A delicious and guilt-free way to indulge your sweet tooth? Yes please! It’s all thanks to the healthy ripe banana cakes. Unlike other cakes, this one is filled with wholesome ingredients – bananas, whole-wheat flour, rolled oats, and dark chocolate chips. Making it is a breeze too – just minimal effort and less than an hour! The result? A moist and fluffy cake that’s full of flavour and nutrition. Indulge away, guilt-free!
Ingredients
Healthy, delicious desserts don’t have to lack flavour! You can make a guilt-free banana cake with the right ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Ripe bananas
- Melted butter
- Dark chocolate chips
All the essential ingredients for this healthy and tasty treat will be listed below. Yum!
Ripe Bananas
Organic, yellow-flecked bananas are the key to making these yummy banana cakes. Peel and mash them for a thick, creamy paste. No processed sugar or butter substitutes needed!
For added nutrition and flavor, add some walnuts or pecans. Or skip those if you wish. Chocolate chips are also a great option, as they bring out even more flavor in this naturally sweet treat. Plus, ripe bananas are full of natural sugars, so no processed sugar required for healthier baking!
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is made from the dried fruit of the coconut palm tree. It’s a healthy vegan alternative to butter or other vegetable oils. High in saturated fat, it can withstand high heat without being damaged. This makes it ideal for baking. Its unique flavor adds complexity to recipes and gives cakes a tropical taste. Plus, it’s rich in lauric acid. This helps boost immunity, balance hormones, kill germs and reduce inflammation.
Coconut oil also aids digestion and weight loss. This is because its fatty acids are quickly absorbed by the body and used as energy. All these health benefits make coconut oil a great choice for those wanting to reduce their saturated fat or bake with a healthier option.
Coconut Flour
Coconut flour is fab! It’s full of healthy fats and dietary fiber, plus it’s gluten-free. That’s why we use it in our Healthy Ripe Banana Cakes. It gives structure and a moist texture, whilst keeping calories and sugar lower than regular flour.
When using coconut flour, sift lightly before adding to your cake batter. It’s not like regular wheat-based flours – it needs more liquid. Coconut flour soaks up lots of water and can become dense if you don’t stir enough before baking. Don’t add too much coconut flour, or you might need to adjust other ingredients.
The high-fiber content of coconut flour is great. It makes cakes super filling and satisfying, as it slows digestion and blood sugar spikes.
Almond Flour
Almond flour is a gluten-free alternative to regular wheat flour. It’s made from finely ground almonds and is packed with minerals like magnesium, potassium, and iron. Plus, it’s high in monounsaturated fatty acids and dietary fiber. This helps control blood sugar levels. On top of that, it has no cholesterol or saturated fats. So, when you use it to bake desserts, they’re healthier than when using all-purpose flour.
For added flavor and nutrition, replace one cup of wheat flour with one cup of almond flour when baking healthy banana cakes. Enjoy the guilt-free yumminess!
Baking Soda
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is essential for banana cakes. It helps them rise. The action of baking soda is triggered when it mixes with liquid and acid. In this case, the liquid is milk or buttermilk. The acids come from brown sugar and/or ripe bananas.
This mixture creates carbon dioxide gas bubbles which make the cake expand in the oven. Without baking soda, a banana cake won’t rise. You should always use fresh baking soda for best results. Storing it wrongly or for too long will make it weak and it won’t work as effectively. It’s advised to use baking soda within 3 months of purchase.
Salt
Salt is a must for sweet baked recipes. It boosts sweetness and blends with other ingredients, like chocolate and spices, without overpowering them in taste. Salt helps gluten in cakes keep shape and gives them a fluffy texture. Where possible, use high-quality sea salt. It gives unique mineral flavours not found in regular salt. But don’t worry if you only have table salt at home, it’s okay to use.
There are different types of salt on the market – such as coarse, fine, and iodized. Choose whichever works for your recipe – any type can be used for baking. Don’t add too much salt – ½ teaspoon per cup of flour is enough to give good results and no salty-tasting food!
Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract is a must-have for baking. It’s made from two simple ingredients: alcohol and vanilla beans. Steep the beans in brandy for 8-10 weeks and you’ve got a 35% alcohol extract. When using it, be careful – a little bit goes a long way!
Vanilla adds depth to desserts. Just half a teaspoon per cake is enough to bring out the other flavors in your mix. If desired, you can serve with some extra vanilla on top. Delicious!
Preparation
The key to success in baking? Prepare! For this yummy banana cake recipe, make sure you have all the ingredients ready. Have them pre-measured. Preheat the oven to the temperature stated in the recipe. That’s how you get a great banana cake. Let’s begin!
Preheat oven
Before you start, preheat your oven! Ten minutes and then it’s at 350°F (177°C). Adjust the baking time accordingly. Preheat the oven and get ready to bake!
Mash ripe bananas
Two very ripe bananas are needed for this recipe. To get ripe bananas, wait until the skin is brown-mottled. Avoid any with green. If you can’t wait, pre-ripe or frozen-ripened bananas are available in some stores or online.
Peel the ripened banana. Place it in a medium bowl. Mash it into a lumpy paste with a fork or a potato masher. If the mixture is too thick or dry, add some milk – but not too much. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and set it aside.
Combine dry ingredients
Grab a medium-sized mixing bowl. Put in 4 cups of all-purpose flour. Add 3 tsp of baking powder, 1 tsp of baking soda, and 1/4 tsp of salt. Mix. If you’d like, you can add sugar, cinnamon, or nutmeg too. Vary the amount of sugar to get the sweetness you want in your ripe banana cake.
Combine wet ingredients
Once the dry ingredients are blended, mix the wet ingredients in a large bowl. Use a hand mixer, stand mixer, or whisk for best results. Every few minutes, use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl.
Combine the banana puree, eggs, olive oil, and almond milk. This allows you to have a lump-free mixture in your final product.
Combine wet and dry ingredients
Gather your dry ingredients in a large bowl. In the center of the bowl, make a well. Separately, have your wet ingredients in another bowl.
Pour the wet ingredients into the well of the dry ingredients. Make sure to incorporate the inner and outer sides of the well when pouring. Stir lightly until it’s blended into a thick batter. Finally, fold gently to remove all lumps, ensuring everything is mixed together. Do all this quickly to prevent the mixture from becoming dense.
Grease baking pan
Grease the baking pan to make a delicious dessert. Pick a size that fits the recipe. Spray it with oil or rub melted butter or margarine on the bottom and sides. This helps to stop sticking. Also, line the pan with parchment paper for extra assurance. No sticking when the cake cools and you can remove it from the pan.
Bake
Preheat oven to 350 Fahrenheit (180 Celsius). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan with butter or margarine. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper.
In a bowl, mix 1 cup whole wheat flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp ground cinnamon, and ¼ tsp salt. Stir ingredients until blended.
In another bowl, mash 2 large ripe bananas. Mix in ½ cup melted coconut oil or canola oil. Add 1 cup cane sugar and 2 eggs, one at a time. Stir until combined.
Start adding dry ingredients from first bowl to wet mixture from second bowl. Incorporate ¼ cup at a time, stirring very well after each addition. Don’t over mix! Add nuts, raisins, or other extras and stir gently.
Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Test center with toothpick; if it comes out clean, cake is done. Let cool before removing from pan. Serve with scoop of vanilla ice cream for a luxurious dessert experience!
Serving Suggestions
Healthy Ripe Banana Cakes – a guilt-free treat! Ingredients are wholesome and delicious. Perfect for special occasions or just a regular dinner night. Toppings to make it even better? Fresh fruit, nuts, whipped cream or chocolate chips – yum!
Let’s explore some serving ideas that will make the cake even tastier!
Serve with fresh fruit
Ripe banana cakes are an easy-to-make, guilt-free dessert. Perfect for any time of the day! Use over-ripe bananas, honey or agave nectar for sweetness. Add tasty additions like cinnamon, pecans and oats.
To serve:
- Slice thin wedges and put on plates.
- Add a scoop of ice-cream or frozen yogurt and top with fresh berries.
- For more flavour and texture, drizzle slices with honey or dark chocolate.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature.
- For extra indulgence, add a layer of whipped cream between slices.
- Or stuff the cake with yogurt mixed with honey and garnish with berries.
Enjoy as an afternoon snack by warming lightly in the oven and serving with sliced fruit. Or freeze leftovers and enjoy when desired.
Serve with yogurt or ice cream
No need to deprive yourself of flavor and texture to have a healthy dessert! Banana cakes can be an indulgent treat without the guilt. Top ’em off with low-fat yogurt or frozen yogurt for added sweetness and texture. If cold’s your jam, a scoop of ice cream pairs well with the deep banana flavor. Vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry flavors work best.
For a pleasant contrast, add fresh fruits like strawberries and blueberries. Whatever side dish you pick, it doesn’t have to be overly indulgent to taste great!
Serve with a drizzle of honey
Drizzle honey on top of a freshly-baked, healthy banana cake. Honey is nutritive and its flavor complements the ripe bananas. It’s an excellent source of antioxidants and unprocessed carbs. So, enjoy dessert without guilt!
To serve, spoon honey on each piece. For texture, sprinkle peanuts or almond flakes. As a garnish, use chopped strawberries. This will be a hit for breakfast, snack, or afternoon tea!
Conclusion
Take the time to bake Healthy Ripe Banana Cakes – yum! The bananas give sweetness and nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, and fiber. You can make these cakes even better with some simple changes. A guilt-free treat awaits! Enjoy!
