Vegan Cardamom Guava Banana Bread (Printable)

A moist tropical loaf combining ripe bananas with sweet guava, warm cardamom, and bright lime zest.

# What You Need:

→ Fruit

01 - 1 cup ripe banana, mashed (approximately 2 medium bananas)
02 - 3/4 cup guava pulp, fresh or canned, strained if seedy
03 - Zest of 1 lime

→ Wet Ingredients

04 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar
05 - 1/3 cup neutral oil such as sunflower or canola
06 - 1/4 cup unsweetened plant-based milk almond, oat, or soy
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Dry Ingredients

08 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
09 - 1.5 teaspoons ground cardamom
10 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
11 - 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
12 - 0.25 teaspoon salt

→ Optional

13 - 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
14 - 2 tablespoons coarse sugar for sprinkling

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a standard 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas until smooth. Stir in the guava pulp and lime zest until evenly distributed.
03 - Add the light brown sugar, neutral oil, plant-based milk, and vanilla extract to the fruit mixture. Mix until well combined.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground cardamom, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
05 - Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
06 - Fold in the chopped walnuts or pecans if using.
07 - Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Smooth the top surface and sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired.
08 - Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
09 - Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Combines exotic guava and warm cardamom for a unique and sophisticated flavor profile.
  • Completely vegan and dairy-free while remaining incredibly moist and tender.
  • Simple, easy-to-follow steps that yield a bakery-quality loaf at home.
  • A bright and fragrant way to use up ripe bananas with a tropical twist.
02 -
  • Strain seedy guava pulp through a fine-mesh sieve for a smoother, more refined bread texture.
  • Always allow the loaf to cool completely on a wire rack before slicing to ensure the slices hold their shape.
  • Check the bread with a toothpick starting at the 45-minute mark to prevent over-baking.
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