STEAMED BANANA CAKE
Nobody will ever guess you skipped the oven to make this incredibly delicious Steamed Banana Cake! Bursting with rich banana flavour and infused with warm spices, it’s a masterpiece of simplicity that takes only 30 minutes of cook time to make!
Looking for more incredible desserts? Try my Aish El Saraya recipe!
A delicious, no-bake, steamed banana cake – that consistently delivers on taste and texture! Let’s Make It!
My Story
Food waste is a major pet peeve of mine and bananas are notorious for becoming overripe and ending up in the trash in my household!
So I’ve tried out a bunch of ways to store and use them effectively. Bananas are my favorite fruit after all! Whether it’s freezing them for smoothies or baking up homemade treats, I’m all about making the most of them!
This baked treat is no exception – and I love how steaming it makes it foolproof – in achieving a great sponge cake texture!
On another note, confession time! If you grew up in a South Asian household, the oven can sometimes double as a storage unit! (If you know, you know!)
So, if you’re not big on using the oven (or maybe you don’t use it at all), this recipe is made just for you! And I’m pumped to share it with you!
What You’ll Love About This Recipe
Recipe Ingredients
What you’ll need for the BEST Steamed Banana Cake recipe:
Ingredient Notes
Bananas: You want to use overripe bananas, as they add great natural sweetness to the cake – so you don’t need to add excessive sugar! Their soft texture also makes it easy to mash, and adds a great banana taste;
Oil: I use vegetable oil – being a flavorless oil it does not impart any strong taste to the cake;
Vanilla: I love using Queen’s Vanilla Bean paste (available in Australia) as opposed to Vanilla Extract. The paste has a great intense vanilla flavor! But ofcourse, you can use your favorite Vanilla bean paste OR extract for this recipe;
Cardamom: Cardamom and bananas are a match made in heaven! For the freshest flavor, I grind whole cardamom seeds myself. So much than pre-ground cardamom. You can find them at most local Indian grocers.
How To Make STEAMED BANANA CAKE: Step-By-Step
Here are some quick visual instructions. The full instructions with the exact ingredients are printable in the recipe card below!
Step 1: In a cup or small bowl, heat butter and milk in the microwave in 20-second bursts until the butter has melted. Stir to combine, then set aside.
Step 2: In a large bowl, mash up overripe bananas, I find it easiest to use clean hands for this!
Step 3: To the banana mixture – crack in one egg, pour in the heated milk and butter, vegetable oil and vanilla, stir to combine.
Step 4: Add brown sugar, cardamom, stir to combine
Step 5: Sift in all purpose flour, baking powder and baking soda, whisk until just combined
Step 6: Pour into a prepared 8″ cake pan and steam for 30 minutes on medium heat to high heat. Check skewer comes out clean. Remove from pot, then it’s ready to serve!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
TIP 1 – BANANAS: overripe bananas are essential for this cake, providing intense banana flavor, natural sweetness, and easy mashing for a smooth batter. Chunks of banana in the batter are perfectly fine and enhance the cake’s texture, flavor and moisture;
TIP 2 – BUTTER & MILK: when warming butter and milk, it’s crucial not to overheat it, as overheated butter can burst and splatter in the microwave. To prevent this, opt for 20-second intervals when heating. Stir between each interval; often, the residual heat is adequate to melt the butter completely, this way you can avoid the need for excessive heating;
TIP 3 – POUR BATTER INTO PREPARED CAKE PAN IMMEDIATELY: this is not a recipe you can make ahead of time. I’ve tried this, and letting the batter sit, tends to flatten the cake. However, it makes this cake perfect as a last minute dessert! So once the batter is ready, pour it into your mould immediately. I found an 8″ springform pan gives me the best results.
PRO TIP
STEAMING: Avoid opening the lid for the full 30 minutes to check on it. Unlike baking, where opening the oven door can disrupt the process, it’s not critical here.
However, it’s important to note the steam can create high temperatures, and the lid may be tightly sealed, so exercise caution to avoid burns. You also want to avoid water droplets from getting into your cake as much as possible.
WATCH How To Make It!
Why Didn’t My Steamed Cake Rise?
- Leavening Agents: use the correct amount of baking powder and baking soda as per the recipe, as these are essential for leavening and achieving a rise in the cake;
- Mixing Technique: avoid overmixing to prevent deflating the air bubbles, essential for rising. Mix the batter gently until just combined;
- Pan Size: Using a pan that is too small or too large for the amount of batter can result in a cake that doesn’t rise properly. Use an 8″ cake pan for this recipe, preferably spring form for optimal results;
- Batter Consistency: The consistency of the batter should be neither too thick nor too thin. Measure out the ingredients using a kitchen scale for best results.
What Should I Top My Steamed Banana Cake With?
To keep it simple, you can dust with icing sugar or pour over some melted chocolate. Alternatively, you can customize with a variety of topping options that complement the banana flavor; including, but not limited to, peanut butter frosting, maple frosting, coconut frosting, chocolate ganache or vanilla whipped cream. Each add a unique touch to the cake’s flavor and texture!
Storage & Reheating
Reheating: you can easily reheat this in the microwave in 10-15 second bursts;
Storage: cover with cling wrap and store in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for upto 4 days;
Freezing: let the cake cool completely, before wrapping it in cling wrap. Store in an airtight bag or container in the freezer, for upto 3 months.
Additions & Substitutions
Try out these great additions to customize your cake:
- Chocolate Chips: Who needs a reason to add chocolate? If you’re anything like me, with chocolate, more is more. So go ahead and toss in some chocolate chips for a delightful twist on the classic!;
- Coconut: Banana and coconut are a fantastic duo. Incorporate some desiccated or shredded coconut for a great burst of flavor and texture!;
- Nuts: add a different layer of texture and nutty taste and with a small amount of chopped nuts. Some great options for this cake include walnuts, pecans, or almonds.
Substitutions:
- Milk: use plant-based or coconut milk for a dairy-free option;
- Spice Variations: experiment with your favorite spices if cardamom isn’t available, examples include cinnamon or nutmeg;
- Butter: substitute with dairy-free margarine or coconut oil;
- Sugar: if you would like to use something other than brown sugar, experiment with coconut sugar which has a caramel-like flavor OR Monk Fruit Sweetener which is much sweeter than regular sugar, but is available in granulated and powdered forms.
Your Questions Answered
Steaming cake maintains moisture for a tender texture, ensures even cooking and prevents the cake from drying out and excessive browning. It preserves nutrients, and avoids crust formation, resulting in a uniformly soft texture throughout.
With steamed cakes, several factors can contribute to a dense or tough cake, such as ,overbeating the batter, adding excessive flour or letting the batter sit out for too long before baking.
Check Out Some Quick Dinner Recipes You’ll Love!
I hope you enjoyed this Steamed Banana Cake recipe! If you gave it a try, please be sure to leave a comment and rating! I’d love to hear your thoughts! Happy Cooking!
Steamed Banana Cake
Ingredients
- 2 overripe bananas OR 200g
- 1 large egg
- 30 g butter
- 80 ml milk
- 15 ml vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste OR extract
- 60 g brown sugar
- 3/4 tsp cardamom freshly ground
- 130 g plain flour (1 cup)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
Instructions
PREPARATION
- Grease the base and sides of an 8" bake pan with butter.A springform pan is preferable.
- Choose a large pot with a tight-fitting lid that can accommodate your cake pan with some extra space around it. Fill it with water, approximately 2" in height.
- Place a trivet or a heatproof stand in the pot to elevate the cake pan above the water level, to ensure the water does not touch the pan.
CAKE BATTER
- Heat butter and milk in a small bowl or cup in the microwave in 20-second bursts, until the butter melts. Stir between each interval as the residual heat may be enough to melt the butter. Once melted, set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mash overripe bananas. I find it easiest to do this with clean hands! If there are small chunks of banana, that is ok!
- Crack in one egg, pour in the heated milk and butter, vegetable oil and vanilla. Whisk until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Add brown sugar, cardamom and whisk until just combined, once again, do not overmix.
- Sift in all purpose flour, baking powder and baking soda, and whisk until just combined. Do not overmix and the batter is ready!
- Pour batter into prepared cake pan.
STEAMING
- Place the prepared steam pot on the stove and carefully place the filled cake pan onto the trivet or stand inside the pot.
- Cover the pot with the lid, making sure it fits tightly to trap the steam inside.
- Turn the heat on a medium to high flame and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Once complete, turn off the stove. After a few moments, open the lid with caution (take care as steam can be very hot and cause burns).
- Insert a skewer and check if it comes out clean. If not, steam a further 2-3 minutes. Remove from pot and cake tin and the cake is ready!
TOPPINGS / FROSTING
- To serve, simply dust with icing sugar OR;
- You can customise the cake with a popular frosting option that pairs well with banana flavor including – chocolate ganache, whipped cream, caramel, peanut butter, maple, and coconut frostings, each complementing the cake's flavor and texture in a unique way!
Notes
Nutrition
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