This is one of those recipes I make when I have a couple of very brown bananas sitting in the fruit bowl and absolutely no chance of anyone in this house eating them! I don’t know about you, but as soon as my two spot a brown mark on a banana, it’s game over. Suddenly it’s apparently completely inedible! So rather than letting those bananas go to waste, I turn them into this lovely little Banana & Chocolate Chip Snack Cake.
A small square is perfect for popping into a lunchbox, and it’s also a handy little snack to have ready when everyone comes home hungry from school.
The best thing is that, apart from the bananas, you should have everything else sitting in the cupboard already, so there’s no special trip to the shops needed.
I also love this as a little pudding. Warm a square slightly and serve it with a spoonful of Greek yoghurt and a drizzle of honey. Or, if you have some of my homemade chia jam in the fridge, add a little spoonful of that on the side. So simple, but really delicious.
It’s also a great one to get the kids involved with. There’s no complicated method and it’s a lovely way to use up those bananas that would otherwise end up in the bin.
So next time you look at your fruit bowl and think those bananas have gone too far, don’t throw them out! They’re actually perfect for this cake.
Why you’ll love this Banana & Chocolate Chip Snack Cake
- Quick and easy – no complicated steps or fancy ingredients.
- Great for using up brown bananas – the riper, the better!
- Perfect for lunchboxes – just the right size for a little treat.
- Makes a small batch – ideal when you don’t want a huge cake sitting around.
- Cupboard-friendly – you’ll probably have everything you need already.
- Can double as pudding – serve with Greek yoghurt, honey or chia jam for an easy dessert.
Planning ahead
If we’re going straight from school to afternoon activities, I’ll often pack a couple of slices of this, some fruit and a flask of hot chocolate. That way we’re not stopping at a shop and running in for a “few bits” because we’re all hangry!
Like everyone, I’ve definitely noticed the cost of things creeping up, so I’m always happy to have a few economical, budget-friendly bakes like this up my sleeve. It’s made with simple ingredients, makes a small batch and is perfect for lunchboxes or hungry after-school kids.
If you give it a go, don’t forget to tag me @littleloucooks , I’d love to see your bakes!
Banana & Chocolate Chip Snack Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 very ripe bananas mashed
- 2 large eggs
- 180 g Greek or plain yoghurt
- 100 ml light oil like sunflower, vegetable, or olive oil
- 200 g self raising flour or plain flour with 2 tsp baking powder sifted through
- 50 g oats
- 80 ml honey or 100g caster sugar if the bananas are very ripe no need for sweetner
- 50 g chocolate chips milk or dark chocolate, plus a few extra for the top
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180ºc fan and line or lightly grease a 20cm (8-inch) baking tin or baking dish.
- Add the mashed bananas, Greek yogurt, eggs, oil and honey if using, to a large bowl. Whisk until smooth and well combined.
- Add in the flour, oats and sugar or honey if using.
- Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined. Stir through the chocolate chips.
- Smooth the top and sprinkle over the extra chocolate chips.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
- Allow to cool in the tin for 10–15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Slice into squares and serve.
- Tips:Use very ripe bananas for the sweetest flavour.For a finer, softer texture, blitz the porridge oats into oat flour before mixing with the dry ingredients.Swap the chocolate chips for fresh blueberries or raspberries for extra sweetness and colour.
- Storage: Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
