I love making super-simple baking recipes. Things that don’t require many ingredients, don’t require hours of prep and yet taste absolutely delicious. With the fall season approaching, I do just that on everything pumpkin like I did for my Pumpkin Bites, Pumpkin Donut Holes, or 5-Ingredient Pumpkin Bread.
Ingredients and Substitutions
All-Purpose Flour – Use plain all-purpose flour. For a whole grain option, you can substitute up to half with whole wheat pastry flour. I haven’t tried gluten-free flour. Light Olive Oil – Choose a light olive oil for its neutral flavor. Canola oil, melted coconut oil, or any neutral vegetable oil can be used as alternatives. Pumpkin Puree – Use canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) or homemade pumpkin puree. Mashed Banana – Use very ripe bananas for the best flavor and natural sweetness. Brown Sugar – Light or dark brown sugar works well. Coconut sugar can be used for a less refined option. Pumpkin Spices – Use a pre-made pumpkin spice mix or create your own with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
How to Make Pumpkin Banana Cake
This is a very easy bread recipe, similar to regular banana bread. I have a full recipe card further down, but here are photos of the key steps.
Expert Tips
Ensure your bananas are very ripe for maximum sweetness and easy mashing. Don’t overmix the batter after adding the dry ingredients to avoid a tough cake. If you prefer a stronger pumpkin flavor, increase the pumpkin puree to 1 1/4 cups and reduce the mashed banana to 1/2 cup. To enhance the flavor, try toasting the pumpkin spices in a dry pan before adding them to the batter. For added texture, fold in 1/2 cup of chopped nuts or chocolate chips to the batter before baking. Check the cake after 30 minutes to prevent overbaking, as it can dry out quickly. Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting. This cake freezes well. Wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and store in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. The best is to freeze it unfrosted though.
More Pumpkin Recipes
