Enjoy a spin on the classic New Orleans dessert with this Healthy Banana Foster Cake recipe! Made with ingredients like light brown sugar, coconut oil, maple syrup and dark spiced rum, this dish contains healthier ingredients with no sacrifice to flavor.
An easy and healthy banana foster cake recipe
Did someone say it's time for dessert?!
Today, I'm showing you how to whip up the most delicious and healthy banana foster cake. This incredible sweet dessert is made with what you'd typically find in bananas foster, but better. Between the brown sugar butter and the rich and sweet banana cake, this is treat you're going to want to try ASAP.
Ingredients in healthy banana foster cake
This recipe uses two sets of ingredients: those for the caramelized topping, and those for the banana cake. A few ingredients carry over into both parts, such as the bananas, cinnamon, and dark spiced rum.
Caramelized Topping
- Butter: This recipe kicks off with ¼ cup (or ½ stick) of butter.
- Light brown sugar: Then, we'll add ½ cup of brown sugar to the butter to start developing the caramelized topping. I recommend light brown sugar, but dark brown sugar will work if that's what you have.
- Dark spiced rum: Next, bring in some flavor by incorporating 2 tablespoon of dark spiced rum.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a staple in this recipe. Use ½ tsp.
- Vanilla: Then, add 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. Don't forget this!
- Bananas: Finally, this part of the recipe is complete with 3 bananas. They should be sliced down the middle.
Banana Cake
- Almond flour: The banana cake starts with a base of 2.5 cups of almond flour.
- Baking soda: Then, we'll add ½ teaspoon of baking soda to help the cake cook properly.
- Cinnamon: Next up, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon! This is going to add so much flavor.
- Salt: Follow the cinnamon with ¼ teaspoon of salt.
- Banana: Next is another banana! Use 1 large, ripe, mashed banana. It should be about ½ cup once mashed.
- Eggs: 2 eggs will help all of the ingredients bind together properly, and it will help us get a nice and fluffy cake texture.
- Coconut oil: Add oil in the amount of ¼ cup of melted coconut oil.
- Maple syrup: Add some more sweet, natural flavor with ⅓ cup of maple syrup.
- Dark spiced rum: Last but not least, this recipe comes together with the addition of 2 tablespoon of dark spiced rum.
Tools used to make banana foster butter cake
This dish will require a set of kitchen tools to successfully complete the cooking and baking processes. Below is everything you'll need:
- 9x9 dish
- Parchment paper
- Nonstick spray
- Small mixing bowl
- Stirring utensil
- Sauce pot
- Knife
- Large plate
When it comes to measuring ingredients, you will need the following sized measuring cups: ¼ tsp, ½ tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, ¼ cup, ⅓ cup, ½ cup, and 1 cup.
How to make banana foster upside down cake
Ready to get started? This recipe comes together in around 45 minutes and yields 9 delicious slices.
First, preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9x9 pan with parchment paper. Spray the paper with nonstick spray to make sure it is well greased.
Then, start preparing the banana bread mixture.
In a small mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
Next, mash the bananas in a large mixing bowl. Then, whisk in the eggs, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and rum.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until everything is combined. Set the mixture aside while making caramel.
Place a sauce pot on the stove and heat the butter over medium-high heat until it's melted. Once melted, add the brown sugar. Bring the mixture to a bubble and stir occasionally. It will take 3-4 minutes for the sugar to become smooth (you don't want any clumps). Once it starts to be smooth, turn off heat right away and remove from the burner. Stir in the rum, cinnamon, and vanilla (it will bubble). Immediately pour into the greased 9x9 dish.
Place the bananas face down in the caramel in a row. Pour the banana cake batter over the top and spread evenly. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Let cool for 10 minutes before running a knife around the edge of the cake. Then, place a large plate on top and flip over gently. Remove the parchment paper if stuck. The bananas should be face down and caramelized. Let cool for another 20 minutes before cutting.
Cut into 9 even slices. Serve with vanilla ice cream and sea salt.
How this banana foster is healthier
This banana cake uses a few healthier recipes that allow us to skip some unwanted ingredients and bring in a bit of extra nutrients.
Almond flour
First up is almond flour! I like to use this in baked goods for its added protein.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is a wonderful substitute for vegetable and canola oil. If you use refined coconut oil, you won't taste a thing!
Maple syrup
Maple syrup is a delicious and all natural substitute for regular sugar. It tastes so good in baked goods!
Recipe Tips
Why do they call it banana foster?
This dessert was dubbed bananas "foster" after a friend of the chef!
What is foster sauce made of?
Recipes vary, but this particular bananas foster cake is made with a caramelized butter sauce. The caramel sauce is created with butter, light brown sugar, dark spiced rum, cinnamon, and vanilla.
What's the difference between bananas flambé and bananas foster?
A flambé is a method of preparing food that involves adding liquor to a dish and browning it with a flame (such as with crème brûlée!). Bananas flambé contains this method, while bananas foster does not. Note: Sometimes the dish is prepared with the flame, but not our cake.
If you liked this recipe, you'll want to try these!
Craving some more delicious banana desserts? Here are some treats (as well as a couple of breakfasts!) to try.
- Banana Chocolate Chip Oat Muffins
- Banana Bread Oatmeal Pancakes
- Salted Peanut Butter Banana Bread
- Cinnamon Crumble Banana Bread
All recipes by Erin Morrissey and Photos by Sierra Inn
Healthy Banana Foster Cake
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350 and parchment line + nonstick spray a 9x9 pan. Make sure it is well greased.
- Start by preparing the banana bread mixture.
- In a small bowl, mix together almond flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a large bowl, mash banana. Whisk in two eggs, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and rum.
- Add dry ingredients to wet and stir until combined. Set aside while making caramel.
- In a sauce pot on the stove, heat butter over medium-high heat until melted. Once melted add brown sugar. Bring to bubble and stir occasionally, it will take 3-4 minutes for the sugar to become smooth, you don't want any clumps. Once it starts to be smooth, turn off heat right away and move burner off. Stir in rum, cinnamon, and vanilla (it will bubble). Immediately pour into greased 9x9.
- Place bananas face down in the caramel in a row. Pour the banana cake batter over top and spread evenly. Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Let cool 10 minutes before running a knife around the edge of the cake. Place a large plate on top and flip over gently. Remove parchment paper if stuck. Bananas should be face and caramelized. Let cool another 20 minutes before cutting.
- Cut into 9 even slices. Serve with vanilla ice cream and sea salt.
Katie says
This is what a banana lover's dreams are made of!!! I burnt the topping mixture twice but thank goodness I persevered and tried a third time because this cake is so good.
Erin says
Hi Katie, so happy you loved it!! 🙂
Liz says
This looks delicious, but I don't have almond flour. If make this with regular flour....would I use the same amount of egg?
Erin says
Hi Liz, thanks and unfortunately. it won't work the same.
Steph says
My husband said this was the best cake I ever made! The caramelized topping was to die for.
Erin says
Hi Steph, so happy you both loved it so much!!