This easy no bake chocolate banana cake is just 2 ingredients. It is very rich and full of chocolate and banana flavor. It doesn’t contain any flour, eggs, or oil. It is best served chilled and can be made ahead of time, making it an especially great dessert in the summer, though it can be enjoyed year-round.
I love making no-bake desserts this time of year. No need to turn on the oven and the desserts are usually best served cold, which is perfect on a hot day. This easy dessert takes only about 15 minutes to prepare.
Ingredients
- Bananas
- Semisweet Chocolate Chips
Bananas: This recipe works best with ripe bananas. They do not need to be overripe, though overripe bananas will also work. The bananas will need to be mashed until no lumps remain.
Semisweet Chocolate Chips: If you prefer a less sweet dessert, you can also use bittersweet or dark chocolate. The chocolate will need to be melted either on the stove or in the microwave. I prefer the microwave since it is faster, but either way will work.
No Bake Banana Cake Texture
This cake is creamy, almost like a cheesecake texture. It is very rich and decadent.
When the bananas are mixed with the melted chocolate, it prevents the chocolate from turning back into its solid form. Instead, the chocolate stays in a semi-solid state. So you end up with a rich, fudgy cake that is similar to a flourless chocolate cake.
How to Make No Bake Banana Cake
First, you need to mash the bananas and then you need to melt the chocolate until smooth. The two are then stirred together until evenly combined. Your batter is then ready to be poured into a cake pan and placed into the fridge to set.
More No Bake Recipes
- 2 Ingredient No Bake Lemon Pie
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
- 2 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
2 Ingredient No Bake Banana Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup (232 g) mashed bananas
- 2 cups (365g) semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Grease the interior of a 6 or 7 inch springform baking pan. Line the bottom and inner sides with parchment paper.
- Mash bananas with a fork, whisk or potato masher until no lumps remain. Set aside.
- Add chocolate chips to a large microwave-safe bowl. Heat at full power in 1 minute intervals, stirring in between with a spatula, until chocolate is fully melted and smooth. (I needed 2 minutes total cooking time). Alternatively, you can melt the chocolate on the stove using the double boiler method.
- Once you have a smooth chocolate batter, add in the mashed bananas. Stir with a whiks until bananas are fully incorporated and no banana streaks remain.
- Pour batter into prepared cake pan. Place into fridge until set. I recommend refrigerating for at least 1 hour though it may be ready in less time. You can also let it sit in the fridge overnight. If you are decorating the cake, wait for it to set before adding the frosting.
Notes
- For a taller/thicker cake, use a 6-inch cake pan. If you don't mind that the cake is not that tall, you can use a 7-inch cake pan.
- I find this easiest to make in a springform pan but it can be made in a regular round cake pan. It will just be more difficult to remove the cake from the pan.
- If you want to make the cake less sweet, you can use dark chocolate instead of semisweet chocolate.
- You will need approximately 3 bananas to yield 1 cup of mashed banana.
- Make sure you mash the bananas and don't puree them. Pureeing them in a food processor or blender will make them too liquidy. While the recipe will still work with banana puree, your cake will not be as set.
- Mash the bananas before measuring them if you are using a measuring cup.
- This recipe does not work well with frozen bananas because frozen bananas contain more liquid.
- I decorated the cake with a chocolate ganache frosting and some shaved chocolate on top.
- Optional Frosting: To make the chocolate ganache frosting you will need 2 oz heavy cream and 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Place chocolate chips in a mixing bowl. Heat heavy cream until it reaches a simmer. Pour the heavy cream over chocolate. Immediately start stirring until chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Pour ganache over cake and spread it over the cake.
- Cake can be made 1-2 days ahead of time. Keep cake in the fridge until ready to serve.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
This was amazing! I put an almond milk chocolate ganache on top. Just like a decadent cheesecake and the banana flavor wasn’t too overpowering. Thank you for this fast, easy recipe that is sure to impress.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Should you use real ripe or regular bananas in this recipe?
This recipe works best with ripe bananas. They do not need to be overripe, though overripe bananas will also work.
Can you freeze this cake or do you think it woukd be to wet after defrosting?
We haven’t tried freezing it but not sure it would hold up well.
Will it be easy to take the paper off of cake when its done from the pan
Once the cake is set you should be able to peel it off easily.
I’m confused of why you spray your pan if you’re lining the pan with parchment paper. Also I followed the directions exactly and it did not firm up as noted in your pictures. Any suggestions?
I spray the pan to help the parchment paper stick. Otherwise the sides will just fall down. I’m sorry yours did not firm up. Did you make any changes to the recipe ingredients?
Can I use cupcake/ muffin papers?
Yes
It’s ok i got it! (1oz = 2tbsp THEREFORE 2oz = 4tbsp!!) Had 2 use a loaf pan unfoRTch, so it won’t look nearly as nice as yRZ.. (Love those shaved choc. curls on top!) Oh & 1 more thing: For the icing, can i replace the heavy cream with (canned, pure undiluted) coconut cream to make this all-vegan? If i don’t hear back in time (don’t worry i understand!) I’ll prob go ahead & do that – let you know how it goes.. SC.
I’m glad you were able to figure it out. I don’t know if it works with coconut cream.
Hi Saz
wondered, & interested, if you have tried out coconut cream ?
Also, I’m sure what is heavy cream please ?! Thinking this maybe an American site perhaps ?
I only know it as single, double or clotted cream…..?
Heavy cream is cream that has at least 36% milk fat. Double cream would probably be the equivalent (not clotted cream).
Hi i’m making this – how much is 2 oz of heavy cream in a cup measure? Tks!
Yummy!!
I’m glad you liked it!