Gluten-Free Banana Espresso Cake

A favorite cake in my home, this gluten-free banana espresso cake is super easy to make. 

A sliced of cake on a plate with a fork.

I think desserts with banana in them give us all the warm and cozy feelings. They are great with coffee or tea and perfect for breakfast. This Gluten-Free Date Orange Banana Bread and this Super Chocolaty Banana Bread are some of my favorite banana dessert recipes.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • It’s gluten-free but can also be made using regular all-purpose flour.
  • You can make it into a 13X9 sheet cake or a double layer cake.
  • If you’re a banana lover it’s a great dessert.
  • The cream cheese frosting is supper yummy
  • Can be served casually or for entertaining
A full sheet cake with frosting and chocolate shavings.

Ingredients

Gluten-free Flour – Use your favorite brand. Can sub in regular flour if not gluten-free.

Xanthan Gum – Needed only if the gluten-free flour doesn’t have it in the mix.

Baking Powder

Baking Soda

Salt

Instant Espresso Powder (Optional) – For a nice flavor, it doesn’t make it taste like coffee.

Sugar – Regular granulated sugar.

Bananas – Ripe bananas, the more brown spots the better

Oil – Veg, canola or coconut oil works well.

Eggs

Vanilla Extract

Butter

Cream Cheese

Powdered Sugar

The Cake

The banana cake can be made in a single layer using a 13×9 baking pan. If you want to make it a double layer you can use an 8×8 or 9×9 round cake pan.  

Cake batter in a baking pan
Baked cake in a sheet pan.

Instructions

  1. Pre-Heat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Grease and flour two 8 or 9 inch round baking pans or one 13×9 baking pan.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients.
  4. In a separate bowl mash the bananas, then add the oil, eggs, and vanilla extract and mix well.
  5. Pour into the baking pan and bake 10-15 minutes for the the 9 x 9 or 30-35 minutes for the 13 x 9 or until a tester comes out clean.
  6. Cool the cake on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and let the cake cool completely. If using a 13 x 9 pan you can leave it in the pan if desired.

The Frosting

  1.  Using a mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese until creamy.
  2. Add in the vanilla extract ad powdered sugar. Mix, scraping the bowl as needed until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
  3. Frost the cake.
Cream cheese frosting on a cake
Chocolate shaving on a frosted cake.

Topping Variations

If you feel inspired you can top the frosting with these ideas:

Caramel drizzle

Mini Chocolate chips

Caramelized bananas

Chocolate shavings

Colored Sprinkles

Cake slices

Storage Tips

Because of the frosting, the cake needs to be refrigerated. You can remove it about a 1/2 hour before serving so the frosting has time to soften a bit. However, you it still tastes yummy if you don’t want to wait that long.

A slice cake with chocolate shavings.
A slice of cake on a plate with a spoon.

Gluten-Free Banana Espresso Cake

Stillwood Kitchen
A delicious banana cake with a cream cheese frosting. It can be made in a single layer 13 x 9 pan or as a double layer cake. Perfect for snacking or entertaining.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 533 kcal

Ingredients
  

For The Cake

  • 1 1/2 cup Gluten-free flour
  • 3/4 tsp Xanthan Gum if GF flour doesn't have it in the mix already
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 2 tsp Instant Espresso Powder Optional
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 1/4 cup Ripe mashed bananas About 3 medium bananas
  • 1/2 cup Oil such as vegetable, or canola oil
  • 2 large Eggs
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

For The Frosting

  • 1/2 cup Butter softened
  • 8 oz Cream Cheese
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 2 cups Powdered Sugar

Instructions
 

  • Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
  • Grease and flour two 8 or 9 inch round baking pans or one 13x9 baking pan.
  • In a large bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients.
  • In a separate bowl mash the bananas, then add the oil, eggs, vanilla to them and mix well.
  • Pour into baking pan and bake 10-15 minutes for 9x9 or 30-35 minutes for 13x9 or until a tester comes out clean.
  • Cool the cake on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Then remove them from the pan and let the cake cool completely. If using a 13x9 pan you can leave in the pan if desired.

Make the Frosting

  • Using a mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese until creamy.
  • Add the vanilla extract and powdered sugar and mix, scraping down the bowl as needed. Continue to mix until smooth.
  • Frost the cake.

Notes

Store the cake in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Remove a 1/2 hour before serving to let the frosting soften a bit if desired.
You can make this can using regular all-purpose flour if not gluten-free.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 533kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 5gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 434mgPotassium: 157mgFiber: 3gSugar: 48gVitamin A: 660IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 1mg
Keyword banana, cake, espresso, cream cheese frosting, gluten-free
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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