Got ripe bananas and some chocolate chips? It’s time to make banana chocolate chip cake with this easy recipe – it’s the best snack cake ever!
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Why we love this recipe
Every now and then I get into a Situation with some over-ripe bananas, and it usually begins like this. Someone who shall remain nameless says “Mommy, I really really want bananas. Can we get bananas when we go to the supermarket?”
And so I purchase a lovely large bunch of bananas.
One gets promptly eaten. The rest of them languish on the banana hook. And as soon as they develop one infinitesimal speck of brown on them — well, that’s all she wrote. And out comes this recipe.
This banana snack cake is what I call a pantry recipe – it can be mixed together in about 15 minutes from ingredients you probably have in your pantry right this minute. Pop it in the oven and 30 minutes later…well let’s just say this cake will NEVER languish for long.
What’s the difference between banana bread and banana cake?
They are both great ways to use up elderly bananas! Banana bread tends to be denser and a little less sweet than banana cake (especially banana cake with chocolate chips).
Ingredients you need
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Bananas: You need nice ripe bananas for this recipe so they will mush up softly into the cake batter.
- Chocolate Chips: You can use either regular or mini chocolate chips.
- Baking Powder: It’s always good to check the expiration date on baking powder. Expired baking powder won’t give us the nice fluffy texture we want for our banana cake.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.
How to make this recipe
STEP 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray an 8 x 8 pan with cooking spray (you can also butter it if you like).
STEP 2: In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
STEP 3: In a separate bowl, combine bananas, egg, melted butter and milk.
STEP 4: Stir banana mixture into flour mixture until just blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
STEP 5: Pour batter into pan and bake until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 30-35 minutes. (It may have some melted chocolate on it but no crumbs)
Vow not to listen to children who swear they will eat all the fruit you buy. Until the next time they ask. In the meantime, enjoy some banana chocolate chip cake!
Recipe FAQs
I like to squish them up a little while they are still inside the peel and then squeeze the banana out on to a plate where I finish up the mashing with a fork. But you can also peel them without squishing and mash them with a fork or a potato masher.
Nope. You need them to be totally, completely ripe – as in lots of brown on those peels – or you won’t have the super soft consistency you need to make this cake. I promise it will be worth the wait!
You can! Or white chocolate chips. All chocolate works!
It will last for three to four days – cover it up with plastic wrap or keep it in a cake safe.
Pop your question or suggestion in the Comments section below and I will answer pronto!
Want to round out your snack?
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We want to know what you think!
If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section.
Banana Chocolate Chip Cake
Got ripe bananas and some chocolate chips? It’s time to make banana chocolate chip cake with this easy recipe!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8×8 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- In a separate bowl, combine bananas, egg, melted butter and milk.
- Stir banana mixture into flour mixture until just blended.
- Stir in chocolate chips.
- Pour batter into pan and bake until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 30-35 minutes. (It may have some melted chocolate on it but no crumbs)
- Vow not to listen to children who swear they will eat all the fruit you buy. Until the next time they ask.
Notes
-
- Bananas: You need nice ripe bananas for this recipe so they will mush up softly into the cake batter.
-
- Chocolate Chips: You can use either regular or mini chocolate chips.
-
- Baking Powder: It’s always good to check the expiration date on baking powder. Expired baking powder won’t give us the nice fluffy texture we want for our banana cake.
Lee Mack says
Banana Fritters – Up-side Down Cake and Baked Bananas – Top and tail ripe bananas then place then on oven shelf. Cook until skin cracks. Peel and serve. Delicious with meat or fish instead of vegs.
Lee! Great banana ideas – thank you!
Cherry Brown says
i love it.. looks delicious…I will defiantly try it soon
you can always check here for health benefits of banana..
http://www.doctor-advice.com/p/banana-health-benefits-you-dont-know.html
Preethi says
Can I try this recipe with a 9×9 pan?
You can! It will just be a smaller (height-wise) cake.
Lisa says
Just made this and it turned out delicious! These are ingredients I always have at hand and so easy to make.
Isn’t it the best thing to do with, well, elderly bananas? :)
Jenn says
Can’t wait to try this recipe! Just curious…I know everything tastes better …with BUTTER, but has anyone tried making this cake with 1/2 c vegetable oil instead of the 1/2 c melted butter?
Dew says
Will these work in muffin form?
Kate says
I don’t see why they wouldn’t – I’d just cut the baking time down to 12-15 minutes and do the toothpick test to make sure they are done. If you try it this way will you let us know how they come out?
Dew says
Hello, I just tried them. They were great, made 14 muffins but I will say they cook very easily, next time I will certainly remove them before than 20 minute mark…
Kate says
Thanks for letting me know – I’m going to try the muffin version myself now!
Taylor says
This recipe sounds so yummy! About how many mashed bananas are in one cup?
Kate says
Well, it depends on the size of your bananas, but somewhere between two and three should do it! :)
PamelaW says
I absolutely love your blog. I am going to make about 10 of your recipes for my Girl’s Night In Oscar Party next month. This is the exact kind of blog I would blog… if I had the time to blog… or cook. Of if I could actually cook. But I’m working on all of the above! Thank you!
PamelaW says
I absolutely love your blog. I am going to make about 10 of your recipes for my Girl’s Night In Oscar Party next month. This is the exact kind of blog I would blog… if I had the time to blog… or cook. Of if I could actually cook. But I’m working on all of the above! Thank you!
Anonymous says
this is the first recipe i’ve made from your blog, but it won’t be the last! i stumbled upon your blog today, and i already have a huge list of all the recipes i’m going to try. thank you so much!! :)
victoria
Anonymous says
this is the first recipe i’ve made from your blog, but it won’t be the last! i stumbled upon your blog today, and i already have a huge list of all the recipes i’m going to try. thank you so much!! :)
victoria
Suzan says
Kate
You are remarkable, do you make your own pea soup too?
Suzan says
Kate
You are remarkable, do you make your own pea soup too?
Aileen says
I want!!! Mmmmmmmmmmmm
Aileen says
I want!!! Mmmmmmmmmmmm