Can't decide between a sweet banana bread or delicious coffee cake? This recipe celebrates the best of both. It's also gluten free, refined sugar free, dairy free, and vegan friendly - including the streusal and topping!
How to Make Banana Bread Coffee Cake
Mix all the wet ingredients in bowl.
Get your bowl. Get your brown bananas. Getchur maple syrup, flax seeds or eggs, and vanilla.
Make your flax eggs. Just mix 2 tablespoon of ground flax with 6 tablespoon of water and let it sit to "gel" for a few minutes.
If you're not Vegan, you can also use 2 regular eggs.
Now, add your dry ingredients.
The recipe calls for both Almond Flour and Oat Flour.
Mix everything until just combined. No hand mixer or any funny fancy equipment required.
Guess what? If you only have one of those flours on hand, or just want to use less ingredients, you can use only one. Just make sure you use 1.5 Cups total.
You could also use regular All Purpose Flour, or 1:1 Gluten Free Flour. Same rule - make sure you use 1.5 cups total!
Make that Sugar Free Streusal Topping
Its just 4 simple ingredients!
Almond Flour
Cinnamon
Maple Syrup
Coconut Oil
Mix them all up in a bowl until crumbly. Sprinkle on top of cake before baking. Watch it bake up beautifully and become the best part of the cake.
If you want, you can use any flour in place of the almond flour.
You can also use honey or coconut sugar or brown sugar in place of maple syrup.
Make sure your crumb/struesal has some texture to it. It should be like damp sand. If it is too dry, it may burn. Too wet, it won't create that crunchy texture.
Can we talk about that Dairy Free Icing?
You betcha, we sure can!
I must confess, its not really "icing".
Its really just melted Coconut Butter mixed with a touch of cinnamon. But its delicious and sweet and makes the cake pretty.
Is it necessary?
No, its not. But if you happen to have Coconut Butter on hand, its easy enough. If you don't, don't sweat it!
Can I use regular icing?
Sure! Here is a recipe if you want to use powdered sugar, butter, the whole sh'bang. Or you can use any favorite recipe you have! Or, use my simple 1-ingredient one.
What Can I sub for ______?
Here at The Granola Diaries, we are all about making recipes as simple and as accessible as possible. So, I always love to make substitutes an option!
For the Oat Flour / Almond Flour: You can sub more or less of either one. You can sub in 1:1 Gluten Free Flour, Spelt Flour, Cassava Flour. You cannot use Coconut Flour.
For the Maple Syrup: You can sub honey or coconut sugar.
For the flax eggs: You can sub in regular eggs.
For the coconut oil (in the streusal): You can sub butter, ghee, or any neutral oil.
Is this a Banana Bread or a Coffee Cake?
Its both! You've got your base made with mashed bananas and classic Banana Bread flavors. And then you've got your (refined sugar free) Coffee Cake Crumb topping (aka Streusal). And your optional dairy free icing drizzle too. All the flavors and textures combined creates a Banana Bread Coffee Cake!
Or, Banana Coffee Cake.
Banana Cake.
Coffee Banana Bread.
What would you call it?
FAQ About Banana Coffee Cake
Is this Vegan?
Yep! Just make sure to use Flax Eggs instead of regular ones.
Is This Gluten Free? Does it need to be?
It is! You won't even be able to tell. If you want to use regular All Purpose flour, you can, but it won't be gluten free anymore.
Can't I just make a plain banana bread or plain coffee cake?
Uh, yeah, you can. Kinda boring if you ask me, but anyways.... here is a recipe for banana bread and here is a recipe for coffee cake. (Both gluten free & Dairy Free)
Is this added sugar free?
Yep! The brown bananas are naturally very sweet and a touch of maple syrup go a long way. It won't be as sweet as a "normal" cake, but its still delicious!
Do I need to frost it?
You don't NEEEED to do anything. But if you can, why not?!
Pin this recipe for later!
Banana Coffee Cake (Refined Sugar Free & Vegan)
This recipe celebrates the best of Banana Bread and Coffee Cake. It’s also gluten free, refined sugar free, dairy free, and vegan friendly – including the streusal and icing!
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 3 Brown Bananas
- 2 Large Eggs or Flax Eggs for Vegan - (2 tablespoon Flax + 6 tablespoon Water))
- ⅓ Cup Maple Syrup
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 Cup Almond Flour (Sub: Oat Flour)
- ½ Cup Oat Flour (Sub: Almond Flour)
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Salt
Streusal Topping
- ½ Cup Almod Flour or Oat Flour
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 2 teaspoon Coconut Sugar or Maple Syrup
- 3 tablespoon Coconut Oil
Dairy Free Icing
- 3 tablespoon Coconut Butter
- ⅛ teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 - 2 tablespoon Warm Water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a cake pan. You can use a 7 x 11" size or 8 or 9" square pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together wet ingredients.
- Add dry ingredients on top of wet mixture. Try to mix the dry ingredients together on top, then incorporate into the wet mixture. Pour batter into cake pan.
- Wipe out the bowl to make your streusal (or use a new, small bowl). Add all streusal toppings and mash with your fingers or a fork, until it resembles crumbs or damp sand. Use your hands to sprinkle on top of the cake.
- Bake for 34 - 36 minutes, until fork comes out clean and streusal is carmelized. Let cool for 10 - 15 minutes, and enjoy now or later!
- Optional: Drizzle with icing. Mix coconut butter, warm water , and cinnamon in a bowl until it is drizzle-able. Add more water if it's too thick. Drizzle over cake or individual slices, as desired.
Notes
To ensure the cake is Vegan, use Flax Eggs instead of regular eggs.
For a thicker cake, bake in an 8x8" square pan. For a thinner but larger cake, bake in a 7x11" baking dish. A 9x13" dish will be very thin and come out more like blondies.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 181Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 123mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 2gSugar: 9gProtein: 5g
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Anjali @ The Picky Eater
Omg I love this healthier version of coffee cake!! The vegan substitutions are awesome and I know my kids will have a blast helping me make this recipe 🙂
thegranoladiaries
Oh yes! So kid-friendly! They'll love mushing up the crumb topping with their hands, I'm sure!
Emily Liao
This cake was the perfect twist on a regular banana bread! I loved how easy it was and the coffee added a delicious flavor to it.
Krissy Allori
This bread looks amazing. I love that it's vegan. I have a few friends that come to a bookclub that are vegan. This will be perfect to make and take the next time. Thanks!
thegranoladiaries
It's perfect! Both vegans and non-vegans love it!
Abigail Raines
Thank you for enabling me to enjoy a yummy banana cake and perfect coffee cake in one sweet treat! Love all that cinnamon goodness here!
thegranoladiaries
My pleasure! Hope you love it!!!
Dolly
Loving this creative way of using up ripe bananas! Looks so delish... and healthy too!
thegranoladiaries
Yes, one of my favorites, other than banana bread!
Ronak Mehta
Thank you for sharing this delightfully easy, mouthwateringly delicious recipe. Have baked this cake several times since I first tried it a few weeks back and it’s been a huge success each time!
thegranoladiaries
Love this comment! Thank you so much for sharing - so glad you are enjoying it!