My Chocolate Banana Snack Cake is a cake/brownie hybrid – a rich, moist, chocolate-y, treat that is perfect with a glass of ice cold milk.
The recipe is an homage to a cake I remember from when I was a kid back in the 1970’s. Betty Crocker marketed a range of boxed cake mixes that came complete with a disposable pan to mix and bake the batter in. Even though I loved to make cakes from scratch, the advertising was definitely targeted at kids and I pestered my poor mom endlessly to buy them. As mom was a nutritionist, she only rarely gave in, but on when she did I was in my element. Honestly though, Snack ‘N Cake, with so many unpronounceable ingredients listed on the package, never did taste as good as cakes made with fresh butter, eggs and milk.
Still, nostalgia is a powerful thing. One day well over a decade ago, I decided to develop a recipe that was an homage to my memories of Snack ‘N Cake, but that a) tasted better and b) only contained ingredients you could actually pronounce. This was the result.
Chocolate Banana Snack Cake Is Not a Fancy Cake
If you are looking for a light, moist layer cake, this Chocolate Banana Snack Cake recipe is not for you. You would probably prefer my Devil’s Food Cake recipe or my Chocolate Banana Bundt Cake recipe. Nor is this recipe quite as squidgy as a brownie. It falls somewhere in between the two, perfect for eating with the warmth of the oven still clinging to it. I almost always serve Chocolate Banana Snack Cake with a glass of ice cold milk. It is the perfect after school snack.
A Quick and Easy Recipe
My Chocolate Banana Snack cake is the work of moments. It’s as easy to make as muffins, but it’s cake. Simply mix all the dry ingredients together in one bowl and all the wet ones in another. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mix gently but thoroughly, place in a greased pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
Like the original Snack ‘N Cake, you can eat it warm from the pan, but do let it cool for about twenty minutes before you try to cut it. If you prefer you can let it cool and dust it with icing sugar, or frost it with your favourite frosting.
I’m not going to tell you this recipe is good for you – it is cake after all – but my Snack Cake is definitely wholesome. You probably have all the (easily pronounceable) ingredients on hand right now.
Chocolate Banana Snack Cake – Printable Recipe
Chocolate Banana Snack Cake
Ingredients
- 1¾ cup all purpose plain flour
- ¼ cup cocoa
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- ⅓ cup mild vegetable oil I use mild olive oil
- 1 cup buttermilk or milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 bananas, mashed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (170°C or 160°C for fan ovens).
- Grease a 9 inch (23 cm) square pan.
- Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt into a large bowl.
- Stir in the sugar and the chocolate chips.
- In a medium bowl, beat together the egg, oil, buttermilk or milk and vanilla.
- Stir in the mashed bananas.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing thoroughly until well blended. Do not beat.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, smoothing the top.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a skewer or piece of dry spaghetti inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
- Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before cutting into squares. If frosting the cake, allow it to cool completely first.
did you make this recipe?
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More Easy Cake and Brownie Recipes
Old Fashioned Applesauce Pecan Brownies
Comments & Reviews
Diane Balch says
I remember Snack n Cake my mom the nurse was not a fan either. Love your cake and it is a whole lot better for you too. Thanks for sharing it on foodie friday.
April Harris says
Thank you for hosting, Diane 🙂
Cindy @Hun... What's for Dinner? says
Your Snack Cake sounds and looks delicious! Thank you for sharing with Simple Supper Tuesday. Have a great week, April!
Sarah says
Love chocolate, love bananas, love cake, love snacking…this looks amazing! I think the video is especially helpful too! Great work 🙂
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Sarah 🙂
Sharon says
Yum! Snack n’ Cake was definitely before my time but it sounds amazing. It’s even better with the wholesome ingredients in your recipe, I bet.
April Harris says
Thank you, Sharon 🙂
Renz says
Never heard of snack and cake but as kids everything tasted great haha. Your recipe still sounds as fast and definitely much healthier for us.
April Harris says
Thank you, Renz 🙂
Jovita @ Yummy Addiction says
I would love to have few pieces of this amazing cake with a cup of coffee. Yum!
April Harris says
Thank you, Jovita. It really is lovely with a cup of coffee.
Diana says
I LOVE baking with bananas! Especially when I add chocolate yum! This looks really good
April Harris says
Thank you, Diana 🙂
Kathleen Kennedy-Leon says
Oh my gosh-that looks fabulous! I think the flavor of the chocolate along with the banana-oh what a combo! Looking forward to trying it out
April Harris says
I hope you and your family enjoy it as much as we do, Kathleen 🙂
diane says
That looks heavenly and it would taste perfect with that glass of milk! Great after school snack!
Ashley S says
Oh my yum! This looks (and sounds) so delicious!!
Irina David says
Making this with my 10 y.o this weekend. She loves to bake. Chocolate cake/brownies is her favorite. PS: For Halloween she decided to make a “Bloody Baker” costume 🙂
April Harris says
I hope you both have fun and enjoy the recipe, Irina. Your daughter’s costume sounds amazing!
Linda (Meal Planning Maven) says
April…your chocolate banana snack cake not only looks yummy, but I think it would be the perfect baking project for my 8 and 4 year old granddaughters!
April Harris says
Thank you, Linda! Please let me know if they give it a try 🙂 I am sure they would enjoy it!
Jennifer says
That sounds delicious. I love how moist that cake looks. Om nom nom.
April Harris says
Thank you, Jennifer 🙂
Catherine Sokolowski says
I definitely had to pin this one. I am always looking for things to do with my overripe bananas and this is perfect!!
April Harris says
Thank you so much for pinning, Catherine! I really glad you like the recipe. It sure is a favourite around here!
Kippi says
Yum, I enjoyed your video and this looks like a recipe my boys will love. Pinned!
Happy fall,
Kippi
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Kippi! The recipe is really kid friendly 🙂 I made the video some time ago, but I’m hoping to do some more video work soon. Happy fall to you too!