Name: Amazing Gluten Free Banana Cake
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup butter (softened); 1/4 cup vegetable oil; 1 cup granulated sugar; ¼ cup brown sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 1/2 cups mashed banana (about 3); 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla; 45 g. sorghum flour (about 1/3 cup); 50 g. brown rice flour (about 1/3 cup); 120 g. potato starch (about ¾ cup); 60 g. tapioca flour or starch (about ½ cup); 1 tsp. xanthan gum; 1 tsp. baking soda; 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder; ½ tsp. ground cinnamon; 1/4 tsp. salt; 8 oz. cream cheese; ½ cup butter (softened); 1 tsp. vanilla extract; 3 – 4 cups powdered sugar

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As if banana bread could get any better, this gluten free banana cake proves that yes it can! It’s an easy to mix, rich, glorious sheet cake that gets a kick from a heavenly cream cheese frosting.

This has got to be the moistest cake ever. I’ve enjoyed my fair share of cakes (and cupcakes!), but this banana cake has the most tender crumb and gooey frosting that just takes it over the top. And it’s easy too – it’s as guest-worthy as it is a quick weeknight treat. And since the recipe uses 3 plump bananas, it’s a great way to use up those ripe bananas by making a treat everyone will love.

But actually, this cake didn’t start out with a cream cheese frosting. That tasty addition was decided on the spur of the moment. And to be quite honest, the cake really doesn’t need it. You could easily serve it as-is and everyone would love it and enjoy it.

But if you want something to give it a nudge. Maybe call it a little boost. Then definitely add the frosting.

Is this cake sweet?

Banana-sweet, yes! A little tip for bananas… the riper the bananas, the sweeter they are. I use super ripe bananas in this recipe so it’s deliciously sweet and moist. And then there’s the sugar too. I’ve cut the recipe down to 1 ¼ cups rather than the 1 ½ cups I started with – and it’s still yummy and sweet.

Can I make this cake dairy free?

Yes! The cake itself can easily be made dairy free. The frosting is another story. My recommendation is to dust the cake with powdered sugar to make it dairy free, instead of using the frosting. Dairy free cream cheese and plant based butter can be substituted in the frosting but there is a noticeable difference in the taste.

Can I substitute different flours in the recipe?

This cake is pretty forgiving with substitutions. My advice is to reference this guide to gluten free flours and the substitution chart and match the flour that most closely matches the one you are substituting. So closest to sorghum flour, for example, are amaranth, millet or teff flours. Just match up the protein and fiber counts.

Can I make cupcakes out of this recipe?

Banana cake cupcakes – absolutely yes! I like my cupcakes rather full, so a 12 cup muffin pan works beautifully, but if you prefer a flatter topped cupcake, then you’ll need 2 muffin tins (for about 18 cupcakes). Bake the cupcakes for 20 – 25 minutes at the same oven temperature.

What’s the best way to store this cake?

The easiest way to store this banana cake is to wrap it well with foil and place the pan in the refrigerator. I think it tastes even better the second day!

Tips for Making Gluten Free Banana Cake

The Ingredients list

As with nearly every other gluten free bread recipe, room temperature ingredients are essential. From the eggs to the butter, warmer ingredients blend better which leads to lighter batter and a better textured cake.

Pro Baking Tip: Eggs can be quickly brought to room temperature by floating them in a cup of warm water for 5 – 10 minutes.

While waiting for the eggs to warm and butter to soften, measure out the flours and starches with a kitchen scale. Wondering why weigh rather than measure in cups? The short answer is weight is more accurate than cups. Flours, even different brands of the same flour, can measure significantly more or less in cups, but weight is exact.

Mixing the batter

After creaming the butter, oil and sugars, add the bananas, eggs and vanilla. The mixture should look creamy and blended. The next step is to add the dry ingredients and mix the batter until it’s nice and smooth. The batter will look thick and well blended.

Preparing the pan

I’ve found the best way to prepare the pan for this cake is to with some old fashioned buttering. Take a small section of butter and run it all over the pan, covering every nook and cranny.

Baking

Spread the batter in the pan and bake the cake for about 30 minutes. Test it with a toothpick after 30 minutes and give it a few more minutes if needed.

Cream cheese frosting

This cream cheese frosting is a superb combination of tang and sweet all wrapped up in one amazing, creamy frosting. It’s an easy recipe to whip up and goes on super smooth. I’ve found the best temperature to frost the cake is slightly warm to room temperature. You don’t want melted frosting, but there’s no need to wait until it cools completely either.

Are you ready for the most amazing gluten free banana cake ever?!