Banana Snack Cake (Vegan)

April 16, 2020 Updated: November 8, 2021 By Leanne

Banana Snack Cake is an easy and healthy banana cake that’s soft and moist, with just the right amount of banana and a thick chocolate almond butter topping. It’s egg-free and dairy-free, and requires just 10 ingredients. Serve it up with tea or coffee for a sweet afternoon treat!

Banana recipes are having their moment, and this snack cake wants in on the action! If you spend any amount of time on social media, you’ve probably noticed a lot of people baking banana breads, cakes and muffins.

I can understand why. They’re delicious and simple to make, and most of us usually have a few browning bananas lounging around on the counter.

I actually buy extra and let them brown to the point where they could get up and walk away! So I always have overripe bananas ready to jump into some baked goods.

Favourite banana recipes

And now this easy banana snack cake recipe is on my list of faves too and I’m excited to share it with you today.

Why you’ll love this whole wheat banana cake

It comes together in just one bowl and you only need 10 ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry and refrigerator.

It’s free of eggs, butter and milk, so completely dairy-free and vegan.

You can forgo the chocolate topping for an even easier snack cake.

It’s on the healthier side with whole wheat flour and coconut sugar as the main ingredients.

Details on a few ingredients to make vegan banana cake

Bananas: This ingredient is obvious, but here are a few tips. Use very overripe bananas. Not just spotty bananas, but ones that are fully brown. This will result in a rich and sweet banana taste in this cake. Also, be sure to mash your bananas well so you don’t have any lumps of banana in your cake.

Spices: I used chai spice in this recipe, but you can also use an equal amount of cinnamon. I’ve tried the cake with both, and neither are overpowering, so just use whatever you have on hand.

Almond butter: Natural almond butter is melted with dark chocolate chips to create the thick chocolate topping for this cake. To keep the chocolate smooth, it’s best to use smooth almond butter (as opposed to chunky). If you don’t have almond butter, natural smooth peanut butter is a nice substitute. It creates the same texture for the topping, and the peanut butter flavour pairs nicely with the banana cake.

How to make this dairy-free banana snack cake

In a large bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients. Add the mashed banana, milk and oil and whisk until incorporated. Be sure not to over mix the batter.

Pour into a prepared pan and bake for 24-27 minutes on 350F. Let the cake cool completely.

For the chocolate topping, add dark chocolate chips and almond butter to a microwave safe bowl, and heat on two 30-second intervals, stirring in between and then stirring until smooth. Spread over the top of the cake and place in the refrigerator to set.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use plain white flour instead of whole wheat flour? I sometimes use white and whole wheat flour interchangeably in recipes. However, when I tested this cake with white flour in the same quantity as whole wheat, it was too wet and a little under baked. If I try it again with white flour, I will increase the amount by about quarter of a cup.

How do you know when banana cake is done? When this cake is fully browned on top, it’s usually a good indication that the cake is done. But the test I always use is a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean, or with just a few crumbs on it, the cake is done.

Can I make this banana snack cake in an 8×8 square pan? This recipe calls for a 9-inch square pan, but if you only have an 8-inch square pan, you can use that too. Just increase your baking time by about 5 minutes and test for doneness with a toothpick. Just note that since you have a smaller surface area for the chocolate topping, you may have some leftover.

Does banana cake need to be refrigerated? If your banana bread or cake is moist, it will only hold up at room temperature for a few days. So I usually store mine in the refrigerator. And since the chocolate almond butter topping on this cake holds up best in the refrigerator, that’s where I suggest storing it.

How long will it last? This cake will last for 5-7 days if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you forgo the chocolate topping, and just store it at room temperature, it will last 2-3 days.

Can it be frozen? Yes! You can freeze this cake with or without the chocolate topping. If freezing without the topping, just wait for the cake to cool completely. Then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. If freezing with the topping, cut the cake into pieces, arrange in a single layer in a freezer safe container, and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator for a few hours before enjoying.

Recipe tips and substitutions

If your bananas are not ripe enough for baking, you can speed up the process by baking them. Just place your unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet and bake them at 300F until the skins turn black. This will take about 15-20 minutes.

If you don’t have almond milk (or any other type of nut milk), you can use dairy milk. Just note that the recipe will no longer be vegan.

If you don’t have coconut sugar, try using brown sugar. Avoid using granulated sugar as, in my opinion, it makes the cake too sweet.

When spreading the melted chocolate on top, do so slowly, making sure not to go right to the edge of the cake as it may run over the side.

Other vegan snack cakes

Chai Spice Cake with orange cardamom frosting
Sweet Potato Cake with chocolate coconut frosting
Pumpkin Snack Cake with chocolate ganache
Apple Spice Cake with buttercream frosting
Orange Spice Cake with cream cheese frosting

And if you make this easy banana snack cake, I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below!

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