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    Home » Cakes » Banana Slice (Gluten-Free)

    Banana Slice (Gluten-Free)

    Published: Aug 22, 2022 by Alexandra Cook

    For the full recipe including quantities and method, click the "jump to recipe" button, or scroll through and read our helpful tips along the way.

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    This delicious Gluten-Free Banana Slice features a moist cake packed full of aromatic banana flavour, studded with chocolate chips and topped with a rich, smooth, vanilla-flavoured cream cheese frosting. So simple to prepare, this is the perfect recipe for afternoon tea, an easy dessert or a bake sale.

    A piece of banana slice, sitting on a small round white plate.
    Jump to:
    • Why you’ll love this recipe:
    • Ingredients in this recipe:
    • Step by step instructions:
    • Tips for success and FAQs:
    • Variations and substitutions:
    • Serving suggestions:
    • More delicious recipes for you to try:
    • Banana Slice (Gluten-Free)
    Star

    Why you’ll love this recipe:

    When those bananas in the fruit bowl look brown and unappealing, this Banana Slice is a great way to convert them into a sweet treat that will be enjoyed by friends and family.

    If your family likes bananas and chocolate, they will love this easily made Gluten-Free Banana Slice. 

    You will love this Gluten-Free Banana Slice because:

    • The texture of the cake is light, moist and full of flavour. 
    • You avoid wastage by using bananas that are too ripe to eat.
    • It is made from simple ingredients, all readily available. 
    • It is so delicious that, if you prefer, you don’t need to frost it – just leave it plain or dust with icing/powdered sugar. 
    • Banana and chocolate are classic flavour companions and combine well in this recipe.
    • It is gluten-free, making it suitable for people with specific dietary requirements. Don’t need the recipe to be gluten-free? Just use regular all-purpose flour instead.
    • This is a great snack cake. Pack some in lunch boxes or take on picnics. 

    Ingredients in this recipe:

    Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

    Ingredients in this recipe on a white background.

    Butter – When it comes to baking, butter beats margarine every time. It adds richness and superior flavour to baked goods.

    Caster/superfine sugar – dissolves more readily than granulated sugar, but you can use granular if you wish.

    Eggs – I use large, free-range eggs.

    Mashed banana – for rich flavour, it is essential to use overripe bananas. 

    Vanilla – use one which is naturally extracted, not synthetically flavoured.

    Gluten-free plain/all-purpose flour – I have used a commercial gluten-free flour, made from a blend of naturally occurring gluten-free flours. Our gluten-free flour blends contain either xanthan or guar gum to stabilise and provide structure to our recipes. Not all gluten-free flour blends are equal. It may take trial and error to find one which you like.

    Baking powder – a leavening ingredient. Check that it is gluten-free. 

    Bicarbonate of soda/baking soda – also assists with leavening.

    Milk – adds moisture.

    Chocolate chips – I have used dark chocolate chips, but you could use milk if you prefer.

    Cream cheese – for the best result, use a block of full-fat cream cheese which is readily available in supermarkets.

    Icing/powdered sugar – also known as confectioners’ sugar, combined with cream cheese and vanilla, makes a creamy, delicious frosting.

    Step by step instructions:

    Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

    Steps 1-2 of preparing this recipe - sifting dry ingredients into a bowl and creaming the butter and sugar together in a bowl.

    1 – Sift your dry ingredients:
    In a bowl, sift the flour, baking powder and baking soda together and set aside.

    2 – Cream the butter and sugar:
    In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using hand-held electric beaters, combine the butter and caster/superfine sugar.

    On medium speed, beat for about 3 minutes until a pale, creamy colour.

    Steps 3-4 of preparing this recipe - adding an egg to sugar butter mix and then adding banana and vanilla.

    3 – Add the eggs:
    Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

    4 – Add the mashed bananas and vanilla:
    Add mashed bananas and vanilla extract and combine. 

    Steps 5-6 of preparing this recipe - adding the dry ingredients to batter and folding through the chocolate chips in batter.

    5 – Add in the flour and milk:
    With the mixer on low, add half the sifted flour mixture alternately with half the milk until just combined.

    6 – Fold through the chocolate chips:
    Remove the bowl, add the chocolate chips and use a spatula to combine them.

    Steps 7-8 of preparing this recipe - the slice batter in baking tin ready for the oven and the cream cheese frosting in a bowl.

    7 – Add the batter to the tin:
    Add the mixture to the baking tin, smooth the top and place into your preheated oven. Cook for approximately 25 minutes.

    Allow the slice to cool completely in the tin.

    8 – Make the frosting:
    Place the softened cream cheese and vanilla in a small bowl and, using handheld electric beaters or a wooden spoon, mix well until smooth.

    Add the icing sugar to the cream cheese and mix well. 

    Spread the frosting over the cooled Banana Slice and enjoy.

    Banana Slice being iced with cream cheese frosting, showing a hand with a palette knife smoothing frosting.

    Tips for success and FAQs:

    For the best result, always bake with room-temperature ingredients. Cold ingredients do not incorporate and emulsify properly.

    If you forget to take your eggs out of the fridge, fill a small bowl with slightly warm water and add the eggs, leaving them there for about 5-7 minutes. This will help to bring them to room temperature. Do not use hot water – you may partially cook the eggs!

    My bananas are still yellow – can I use them?

    For the best flavour, you must use overripe bananas. Those in your fruit bowl which are just right for eating are not suitable for these banana bars. The best bananas will have brown marks, maybe even some black marks on their skin. As bananas ripen, their starches turn to sugar, making them sweeter and full of flavour, ideal for baking. 

    Why is it important to cream the butter and sugar together?

    Whilst it can be tempting to speed up the process and just combine the butter and sugar, you will obtain much better results with your cake if you beat it for about 3 minutes. You will see the butter and sugar change colour and texture, becoming smooth and a pale, creamy colour. The sugar will dissolve into the butter and the mixture will incorporate air, helping to make your slice lighter.

    Can I make the Gluten-Free Banana Slice in advance?

    If your slice is not frosted, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 3 days. If you have added the frosting, store it well covered with cling wrap, or in an airtight container, in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Can I use low-fat cream cheese for the frosting?

    For the best flavour and creaminess, use a block of full-fat cream cheese, not the spreadable kind. Do not add the cream cheese frosting before the slice is cold, or the frosting may melt and slide off.

    Star

    Variations and substitutions:

    Chocolate chips – you can replace dark chocolate chips with white or milk if you prefer.
     
    Nuts – adding some chopped walnuts or pecans would be a great addition – we recommend ½ a cup.
     
    Frosting – if you prefer, you can omit this and dust the slice with icing/powdered sugar.
     
    Spice – you could add a little ground cinnamon if you like.

    Banana Slice with cream cheese frosting, cut into 12 squares and topped with a slice of fresh banana, sitting on a glass board.

    Serving suggestions:

    For a healthier option, the Banana Slice is lovely served plain with a dusting of icing/powdered sugar and a dollop of Greek yoghurt. 

    Alternatively, add the delicious frosting and serve for morning or afternoon tea or even dessert. As well, it is ideal for potlucks, picnics, a bake sale or to gift to a friend. 

    More delicious recipes for you to try:

    A slice is one of our favourite things to make for dessert. They’re easy, delicious and perfect for sharing with loved ones. Here are some more of our favourite slice recipes, including some no-bake options!

    • Chocolate Tiffin
    • Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Slice
    • White Chocolate Rocky Road
    • Easy Jam Bars

    This Gluten-Free Banana Slice is a no-fuss recipe, so quickly and easily made. It is ideal for the family but sufficiently delicious to serve to guests. It is ideal for morning or afternoon tea and the cream cheese frosting makes it ideal for serving as a dessert.

    Alex xx

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    A piece of banana slice, sitting on a small round white plate.

    Banana Slice (Gluten-Free)

    This delicious Gluten-Free Banana Slice features a moist cake packed full of aromatic banana flavour, studded with chocolate chips and topped with a rich, smooth, vanilla-flavoured cream cheese frosting. So simple to prepare, this is the perfect recipe for afternoon tea, an easy dessert or a bake sale.
    4.98 from 46 votes
    Print Pin Review
    Course: Afternoon Tea, Dessert, Morning Tea, Snack
    Cuisine: International
    Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Cooling Time: 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 50 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 small pieces
    Calories: 303kcal
    Author: Alexandra Cook – It’s Not Complicated Recipes

    Ingredients

    For the Banana Slice:

    • 125 g (½ cup) unsalted butter – at room temperature
    • 160 g (⅔ cup) caster/superfine sugar
    • 2 large eggs – at room temperature
    • 1 cup mashed banana – approximately 3 medium bananas See Note 1
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract See Note 2
    • 190 g (1 ¼ cups) gluten-free plain/all-purpose flour See Note 3
    • 2 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 2 tablespoon (40 ml) milk See Note 4
    • ½ cup dark chocolate chips

    For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

    • 100 g (3.5 oz) cream cheese – at room temperature See Note 5
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 150 g (1 cup) icing/powdered sugar See Note 6

    Recipe Measurements:

    For accuracy, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results.

    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    For the Banana Slice:

    • Preheat your oven to 180 Degrees C (355F).
      Ensure that you have all your ingredients measured and ready to use.
    • Line a 27cm x 18cm (11″ x 7″) tin with non-stick baking paper.
    • Sift the flour, baking powder and baking soda together and set aside.
    • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using hand-held electric beaters, combine the room temperature butter and caster sugar.
      On medium speed, beat for about 3 minutes until the mixture is a pale, creamy colour.
      Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary to ensure the mixture is well amalgamated.
    • Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, and scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally.
    • Add the mashed bananas and vanilla extract and combine. The mixture may appear to curdle at this point, but it will come together.
    • With the mixer on the lowest speed, add half the sifted flour mixture alternately with half the milk until only just combined. Do not overbeat.
    • Remove the bowl from the mixer, or scrape down the hand beaters. Add the chocolate chips and use a spatula to combine them with any remaining flour.
    • Turn the mixture into the prepared baking tin, smooth the top and place it into the preheated oven on the middle rack.
      Cook for 25 – 28 minutes or until a fine skewer inserted into the centre of the slice comes out clean.
    • Remove the slice from the oven and allow it to cool completely in the tin. This will prevent it from breaking up if you try to remove it while still warm.
      Once cool, carefully transfer the slice to a board or serving plate and then top with the frosting.

    For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

    • Place the softened cream cheese and vanilla in a small bowl and, using handheld electric beaters or a wooden spoon, mix together until smooth.
      Sift the icing sugar to remove any lumps. Add to the cream cheese and mix until it forms a smooth, creamy frosting.
    • Spread the frosting over the slice. Enjoy immediately or store the Banana Slice in an airtight container and keep it in a cool location. 
      If serving the following day, store the cake well covered in the fridge. Cream cheese frosting should not be kept at room temperature for longer than two hours, and that includes the time to soften the cheese.

    Notes

    1. Bananas: to obtain the best flavour, use very ripe bananas, ideally at the stage when their skin is slightly blackened. The darker the skin of the banana, the sweeter, more intense the flavour.
    2. Vanilla: for the best flavour, use good quality vanilla extracted from vanilla beans, not one synthetically flavoured.
    3. Gluten-free flour: I have used a commercial all-purpose flour, made from a blend of naturally occurring gluten-free flours. However, you can substitute regular all-purpose flour if you don’t need the cake to be gluten-free. Our gluten-free flour blends contain either xanthan or guar gum to stabilise and provide structure to our recipes. Not all gluten-free flour blends are equal. It may take trial and error to find one which you like.
    4. Tablespoon: we use a standard Australian tablespoon which is 20 ml (4 teaspoons).
    5. Cream cheese: use cream cheese found in a block in supermarkets, not the spreadable kind.
    6. Icing sugar: I have used pure icing sugar. If you use icing sugar mixture, be sure that it is gluten-free if required.

    Nutrition Estimate:

    Calories: 303kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 127mg | Potassium: 224mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 32g | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Please rate and leave a comment!
    Nutritional Disclaimer:

    The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.

    « Baked Strawberry Oatmeal
    Baked Blueberry Oatmeal »
    107 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Andrea

      October 03, 2022 at 9:13 am

      love a good banana flavored treat and this one turned out so good! sweet and oh so delicious! loved it!

      Reply
      • Alexandra

        October 03, 2022 at 6:24 pm

        Hi Andrea, thank you for your lovely comments on the GF Banana Slice; I am so pleased that you enjoyed it. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Nancy

      September 30, 2022 at 2:53 am

      5 stars
      Your desserts are always so yummy and easy to make. I recently started reducing gluten intake and this one is perfect –
      Would recommend

      Reply
      • Alexandra

        October 03, 2022 at 6:35 pm

        Hi Nancy, thank you for your lovely comments. I am delighted that you enjoy the GF Banana Slice and appreciate that you let me know. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Jamie

      September 29, 2022 at 9:01 am

      5 stars
      This is the best banana slice recipe I’ve tried! I used extra ripe bananas and replaced half the chocolate chips with peanut butter chips. They turned out fantastic!

      Reply
      • Alexandra

        October 03, 2022 at 6:37 pm

        Hi Jamie, thank you for your feedback on the GF Banana Slice. What a great idea to use peanut butter chips; they would be delicious. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Lisa

      September 22, 2022 at 10:41 am

      5 stars
      I am recently gluten-free so was so excited when I found this recipe! Banana Slice is my favorite and this did not disappoint! Great flavor, very moist. Turned out perfect!

      Reply
      • Alexandra

        September 27, 2022 at 6:52 pm

        Hi Lisa, thank you so much for your fantastic feedback on the GF Banana Slice. I am delighted to hear that you enjoy it. 🙂

        Reply
    5. Miranda

      September 05, 2022 at 12:58 pm

      5 stars
      Everyone loved this banana slice! I made these for a school bake sale where some of the class have a gluten allergy. I used milk chocolate chips but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. They sold out immediately because who doesn’t like chocolate and bananas? Thank you for the great recipe!

      Reply
      • Alexandra

        September 10, 2022 at 11:46 am

        Hi Miranda, thank you for your feedback on the GF Banana Slice. I’m so pleased it was popular at your school bake sale. 🙂

        Reply
    6. Tina

      August 29, 2022 at 8:19 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe was a winner! I love banana slice but recently found out I needed to be gluten-free. This recipe really hit the mark – flavorful, moist and a lovely tender crumb. I will be making it again soon.

      Reply
      • Alexandra

        September 02, 2022 at 5:44 pm

        Hi Tina, thank you for your lovely comments on the GF Banana Slice. I am delighted that you enjoyed it and plan to make it again soon. 🙂

        Reply

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    Hello!

    I’m Alex.

    I am a full-time blogger, passionate foodie and writer who loves to travel.

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