Simply Gourmet joins us with a delicious gluten-free chocolate chip banana cake recipe.
As days dwindle down in the month of February, I’m astounded by how much I’ve already accomplished in the new year. There were times (oh so many times) over the past few years when I questioned my decisions. Going back to school, leaving my career, leaving my city… This month has really sealed it for me. I made the right decision. If you’re not feeling satisfaction in your current life, it is NEVER too late to start over and follow your dreams. Fear is the biggest obstacle.
I will soon have time to post new recipes on a regular basis but for now I’ve enlisted a few more friends to fill the void. Today’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Banana Cake is from my neighbor, Sherron of Simply Gourmet. We were blog friends before finally meeting in person and I’m so happy to know her. She’s awesome and her blog is fantastic. Beautiful recipes, gorgeous photos. Make sure to visit her site and say hello!
What a delight it is to be guest posting on a page that I was a fan of long before Jennifer and I became friends. The first recipe that I saved and printed was her pumpkin ravioli.
It encouraged me to make my first batch of fresh pasta and purchase my own pasta machine. The simplicity and beauty of her photos are just a few more reasons why I enjoy Savory Simple.
It was shortly before her ravioli post that I started my own food blog, Simply Gourmet. I have been cooking forever it would seem, growing up in the restaurant business taught me a lot about food and people. I went on to become a food photographer and recipe developer/writer.
I currently write for Capital Style Magazine in Annapolis, MD. I love my job.
Four years ago I was diagnosed with Celiac disease. My world, for a short time, was turned upside down. Everything I had spent years learning in the kitchen was suddenly taken away from me. The bread, cookies and cakes that I made would no longer be enjoyed at family functions or parties. I was heart broken, to say the least.
My sadness turned into determination. I was determined to relearn how to make bread, cookies and cakes but this time around, it would all be gluten free. The learning curve was huge in the beginning. I relearned ratios and new flours. I had to accept failure on occasion.
I can happily report that in the past four years I have come to accept my intolerance to wheat and embrace it. I love working with an assortment of flours and starches. I am grateful for the communities that exist to help those recently diagnosed with wheat issues.
Growing up I loved banana bread and this cake is a reflection of that fond memory. I find that when cooking with gluten free recipes, the smaller and shorter the dish used, the better the recipe turns out. I don’t really make banana bread anymore, but I do make this cake quite often. I tend to over buy bananas and have a whole freezer shelf with dark brown frozen spears that are ready to be used.
I have made the cake in a 9-inch tart pan (see picture) and I have doubled the recipe to make it into a two-layer cake (see picture). My family does not like frosting–weird, I know—so more often than not, we make the single layer and enjoy it with a dab of butter melted on top.
The addition of chocolate chips is optional. I personally like the combination of chocolate and banana together.
I want to thank Savory Simple for allowing me to share a recipe that has become a family favorite in our home over at Simply Gourmet.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Banana Cake
Ingredients
- ¾ cup almond meal
- ½ cup sweet sorghum flour
- ¼ cup tapioca or arrowroot starch
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- ¼ cup oil (sunflower oil or light olive oil)
- ½ cup milk, room temperature
- 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9-inch tart pan by spraying with cooking oil.
- Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk.
- Combine the wet ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and gently combine.
- Add the banana and chocolate chips. Stir well.
- Pour mixture into pan and bake for 30 minutes. Cake will brown slightly and rise in the middle. It should be firm to the touch.
- Let cool slightly and then remove the bottom of the tart pan from mold.
- Serve as is or frost with your favorite frosting.
Notes
Please read my full post for additional recipe notes, tips, and serving suggestions!
Nutrition
Recipe Troubleshooting
For immediate help troubleshooting a recipe, please email me using the form on my contact page. I’ll try to respond to urgent questions as quickly as possible! For all general questions, please leave a comment here :)
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
What a lovely cake, I love chocolate with banana!
Jennifer Farley says
It’s a great combination!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
Awesome guest post! I sure could use a slice of that cake as a midnight snack right now!
Jennifer Farley says
I could use it for breakfast!
Siobhan says
Firstly can I say to Jennifer… thanks for the advice to follow your dream… and yes it is “The fear” that holds us back. And to Sherron… what a great cake and inspired by your story. I’m constantly baking banana muffins because of overbuying – I hate throwing out anything so they all get mashed and mixed up into muffins for handiness. Thinking I might try this recipe for a change. Thank you both :)
Jennifer Farley says
You’re very welcome. I overbuy bananas as well. Luckily I like smoothies!
Katie says
What a bizarre twist of fate to be a food professional and to have a diagnosis like Celiac disease! I am so glad for you that you were able to turn it around and not let it get you down. Eating treats like this glorious-looking cake must sure make it not so bad! Ha ha. I wonder, do you have issues with dairy? I was personal chef to a woman with Celiac disease for years, and she could only tolerate small amounts of dairy. I am so glad to know about you and your blog.
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen says
Bananas and chocolate go so well together, and I´ll take the top pic, since I don´t like frosting much either! This is a great gf recipe and a great way to learn about alternative flours and nuts. Gorgeous guest post!
Jennifer Farley says
I’m thrilled that Sherron brought us this delicious cake!
Erin@LawStudentsWife says
What an inspiring story. Thank you for sharing it with us (and for a fantastic recipe!) I feel comforted just looking at the pictures, and I am craving this cake for breakfast!
Jennifer Farley says
I feel very honored that Sherron shared her story with us!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
Simply beautiful and delicious looking!
Jennifer Farley says
Thank you, Kayle!
Little Kitchie says
Chocolate and banana have to be one of the best combinations. This looks absolutely delicious!
Jennifer Farley says
It’s a match made in heaven :)
Cookin Canuck says
This sounds fantastic! I’m forwarding this on to my friend, who needs plenty of good GF recipes on her side.
Jennifer Farley says
Thank you so much, Dara!
Brenda says
Why did I throw those three bananas in the trash? Almond meal is one of my favorite things.
Jennifer Farley says
You can always freeze them! I have a tendency to overbuy bananas. Luckily I really like them in smoothies.
Pops De Milk says
I love banana bread and especially with chocolate chips. I haven’t tried making anything gluten-free and I wonder if it’s time I did…mostly out of curiosity but also for health reasons. I’m not sure if I’m allergic to gluten but it would be nice to have an alternative to using regular flour. Thank you for sharing this!
Jennifer Farley says
I have fun experimenting with gluten-free baking from time to time. There’s definitely an art to it!
Grubarazzi (@Grubarazzi) says
I love that this is gluten free since I really try to avoid gluten the majority of the time. Just too many reactions to it. I also love this post. It’s so nice to see someone living out their dreams! Have fun with it!
Jennifer Farley says
I cut out gluten from time to time and am always amazed at how much better I feel!
Sherron@Simply Gourmet says
Thank you Jennifer for allowing me to be a guest on your blog. What a treat to wake up from being ill all day and read these lovely comments. Thank you everyone!
Jennifer Farley says
I’m so glad you posted! It was an honor to have you :)
tijuana (po' man meals) says
i LOVE banana and chocolate together. this cake looks so good!
Jennifer Farley says
It’s such a fabulous combination!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
Love the banana and chocolate chip combination! I have a family member that has recently had to start eating GF. She’d love this!
Jennifer Farley says
Send it over to her! Sherron’s recipes are fabulous so it’s sure to be a hit.