This Gluten Free Banana Cake is luscious and rich, with a moist, tender crumb that makes your mouth water and your smile do a happy dance. Topped with a dairy-free vanilla frosting that adds the perfect amount of sweet, this gluten-free cake will quickly become an all-around favorite recipe.
Cake is definitely classified as a dessert, so keeping parallel with traditional cake recipes, this gluten-free cake is sweeter and richer than banana bread. Banana bread *normally* has a hint of sweet and focuses more on a grain-taste, since it’s a bread.
Gluten-Free Banana Cake
Recipe Ingredient Tips & Substitutions
Mashed Bananas- You can’t make the best gluten-free banana cake unless you have perfectly ripened bananas! Look for bananas that are turning brown, that is when they are at the height of their sweetness, and are super soft, so mashing them is easy peasy.
Dairy-Free “Buttermilk”- Like my gluten-free cornbread recipe, that also uses dairy-free “buttermilk”, the dairy-free buttermilk in this gluten-free cake recipe adds a velvety richness that elevates the taste and texture. Coconut milk is high in fat; which produces a moist, fluffy, and tender crumb.
To make dairy-free “buttermilk” I combine full fat coconut milk with apple cider vinegar (though you can sub distilled white vinegar or fresh squeezed lemon juice if needed). The apple cider vinegar works with the baking powder and baking soda to produce a perfectly leavened cake.
Vegan Butter or Palm Shortening- Vegan butter and palm shortening are interchangeable in this recipe (both in the cake, and in the frosting), so feel free to use whichever works best for your dietary needs. I find in frosting, that I prefer a combination of the two.
Gluten-Free Flours & Starches- This recipe has only been tested using the flours and starches listed. If you swap them out for a gluten-free all purpose blend (which I don’t recommend), I cannot guarantee your results.
Eggs- This cake recipe may do okay with an egg substitute of some kind, but I haven’t tested it egg-free. If I were to attempt it, I think I might substitute an extra banana, so I’d use 4 bananas total instead of 3. Again, I haven’t tested this – I’m just sharing my thoughts here on what I might try if I were to test it. If you do attempt to make this cake egg-free, please come back and leave a comment with your results!
Recipe Add-Ins and Variations
Nuts- While this gluten-free cake recipe doesn’t call for nuts, you absolutely can add some raw chopped pecans, walnuts, or peanuts to the cake batter.
Chocolate Chips- Who doesn’t love a little chocolate with their banana, right?! Though if you add chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips to this gluten-free cake batter, I would err on the conservative side and use less vs. more. Remember, this cake is already sweet, so adding chocolate chips to the batter will heighten that sweetness.
Dairy-Free Chocolate Frosting- While the dairy-free vanilla frosting listed below in the recipe card is super delish (and everyone loves it on this cake), you certainly can’t go wrong with swapping out the vanilla frosting for a vegan chocolate frosting. The following is our favorite chocolate frosting recipe. This makes more than you’ll need for a 9×13″ cake, but just the right amount for a layer cake:
1 lbs. organic powdered sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup palm shortening
1/4 cup vegan butter (or more palm shortening)
4-6 tablespoons water (you might need more depending on the brand of powdered sugar you use)
- Place all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, and use an electric mixer to beat until light and fluffy.
If peanut butter and bananas are your thing, you might try this peanut butter frosting from A Dash of Megnut.
Gluten-Free Baking Tips:
- Gently spoon the gluten-free flours/starches into the measuring cup and then level it off using the back of a butter knife.
- Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature. I let my cold ingredients sit out on the counter for 20-30 minutes before I start baking.
- Don’t overmix your batter! When you combine the wet and dry ingredients, you want to stir until just blended. A few small lumps are okay.
- Metal baking pans vs. glass/ceramic ones will probably speed up your baking times, since metal retains heat differently than the glass/ceramic. So if you’re baking with a metal pan, just keep a closer eye on your cake, and check it a few minutes early for doneness.
I hope you enjoy this gf banana cake as much as we do!
xoxo,
Mēgan
Gluten-Free Banana Cake Recipe:
This Gluten Free Banana Cake is luscious and rich, with a moist, tender crumb that makes your mouth water and your smile do a happy dance. Topped with a dairy-free vanilla frosting that adds the perfect amount of sweet, this gluten-free cake will quickly become an all-around favorite recipe. For layer cakes: Line the bottom of two 8 or 9" cake pans with parchment paper and generously grease. Evenly divide the cake batter between the 2 pans, and bake for 25-35 minutes, or until a toothpick, when inserted into the center of the cake, comes out mostly clean (a few loose crumbs are okay). We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Gluten Free Banana Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake:
For the Vanilla Frosting:
Instructions
To Make the Cake:
To Make the Vanilla Frosting
Notes
Recommended Products
Don’t forget to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @allergyfreeak and #allergyfreealaska with your gluten-free dairy-free cake pics!
Carol Howells
Saturday 16th of January 2021
Hi Megan
Am I able to reduce sugar to 1 cup Rapadura? It looks amazing for my husbands 40th but I think that much sugar will be too sweet for our family. Thank you 😊
Mēgan
Sunday 17th of January 2021
Hi Carol, that's a great question. I think it would work out okay because you're only reducing the sugar by 1/2 cup, but I can't say for sure as I've never tried making it that way. :)
Tina
Wednesday 23rd of September 2020
This cake was a hit. I used cashew milk instead of the coconut and the cake turned out beautifully. It was moist and delicious . Definitely a keeper. In the future, we will probably omit the frosting. The cake is sweet enough without it.
Mēgan
Thursday 24th of September 2020
That’s wonderful, Tina! I’m so happy to hear the cake was such a hit with everyone! Thanks for coming back here and letting me know you tried it. I appreciate the feedback!
Donna K
Wednesday 29th of July 2020
Wow this cake was SO good even three days later. My husband says it's the best gluten free cake ever!! Thanks for another fantastic recipe!
Mēgan
Friday 31st of July 2020
Oh man, such high praise! Thank you so much! You're comment made my day. :)
Judy
Tuesday 16th of June 2020
I look forward for your recipes as they are always delicious. Can’t wait to try this for my GF grandkids.
Mēgan
Tuesday 16th of June 2020
You are sweet, Judy - thank you so much! I hope they enjoy it!
Sarah Nugent
Tuesday 16th of June 2020
I’m excited to try this recipe out this week!!
Mēgan
Tuesday 16th of June 2020
Hey Sarah! I hope you enjoy it! ;)