Gluten Free Banana Cake

Introducing the Gluten Free Banana Cake!!! This semi naked cake is a sweet yet mild banana cake that’s loaded with mini chocolate chips, surrounded by a brown sugar buttercream and chocolate ganache. If that wasn’t enough, it’s topped with banana slices drizzled with more ganache and more mini chocolate chips. Oh did I mention it’s also nut free, egg free and easily vegan?! This cake is a must try!

If you love Banana Bread, This Gluten Free Banana Cake is for you! The flavors of the chocolate with the brown sugar and banana all blend beautifully together.

For more banana recipes, try my Gluten Free Banana Chocolate Chip Bread, Gluten Free Banana Scones and Double Chocolate Banana Bread.

Reasons To Love This Cake

• Allergy Friendly- This cake is gluten free, nut free, egg free and can easily be dairy free (vegan). 
• Soft & Fluffy- The cake is super soft and delicious.
• Chocolate- It is filled and topped with chocolate ganache and mini chocolate chips!

 

Ingredient Notes

• Gluten Free Flour- If you also have nut allergies, make sure to use a brand that’s made in a nut free facility. I really love to use this one because it’s nut safe but it does contain dairy. 
• Sugars- You need both granulated and light brown. The light brown will be mixed into the buttercream frosting.
• Cornstarch and Water- This is an eggless cake so this mixture helps bind everything together.
• Milk of choice- If there are no dairy allergies or if you’re not vegan, you can use regular whole milk. For non dairy, use a non dairy milk of your choosing. 
• White Vinegar- This will be use to create a homemade buttermilk.
• Bananas- Use 3 medium ripe bananas.  
• Chocolate Chips- Make sure to use gluten free, nut free and vegan to keep the cake allergy friendly.
• Chocolate Ganache- To make the ganache vegan, use the ganache recipe from Cookies & Cream Cake.

EXPERT BAKING TIPS

MASHING THE BANANAS 

In a medium bowl, use the back of a fork or a potato masher to mash all the bananas really well.

Once they’re mashed, give them a good whisk. You want them to be liquidy. 

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MAKE THE HOMEMADE BUTTERMILK

Measure out ½ cup of milk of choice. 

Add in one ½ tablespoon of white vinegar and stir to combine.

Let it sit for 5-10 minutes and then stir again. 

It will appear chunky and that’s normal. 

SMOOTHING THE BATTER

Many gluten free flour batters have a way of staying exactly as they are placed, when baked.
If you leave it misshapen, that’s how it will remain when baked.

When the batter is in the cake pans, gently smooth the tops with a butter knife.

Make The Ganache First

The ganache needs to set in the fridge for about 45 minutes in order to use it inside the cake.

Make the ganache before you begin making the cake so it can chill while the cake is baking.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS WITH PICTURES 

Here are the steps to make this cake! 

Make The Ganache

Step 1: Place Chocolate Chips in a heat safe bowl

Set them aside.

Step 2: heat the Heavy Cream

Set the heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly.

When it simmers around the edges immediately pour over the chocolate chips.

Step 3: Let it Sit

Do not whisk the heavy cream and chips yet!

Let it sit for one minute and then whisk until combined and smooth. 

Step 4: Cool The Ganache

First let it sit on the counter until it has cooled a bit, whisking every 5 min.

Then refrigerate. Continue whisking every 5 min while in the fridge for about 35-45 min until the ganache is thick.

Make the Cake

STEP 1: Whisk the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt until combined.

Step 2: Make The Homemade Buttermilk

In a large measuring cup, measure out ½ cup of milk. Add in ½ tablespoon of the white vinegar and stir. This is your homemade buttermilk.

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Step 3: Make The Cornstarch Water

In a small bowl, using a spoon, mix together the cornstarch and water until thin and watery. It will be thick and tacky at first. 

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Step 4: Melt the Butter/Vegan Baking Stick

In a large bowl that's microwave safe, heat the butter or vegan baking stick in 20 second increments until fully melted.

Step 5: Whisk the Wet Ingredients into the Melted Butter

Whisk the mashed bananas into the melted butter/vegan baking stick.

Then whisk in the cornstarch water mixture, the milk mixture, the oil, the vanilla and the cinnamon until well combined.

Step 6: Add the Sugar to the wet Ingredients

Whisk the sugar into the wet ingredients until combined.

Step 7: Add Wet Ingredients into the Dry

Slowly whisk the wet ingredients into the dry.

Once the batter gets too thick, use a spatula to combine.

Step 8: Add the mini chocolate chips

Using the spatula, fold the mini chocolate chips into the batter until mixed throughout.

Step 9: Scoop The Batter

Using a spatula, divide the batter equally between two greased and parchment lined 8 inch cake pans; smooth the tops with a butter knife.

Step 10: Bake the Cakes

Bake the cakes in the center rack at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes until slightly springy when carefully touched.

Step 11: Cut The Cakes

Once the cakes have completely cooled, slice the cakes in half horizontally to create 4 thinner layers of cake.

If the tops of your cakes have domes, you can very carefully cut them off to make them flat.

Make The Frosting 

STEP 1: CREAM THE BUTTER and LIGHT BROWN SUGAR 

In the large bowl of an electric mixer or using a hand held mixer, beat the butter or vegan baking stick and the light brown sugar and until smooth and creamy. About 2-3 min. 

Step 2: Add in the other ingredients half at a time

Slowly add in half the confectioners' sugar, half the water and vanilla and beat until smooth. 

Then add in the second half of the confectioners' sugar and water. Beat until combined. It should appear creamy and smooth. 

Step 3: Divide the Frosting

Divide the frosting into 5 equal servings.

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ASSEMBLING THE CAKE TIPS

STEP 1: FROST ONE LAYER 

Place one layer of cake on a cake plate/stand. Scoop ⅕ of the buttercream on top and use an icing spatula to spread it around.

STEP 2: PIPE A RING

Place ⅕ of the frosting in a piping bag. Pipe a ring around the outside edge of the cake. This is to prevent the ganache from spilling out.

Step 3: Spoon the Ganache

Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the thick ganache into the middle of the ring of frosting.

Step 4: Repeat the Process

Place another layer of cake on top and repeat this same process. Do this will 3 layers of cake.

 Step 5: ADD THE Last CAKE Layer

Place the last cake bottom (or flat) side up so the top is nice and flat. 

STEP 6: FROST THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAKE and chill

Use an icing spatula to frost the top and a thin layer on the sides and use a cake scraper to neaten the frosting up.

You should only use the final ⅕ of your frosting on both the top and sides combined. It’s a semi naked cake.

Pop the entire cake in the fridge for 15 minutes.

Decorate The Cake

Step 1: Heat the Remaining Ganache

Take the remaining ganache and heat it in the microwave in 5 second increments until it is very melted and pourable.

Step 2: DO THE GANACHE DRIP

Spoon about 9 tablespoons of the liquid ganache on top of the cake. 

Push the ganache around to the edges of the cake using an icing spatula. You want it to drip down the sides. 

Work quickly; the cold cake will stop the ganache from dripping too much.

Step 3: Add banana slices

Cut about 3-4 bananas into slices and place them in a mound in the top center of the cake while the ganache is still wet.

Step 4: Add the chocolate

Drizzle some extra ganache on top of the banana slices and sprinkle a handful of the mini chocolate chips on top of the bananas.

Step 5: Chill again

Let the cake chill again uncovered in the fridge for 15 minutes.

HOW TO MAKE THIS VEGAN 

Follow these simple steps to make sure the cake is vegan:

• Use a gluten free flour that’s free from dairy.
• Only use a non dairy milk of choice.
• Make sure to use vegan baking sticks instead of butter.
• Read the label on your chocolate chips to ensure they’re gluten free, nut free and vegan.
• Use a vegan heavy cream or if nuts aren’t an issue, I have used almond breeze almond milk (prior to my nut allergic son being born) and it worked beautifully. OR you can use the ganache recipe from my Cookies & Cream Cake, which is vegan.

FAQ

STORING AND FREEZING 

STORING 

Since gluten free and eggless baked goods are best the first day, we want to try to keep this Gluten Free Banana Cake as fresh as possible.

Once the cake is cut into, if there is extra, it’s best to cut the entire cake into slices, wrap each slice in foil and store in a zip top bag in the fridge.

This is if you will be eating all the slices the next day.

When ready to eat, let the slices sit on the counter, in the foil for about an hour or until the cake is room temperature and soft.

Or pop each unwrapped slice in the microwave for 5-10 seconds. 

FREEZING

If not eating all the extra slices the next day, take the slices wrapped in foil and in the zip top bag and freeze them.

You can keep the slices frozen for up to 30 days.

When ready to eat, put the slices in the fridge the night before or leave them out on the counter for 2 hours prior to eating or until the cake is room temperature and soft.

Or pop each room temperature unwrapped slice in the microwave for 5-10 seconds.

Other Cakes To Try

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