Healthy Banana Cake made without butter or oil, but so tender and flavourful that you’d never be able to tell. Topped with a lightened-up cream cheese frosting, this delicious banana-flavoured cake feels decadent but is actually surprisingly healthy.
Oh, hi there! Remember me?
Because I know I’ve been a little MIA from the blog and social media world for the last handful of days, but – you guys – this past week thoroughly kicked my butt. I’m not sure how much detail I want to go into with this being a recipe post and all, but let’s just say it’s hard to create quality blog content when you’re in the middle of making a batch of flourless brownies and have to leave the raw batter sitting on the counter so you can rush your dog to the emergency vet clinic.
Ky hasn’t been doing well and we’re not even 100% sure what’s wrong with her. She’s old, sure, but numerous tests have come back “normal” and we have no explanation as to why she won’t eat, drink, or move around much. They’re tossing around the “C” word, but my mind isn’t ready to go there just yet. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to mention anything on Spoons at all, but I tried going that direction with this post at first and the whole thing felt way too fake. It’s just hard to get super jazzed about a recipe when you’re trying to process the fact that it’s only a matter of time before you lose a member of your family, you know?
But we’re going to try because what else is there? We’re doing everything we can for her at this point, so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how things play out. I’ll keep you posted. And thanks for letting me vent a little bit.
SO! Chocolate chip banana cake. With cream cheese frosting, because why not?
Would you believe me if I told you that the combination totally works? Because I wasn’t too sure how well the chocolate and cheese would go together, but I had a couple of overripe bananas that needed using up, and I wanted something with a little more pizzaz than plain banana bread. I mean, it’s the holidays after all.
SO! I tossed a healthy handful of chocolate chips into one of my favourite banana bread recipes, swapped out the loaf pan for a square baking pan, and topped the whole thing with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting… which is technically optional but really shouldn’t be.
I mean…
… yeaaaaaaaah.
Normally I’m a cake over frosting kind of girl, but I make an exception for the tangy sweetness of cream cheese frosting. It’s seriously heaven.
And despite how rich and decadent the whole thing might sound, this banana cake is actually on the healthier side. The cake itself is made without any butter or oil, and uses maple syrup to stay refined-sugar-free. For the frosting, I used a light cream cheese, replaced the butter with a few spoonfuls of Greek yogurt, and substantially cut back on the sugar. You could probably even sub in some stevia (to taste) if you wanted to lower the sugar even more, but I’m not a huge fan of the taste so I just went the regular sugar route.
The recipe itself is super easy to whip up, requiring only one bowl for the cake and another for the frosting. Just make sure to let the cake cool completely before you try frosting it, or it’ll just melt right off.
Happy eating!
I’d love to know if you make this recipe! Leave a comment and rating down below to let me know what you think, and subscribe to our mailing list to receive new recipes in your inbox!
Print
Healthy Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Total Time: 50 mins
- Yield: 16 pieces 1x
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup (115 g) plain Greek yogurt
- 2 medium-size, ripe bananas, mashed (200 g or 1 cup)
- 6 Tbsp (90 ml) maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup (60 g) quick oats
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 1/4 cup (150 g) white whole wheat flour
- Optional add-ins: 1/2 cup (80 g) chocolate chips/dried fruit/nuts/etc.
For the frosting:
- 4 oz (112 g) low fat cream cheese
- 2 Tbsp (30 g) plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup (60 g) confectioners’ sugar*
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350ºF (176ºC) and prepare an 8×8 (20 x 20cm) baking pan by lining it with a sheet of parchment paper, leaving a few inches of overhang on the sides to allow for easy removal. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, lightly beat the eggs until the yolks break apart. Whisk in the yogurt, bananas, maple syrup, and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
- Stir in the oats, baking soda, and cinnamon. Finally, spoon in the flour and gently stir it in until just combined. If you’re adding any mix-ins, fold them in now.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it out evenly. Bake for 35 – 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Once the cake is cool, prepare the frosting by beating the cream cheese, yogurt, sugar, and vanilla in a small bowl. Spread it on top of the cooled cake prior to slicing. Store the bread in a covered container in the fridge for up to 7 days, or freeze it (unfrosted) for up to 3 months.
Notes
* Feel free to add more sugar to the icing if it isn’t sweet enough for you. Just mix it in by the spoonful until it reaches your desired level of sweetness.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
Looking for more healthy banana recipes? Try one of these!
Banana Oat Greek Yogurt Muffins
Grain-Free Banana Bread Bars
Flourless Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Blueberry Banana Bread Mug Cake
Greek Yogurt Banana Bread
*Disclosure: Some of the links included in this post may be affiliate links, meaning I’ll earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use and believe will add value to my readers. Thank you so much for helping support Spoons!
I’m so glad I found this recipe, it’s perfect for a weeknight dinner.
I appreciate the tips and tricks for making this recipe turn out perfectly.
Terrible recipe. A very dense banana bread, definitely not a cake. Wish I’d read the reviews and not used this recipe.
So sorry to hear about your dog, I was just wondering if you have tried CBD with your furry friend yet.
Although this tastes good I wouldn’t call it cake, more like banana bread. I made it 3 times and none of them have risen like your pics. It would have much better if it had been made in a loaf tin.
So this is clearly called a cake and I’m not sure if I did something wrong or what, but once this cake was made it turned out to be more like bread than anything. Just leaving this to let future bakers know! All in all it was very tasty though!
Maybe try adding baking powder? You may have over mixed the batter or had bad baking soda.
Just made this cake. Super yummy. Love the texture and the sweetness. Whole grains and no added fat in a cake – amazing! I think this is my new favorite cream cheese frosting…it would be so good on cinnamon rolls (I know, I know, they’re not so healthy).
Thanks for posting it.
Hi
I don’t have a couple of the ingredients so just wondering about substitutions.
Can you substitute maple syrup for agave syrup?
And greek yogurt for unsweetened apple sauce
I’m not much of a baker but have some riped bananas to use and came upon your recipe.
Thanks and take care!
Hi Pearl! Agave in place of maple syrup would definitely work. And I’m -pretty- sure that applesauce in place of Greek yogurt would be okay. I hope you like it!
It looks really yummy! Definitely something delicious to come out of bananas that is also good for you. You have taken gorgeous pictures of it too so it looks really enticing! I never bake for my family because I’m so busy baking for other people, but I may have to try this one out 🙂 I’m sorry about your dog 🙁
Sending good doggy vibes your way. I’m here for you.
Just pulled this out of the oven. Can’t wait to try!
Oh Amanda, I’m so sorry to hear about Ky. I wish there was something I could say or do to help make it better. It’s so hard watching them grow old and struggle. It’s even harder because they can’t talk to us to tell us what they need. I’m sending lots of hugs and love your way, girly! <3
I’ve been thinking about you, lovely, because I know you just went through this. Hope you’re doing okay <3 xox
I’m sorry about your dog–that is so stressful! 🙁
Thanks for sharing this post–I’ll have to make a dairy free version but this combo sounds amazing! I’m definitely a huge cake over icing fan. I love crumb cakes and loaf cakes with no icing and all cake! Growing up, my sister would eat my icing and i would eat the cake!
I love chocolate chips in my banana bread! Also delicious? cinnamon chips! have you tried those?
!!! Cinnamon chips?! I’ve never tried those! I’ll have to keep an eye out the next time I’m in the store. Thanks Heather!
Sorry to hear about your pup, dealing with a sick pet is never easy. Praying for you! At least you have this fluffy cake to enjoy! I totally believe you when you say that chocolate and cream cheese work because I know cream cheese frosting works with basically anything, heck, I could eat it with a spoon! What a perfect way to use up ripe bananas, thanks Amanda 🙂
1) I may make this cream cheese icing to eat with a spoon.
2) so very sorry about your pup 🙁
Sorry to hear about your pup. I would go bat shit cray cray if something happened to my girls, so I totally understand. Fingers crossed that it isn’t anything too serious with her – maybe just the holiday blues? Buy her a giant bone to munch on!! 😉
Side note – give me alllll the cream cheese frosting. It is seriously my go-to frosting right now. I just want it on everything!
It’s scary ’cause she’s at that age where everything starts to go, so we’re not sure if she caught something or if it’s the beginning of the end. She’s gotten a little bit better, but then she has another bad day so we’re not sure what’s up.
I’m so sorry Amanda – I know it must be so hard! I’m going to be a dog aunt soon when my sister gets her Samoyed and I know he’s going to feel like any other human member of our family. Thinking of your guys. <3
of course you should mention that is going on with Ky! Something that is that important in your life deserves to be mentioned in this space. I do feel your heartache. It is so hard when a cherished family member including pets gets sick and maybe approaching death. I will keep Ky, you and all your pack in my thoughts and send white light. Please do let us know how she is doing.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Jacquie. It means a lot <3
Aw, Amanda, I am SO sorry you’re having to cope with this!! 😭😭😭 My dog is getting old, more fragile, having weird flinching episodes, etc., and I can’t imagine how sad I’m going to be when she’s gone. Please don’t worry if you have to take some time away from blog stuff to spend with Ky. We totally understand and support you!! I wish I could give you a hug right now…just here’s a virtual one!! XOXO😙💞
Thank you so much, lovely <3 Big hugs to you and your pup too! xo
Big hugs to you and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Ky! I hope you won’t have to say goodbye to her just yet. As a long-time reader I’ve heard you talk so much about her that I can imagine how close to your heart she is.
I’m glad you mentioned it because you might mostly write about food but these things matter. You shouldn’t ever feel like you had to be all happy and cheerful 24/7 when you’re internally torn apart.
<3 I've definitely been struggling with trying to find that balance between being professional and being personal. Feels kind of out of place to be talking about that kind of stuff in a recipe post, but at the same time, I wouldn't really want to devote an entire post to it. Work in progress :)
I am so sorry to hear about your dog. My family just had a recent health scare with our German Shepherd puppy, and it shook me up so bad I couldn’t function until we found out it wasn’t what we feared. I hope your situation turns out as well as ours did.
Thanks so much, Kaitlyn. She’s slowly showing signs of improvement, but she’s still getting way up there in years so it constantly feels like it’s just a matter of time. I’m glad everything turned out okay with your pup!
Prayers for Ky! I always thought humans best friend needs to live closer to human years….
I’m so sorry to hear about Ky. She’s been a dear friend for you for so long. So glad that you’re such an amazing puppy mom and there to take care of her. Hang in there! <3
I am so sorry to hear about Ky. I love your blogs.
Oh Amanda, I am so sorry to hear about Ky… as a mom to 2 furry fellas, (one who is 10) my heart hurts for you.
As for this cake, I adore healthier treats like this! Am a frosting over cake gal, but when the cake is this healthy it’s hard for me to choose!
Sending you a huge virtual hug, sweet friend
Thanks so much, Shashi! <3
OH no!! Please keep us posted on Ky. My dog is going through similar. It’s bring so hard. Here for you. AMAZING. Per usual my sweet friend
with chocolate chips of course! gosh I hope she gets well soon. doggie issues are just the worst. I remember when my little cindy (my toy poodle from growing up) was getting older and things were getting complicated. I am still not over and exactly why I wont get another dog. I just can’t deal with the heartbreak when they aren’t well.
Yeah that’s pretty much where I’m at right now too. The worst is knowing that something is wrong and feeling completely helpless. And I can’t see myself getting another dog after her either. Heck, I’m -still- not over the one I lost 9 years ago.
Oh no so sorry to hear! Anything health related with my family scares me and stresses me out big time. As for the cake it looks delicious and I love the lighting in the photos!
Aww I’m so sorry to hear about Ky. Wishing you lots of strength and love.
Thanks so much, Chao.