Vegan Banana Cake
Moist, warmly spiced, and topped with a cloud of fluffy vanilla frosting, this banana cake is the kind of dessert that disappears fast — and nobody needs to know it's completely plant-based. The secret to its tender crumb lies in a few clever swaps: flax eggs made from ground flaxseed and water stand in for conventional eggs, while a quick mix of dairy-free milk and apple cider vinegar creates a buttermilk-style tang that keeps every bite soft and rich. Vegan butter does double duty here, both in the batter and the frosting, so the whole cake comes together with ingredients you can find at most grocery stores. Three very ripe bananas bring natural sweetness and moisture, meaning the cake bakes up beautifully without any dairy or eggs holding it together. A hint of cinnamon and brown sugar adds depth that makes this taste far more indulgent than the ingredient list might suggest. The recipe makes 12 generous slices, so it's a great choice for potlucks, birthdays, or any gathering where you want to bring something crowd-pleasing that also happens to be entirely animal-product-free.
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Learn more →Ingredients
12 servings
For the flax eggs
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 6 tbsp water
For the cake
- 3 medium very ripe bananas (about 1 ½ cups mashed)
- ½ cup vegan butter, softened
- ¾ cup organic cane sugar
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ cup dairy free milk
Chef's tipUse plain, unsweetened oat milk, measured 1:1. It works well in drinks, batters, sauces, and soups; avoid it where milk sets the texture, like custards, puddings, and frozen desserts. - 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
For the frosting
- ½ cup vegan butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2–3 tbsp dairy free milkChef's tipUse plain, unsweetened oat milk, measured 1:1. It works well in drinks, batters, sauces, and soups; avoid it where milk sets the texture, like custards, puddings, and frozen desserts.
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- 2
In a small bowl, stir together the ground flaxseed and 6 tbsp water until combined. Set aside for 5 minutes until the mixture thickens to a gel.
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