easy Gluten Free Bread Recipes

  • Easy Gluten Free Oat Bread
  • Moist Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
  • Gluten Free Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls
  • Gluten Free Panettone Bread
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    Recipe Rating




  1. Healing Tomato

    October 29, 2017 at 2:45 pm

    5 stars
    Banana loaf cake sounds really good right now. Its so perfect for Sunday brunch too.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      October 30, 2017 at 3:58 pm

      It really is Rini. For me, I love it with coffee 🙂

      Reply
  2. Debra C.

    October 07, 2017 at 6:36 am

    5 stars
    I love all of your tips, hacks and substitutions AND the recipe of course! This banana bread looks so delicious!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      October 07, 2017 at 3:22 pm

      That is so sweet of you to say, thank you so much 🙂

      Reply
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