A cake/brownie hybrid, my Chocolate Banana Snack Cake is an homage to a cake I remember from my childhood. It’s not as light as a traditional layer cake but it’s not quite as squidgy as a brownie. It’s rich, moist, chocolate-y and, quite frankly, addictive. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Remember Snack ‘N Cake? One of the ‘modern time savers’ of the seventies, this packaged mix promised a quick and easy cake made in minutes. There was even a disposable baking pan which you could also mix the cake in included in the package. To my childish taste buds, it was amazing. My Mom, who was a nutritionist, was not a fan.
Now I’m a grown up I understand why Mom was concerned – artificial colourings and flavourings are not anyone’s friend. I still love the idea of a seriously quick and easy cake, I just want it to be made with things I can pronounce.
My Chocolate Banana Snack cake is the work of moments. You 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. It’s as easy as muffins, but it’s cake.
Like the original Snack ‘N Cake, you can eat it warm from the pan, just 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.
Want to see me making this easy recipe? Here’s How to Make Chocolate Banana Snack Cake.
Printable Recipe
- 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 sunflower)
- 1 cup buttermilk or milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 bananas, mashed
- 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.
More Easy Cake and Brownie Recipes
Old Fashioned Applesauce Pecan Brownies
Diane Balch says
March 10, 2013 at 1:04 pmI 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
March 12, 2013 at 4:12 pmThank you for hosting, Diane 🙂
Cindy @Hun... What's for Dinner? says
March 19, 2013 at 5:57 pmYour Snack Cake sounds and looks delicious! Thank you for sharing with Simple Supper Tuesday. Have a great week, April!
Sarah says
October 13, 2016 at 10:30 amLove chocolate, love bananas, love cake, love snacking…this looks amazing! I think the video is especially helpful too! Great work 🙂
April Harris says
October 13, 2016 at 7:28 pmThank you so much, Sarah 🙂
Sharon says
October 13, 2016 at 10:38 amYum! 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
October 13, 2016 at 7:29 pmThank you, Sharon 🙂
Renz says
October 13, 2016 at 10:57 amNever 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
October 13, 2016 at 7:29 pmThank you, Renz 🙂
Jovita @ Yummy Addiction says
October 13, 2016 at 11:29 amI would love to have few pieces of this amazing cake with a cup of coffee. Yum!
April Harris says
October 13, 2016 at 7:29 pmThank you, Jovita. It really is lovely with a cup of coffee.
Diana says
October 13, 2016 at 11:47 amI LOVE baking with bananas! Especially when I add chocolate yum! This looks really good
April Harris says
October 13, 2016 at 7:30 pmThank you, Diana 🙂
Kathleen Kennedy-Leon says
October 13, 2016 at 12:09 pmOh 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
October 13, 2016 at 7:30 pmI hope you and your family enjoy it as much as we do, Kathleen 🙂
diane says
October 13, 2016 at 1:56 pmThat looks heavenly and it would taste perfect with that glass of milk! Great after school snack!
Ashley S says
October 13, 2016 at 4:31 pmOh my yum! This looks (and sounds) so delicious!!
Irina David says
October 13, 2016 at 11:05 pmMaking 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
October 16, 2016 at 7:01 pmI hope you both have fun and enjoy the recipe, Irina. Your daughter’s costume sounds amazing!
Linda (Meal Planning Maven) says
October 14, 2016 at 12:17 amApril…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
October 16, 2016 at 7:01 pmThank you, Linda! Please let me know if they give it a try 🙂 I am sure they would enjoy it!
Jennifer says
October 14, 2016 at 10:34 amThat sounds delicious. I love how moist that cake looks. Om nom nom.
April Harris says
October 16, 2016 at 7:02 pmThank you, Jennifer 🙂
Catherine Sokolowski says
August 18, 2018 at 1:44 amI 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
August 18, 2018 at 4:57 pmThank you so much for pinning, Catherine! I really glad you like the recipe. It sure is a favourite around here!