Gluten-Free Pineapple Coconut Banana Bread

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This easy gluten-free pineapple coconut banana bread is a delicious tropical twist on a classic, with bright fresh flavor notes and an ultra-moist texture that you’ll LOVE.

a slice of gluten-free pineapple coconut banana bread on a white dessert plate

There’s nothing like a good banana bread recipe when you’ve got a lot of bananas to use, and this, friend, is a GREAT recipe.

I’ve heard some folks call this Hawaiian Banana Bread, since it’s got pineapple, coconut, and maybe some macadamia nuts, but as far as I can tell, there’s nothing *actually* Hawaiian about it.

Instead, we’ll celebrate this sweet treat for what it is! This gluten-free pineapple coconut banana bread combines everything you love about classic banana bread with the tropical flavors of pineapple and coconut in every bite. It makes each bite feel like paradise! This easy recipe is simple to make, super moist, and perfect for next time you need to use those ripe bananas on your counter!

It’s simple enough for beginners (even if this is your first time making banana bread!) or for baking with your kids, and this delicious banana bread starts with simple ingredients. Let’s take a look…

ingredients for gluten-free pineapple coconut banana bread

Gather Your Ingredients

  • GLUTEN-FREE FLOUR. We highly recommend King Arthur Measure-For-Measure Gluten-Free Flour for best results, but if you use another gluten-free flour blend, be sure it contains xanthan gum so the banana bread turns out properly. Do not substitute coconut flour or almond flour into this recipe.
  • BAKING SODA. For the perfect softness and lift.
  • SALT. A little bit of salt helps to balance and enhance the flavors. 
  • BUTTER. Melted butter adds moisture and flavor. Vegan butter should work just fine, for a dairy-free option!
  • BROWN SUGAR & WHITE SUGAR. A mix of light brown sugar and granulated sugar or cane sugar gives this pineapple coconut banana bread a lovely moist texture and beautiful caramelization on the top.
  • EGGS. Room temperature eggs help bind the banana bread together!
  • OVERRIPE BANANAS. You want to use super ripe bananas with lots of brown spots for flavorful banana bread. They’ll be sweeter and starchier, which improves the sweet banana flavor and overall texture of the bread. 
  • CRUSHED PINEAPPLE. For a tropical banana bread twist, we’re adding some canned crushed pineapple in juice. It’ll add moisture and complement the flavor of coconut later on.
  • SOUR CREAM OR YOGURT. Some sour cream or plain Greek yogurt adds acidity, which brightens up the flavor here and reacts with the baking soda to create a delicious, moist texture.
  • VANILLA EXTRACT. Always a must in banana bread, for me!
  • *MAYBE* SOME COCONUT EXTRACT. If you want a stronger coconut flavor, you can add a tiny splash of coconut extract. Coconut extract is strong, so even 1/4 teaspoon is PLENTY.
  • SHREDDED COCONUT. Last, but not least, you’ll need some sweetened shredded coconut flakes. I like to toast the coconut first for a richer flavor, but I’ve made it without toasting with great results, too.

How To Make Pineapple Coconut Banana Bread, Step By Step

As always, you can find the full recipe, with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.

making gluten-free pineapple coconut banana bread step by step
  1. Preheat & Prep. To start, preheat oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Line a (1-pound) 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper, and set aside.ย 
  2. Combine Dry Ingredients. In a medium bowl, combine gluten-free flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine and set aside. 
  3. Combine Butter & Sugars. In a large bowl, combine melted, cooled butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar. Whisk to combine. 
  4. Finish Wet Ingredients. Then, add eggs, one at a time, followed by mashed banana, then pineapple, sour cream, vanilla, coconut extract (optional).
  5. Add Dry Ingredients & Mix-Ins. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir till just combined. Fold in coconut and macadamia nuts, if using. 
  6. Bake. Transfer the banana bread batter to prepared loaf pan and bake 60-65 minutes, or until the interior reaches 200 degrees F on an instant read thermometer and a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs. If your banana bread starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil, as needed.
  7. Cool & Slice. Let the banana bread cool 10 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. Cool banana bread to room temperature or almost room temperature before cutting into thick slices. Store leftover banana bread in an airtight container or bag at room temperature 2-3 days, or wrap the entire loaf or individual slices in plastic wrap, store in a freezer bag and freeze up to 2 months. 
a loaf of gluten-free banana bread with pineapple and coconut

FAQ + Tricks For The Best Coconut Banana Bread

Use The Right Pan! I recommend a light colored metal loaf pan for this banana bread, since it’ll cook evenly and gently for an all-around better bake. If you’re using a glass or ceramic pan, keep in mind that the banana bread will likely take longer to cook.

Measure The Banana. For the BEST banana bread, measure the mashed bananas rather than going by the number of bananas. You’ll get the most consistent texture! 

Try Toasting The Coconut! If you have the extra few minutes, you can try toasting the coconut for a deeper flavor. I add the coconut to a dry skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring regularly for 5-7 minutes, until a beautiful golden brown. Coconut burns quickly, so it’s a good idea toย stay close and keep an eye on it!ย 

Add Some Crunch. They’re optional, but I do love adding the chopped macadamia nuts to this pineapple coconut banana bread. Don’t have any? You can use walnuts or pecans instead!

Consider Resting The Batter, If You Have Time. I use this trick when I’m making muffins, but it also works in a quick bread recipe. If you can, let the batter rest in the pan for at least 30-60 minutes before baking. This will gives the flour longer to hydrate and give the baking soda more time to work, which means you’ll get a higher rise in your loaf of banana bread. 

slices of gluten-free pineapple coconut banana bread on a wooden cutting board

More Gluten-Free Banana Bread Recipes To Try

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Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

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a loaf of gluten-free banana bread with pineapple and coconut

Gluten-Free Pineapple Coconut Banana Bread


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

  • Author: Emily Dixon, Sweets & Thank You
  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 1 loaf (10-12 slices) 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 3/4 cup gluten-free measure-for-measure flour* (210 grams)ย 
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup butter (113 grams/1 stick), melted and cooled slightly
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar (100 grams)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (50 grams)
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup mashed banana (about 2 medium bananas)
  • 1/2 cup canned crushed pineapple with juice–don’t drain! (122 grams)
  • 1/3 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt (120 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Optional: 1/8-1/4 teaspoon coconut extract*
  • 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut (60 grams)
  • Optional: 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts


Instructions

  1. Preheat & Prep. To start, preheat oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Line a (1-pound) 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper, and set aside.ย 
  2. Combine Dry Ingredients. In a small bowl, combine gluten-free flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine and set aside.ย 
  3. Combine Butter & Sugars. In a large bowl, combine melted, cooled butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar. Whisk to combine.ย 
  4. Finish Wet Ingredients. Then, add eggs, one at a time, followed by mashed banana, then pineapple, sour cream, vanilla, coconut extract (optional).
  5. Add Dry Ingredients & Mix-Ins. Add the dry ingredients and stir till just combined. Fold in coconut and macadamia nuts, if using.ย 
  6. Bake. Transfer the banana bread batter to prepared pan and bake 60-65 minutes, or until the interior reaches 200 degrees F and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs.ย 
  7. Cool & Slice. Let the banana bread cool 10 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. Cool banana bread to room temperature or almost room temperature before slicing. Store leftover banana bread in an airtight container or bag at room temperature 2-3 days, or freeze up to 2 months.ย 

Notes

  • Gluten-Free Flour. We highly recommend King Arthur Measure-For-Measure Gluten-Free Flour, but if you use another gluten-free flour blend, be sure it contains xanthan gum so the banana bread turns out properly. Do not substitute coconut flour or almond flour into this recipe.ย 
  • Measure The Banana. For best results, measure the mashed bananas rather than going by the number of bananas. You’ll get the most consistent texture!ย 
  • Try Toasting The Coconut! If you have the extra few minutes, I recommend toasting the coconut for a deeper flavor. I add the coconut to a dry skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring regularly for 5-7 minutes, until a beautiful golden brown. Coconut burns quickly, so stay close and keep an eye on it!ย 
  • Let It Cool! I know it’s tempting to cut right into the warm banana bread, but cutting into it early can make the banana bread crumbly (all that steam/moisture escapes!).ย ย 
  • Use The Right Pan! I recommend a light colored metal loaf pan for this banana bread, since it’ll cook evenly and gently for an all-around better bake. If you’re using a glass or ceramic pan, keep in mind that the banana bread will likely take longer to cook.ย 
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 60 minutes
  • Category: Bread
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes

One Comment

  1. I didnโ€™t know this was possible! Now this is my favorite banana bread. I was worried that the pineapple would ruin the texture. Instead, the pineapple blends in so naturally and makes this bread light and moist.

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