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This healthy Banana Snack Cake is a delicious way to use up any overripe bananas you have on hand. It has an unbelievably fluffy texture, without using any flour or oil!

banana snack cake slice lifted on spatula.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s fruit-sweetened. There’s no added honey or sweeteners required for this banana cake, since the mashed banana provides natural sweetness on their own. (Just make sure you’re using ripe bananas, with lots of black spots on the skin.) 

It’s easy to customize. If you don’t have peanut butter on hand, you can use almond butter, cashew butter, or any other nut or seed butter you like. You can also add any mix-ins you like, such as fresh raspberries, blueberries, or some chocolate chips. (The chocolate chips turn this into my kids’ favorite healthy dessert!)

It’s gluten-free. Since this recipe doesn’t call for any flour, it’s naturally gluten-free. It’s also paleo-friendly, if you swap the peanut butter for almond butter. 

It’s easy to make. All you need is 1 bowl and about 10 minutes of effort to stir this cake together. Since it bakes all in one large dish, it’s quicker than making muffins! 

It’s perfect for meal prep. Once you slice this banana cake, you can store the slices in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. It makes a quick snack or breakfast on the go! 

Ingredients You’ll Need

The combination of mashed banana, peanut butter, and eggs gives this cake its structure, without using flour. The fluffy texture is like magic! 

This recipe originally called for baking soda, but over the years I’ve found that baking powder makes the cake rise slightly better. I’ve included notes in the recipe below if you prefer one over the other. 

Feel free to add in any other mix-ins you’d like for extra texture, such as pecans or walnuts, which would pair nicely with the banana flavor. You can also add in dried or fresh fruit! 

banana snack cake ingredients labeled in glass bowls.

How to Make Banana Snack Cake

​1. Mash the bananas. 

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. In a large mixing bowl, add the peeled bananas and mash them will with a fork. They don’t have to become perfectly smooth, but the better you mash them, the more consistent the batter will be later. 

bananas mashed in a large glass bowl.

2. Mix the batter. 

To the large bowl, add in the eggs, peanut butter, vanilla extract, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Stir well, until the batter looks relatively smooth. (It’s okay if there are still some visible chunks of banana.)

Fold in a 1/2 cup of chocolate chips, if you like, or a handful of chopped nuts or dried fruit. 

snack cake batter mixed together with spatula.

3. Bake. 

Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with oil (use spray oil if you prefer). Pour the batter into the prepared pan, then use a spatula to smooth the top, and sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top. 

Bake until the center feels firm to the touch, about 30 minutes at 350ºF. You can also test the center with a toothpick, to make sure it comes out clean. 

chocolate chips added to batter and spread in glass baking dish.

4. Enjoy!

Let the banana snack cake cool completely in the pan, then it’s ready to slice. Slice it into 12 to 15 slices, and serve it slightly warm or at room temperature. It is reminiscent of banana bread, only it bakes faster!

Leftover cake slices can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. This cake is quite moist, but it will dry out if you leave it uncovered at room temperature for too long. 

banana snack cake baked and sliced in pan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this with applesauce instead?

Yes, feel free to experiment with other fruit or veggie purees! You can try applesauce for an apple spice flavor, or use pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice for more of a Fall recipe. 

Does the cake stick to the pan?

This flourless cake will release from the pan easily if you grease it well, but there will be a thin film that sticks to the pan. You can line the pan with parchment paper for easier clean-up if you prefer, but it’s not 100% necessary with this recipe. 

Can I swap the eggs?

Flourless baking is very tricky when it comes to egg substitutes, so I don’t recommend using flax eggs instead of real eggs. Try my Vegan Banana Bread recipe if you want a gluten-free & vegan option. 

Will this work as a birthday cake?

If you are looking for a fruit-sweetened birthday cake, this is a great low-sugar option. You can frost it with Date-Sweetened Chocolate Buttercream, Vegan Ganache, Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting, or Coconut Whipped Cream, if you want an easy smash cake idea. You could even use date caramel as a filling!

Can I bake it in a round cake pan?

 Yes, if you don’t have the 9-by-13-inch pan, you can use two 8-inch cake pans, instead. In that case, the cakes might bake a little faster, in just 25 minutes or so.

snack cake slice on a white plate.
banana snack cake sliced in pan.

Banana Snack Cake

4.88 from 82 votes
This Banana Snack Cake is a one-bowl recipe that is naturally sweetened with fruit! It makes an easy breakfast or snack on the go, without using flour or oil, but you'd never know just by tasting it!
prep10 mins cook30 mins total40 mins
Servings:15

Ingredients
 
 

  • 3 large bananas , mashed (about 1 3/4 cup mashed)
  • 1 cup peanut butter or almond butter
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF and grease a 9-by-13-inch pan with oil or cooking spray. In a large bowl, mash the peeled bananas with a fork until they look relatively smooth.
  • Add in the nut butter, eggs, vanilla, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt and stir well, creating a slightly lumpy, cake-like batter. Fold in a 1/2 cup of chocolate chips, if using. (Reserve the rest for the top)
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and use a spatula to spread it evenly across the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top, then bake at 350ºF for 30 minutes, or until the center of the cake feels firm to the touch.
  • Let the banana cake cool completely in the pan, then slice it into 12 to 15 slices, depending on how large you'd like them to be. The slices can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Video

Notes

Nutrition information is for 1 of 15 slices, including the chocolate chips. This information is automatically calculated, and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.
You can use any other nut or seed butter you like in this recipe, such as almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter.
Update Note: This recipe was updated in January 2023 with new photos, and a minor tweak. The original recipe called for 3/4 teaspoon of baking soda, and I replaced it with 2 teaspoons of baking powder, instead. This swap gives the cake a slightly more fluffy texture, but if you prefer using baking soda, that original measurement will still work!

Nutrition

Calories: 186kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 132mg | Potassium: 249mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 88IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana snack cake

If you try this banana snack cake recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it.

Megan Gilmore leaning on her white countertop.

Megan Gilmore

Hi, I’m Megan. A former fast food junkie turned best-selling cookbook author. I create healthy recipes made with simple ingredients to make your life easier.

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Comments

  1. Hi!
    I love, love this recipe! Thank you! The first time I made it I accidentally hit the convection oven setting and it came out really fluffy! A bit overdone but still good. My family loved it! Then I made it the second time using the regular bake setting and it was more dense and wet. I have to say, the convection setting is a good option! What would be the ideal time using the convection setting?

  2. Thank you for sharing this. My kids love it! However, I’m wondering if I’m doing something wrong. Every time I make it in the 9×13” pan, it comes out like half an inch thick- way too thin. When I use a square pan it’s perfect. Is 9×13 the correct pan size or could I be doing something wrong? I even bought brand new baking powder, so it can’t be that thank you!

    1. This came out very good regarding texture. I used crunchy peanut butter and the taste of the nut butter was rather strong. I might use another more subtle nut butter next time.

  3. Hello! Is the peanut/almond butter without any added sugar or salt? It isn’t mentoned.
    Thanks!
    Carolyn

    1. I use all-natural peanut butter that is salted, but unsalted is fine, too! There is no added sugar or oil.