Vegan Chocolate Banana Cake – 5 Ingredients & No Oven: Oatmeal, cocoa, and bananas no-bake dessert that is a delicious and healthy treat that is easy to prepare and requires no baking. This dessert is perfect for those who are looking for a healthy snack or a guilt-free dessert option.
🍌 Serves 6 | 🌱 Vegan | 🌾 Gluten-Free | ⏳ 2-Hr Chill | ✨ 5-Ingredient
Need easy meal ideas? Try creamy spinach pepper chicken or a quick potato and tuna dish. Make a healthy oil-free mayo for salads or sandwiches. For breakfast, cook a veggie-packed cabbage frittata or a simple potato frittata.
For something sweet, bake a yoghurt cake or an apple-filled cake. Impress guests with baked pears and gorgonzola or light turkey wontons. For a filling meal, turkey mince noodles are a great choice. Check out these recipes for simple and tasty ideas!
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💗 Why This Recipe Works
✅ 5-Ingredient - Just bananas, oats, cocoa, cinnamon, and vegan chocolate transform into dessert perfection
✅ Naturally Sweetened - Ripe bananas provide all the sweetness (no refined sugar needed!)
✅ Allergy-Friendly - Vegan, gluten-free (use certified GF oats), and nut-free options
✅ No Oven Needed - Perfect for hot days or tiny kitchens. Just like this, an easy vegan desserts without oven
✅ Meal Prep Hero - Stays fresh for 4 days (if it lasts that long!)
Secret Weapon: The oat-banana combo creates a surprisingly cake-like texture without flour or eggs.
🥧 Ingredients
- Ripe bananas: Look for lots of brown spots (the riper, the sweeter). Can substitute ½ cup applesauce if needed.
- Cocoa powder: Use natural (not Dutch-process) for the best flavour. For extra richness, add 1 tablespoon nut butter.
- Oatmeal: Rolled oats work best (quick oats will make it denser). For gluten-free, use certified GF oats.
- Vegan chocolate: 70% dark chocolate works perfectly. Chop roughly for easier melting.
- Sunflower oil: Any neutral oil works (canola, vegetable). Can omit if using a non-stick pan.
- Cinnamon (optional): Adds warmth without sweetness. Try cardamom or pumpkin spice for variation.
♻️ Substitutions
- Ripe Bananas - If you don't have ripe bananas, you can use mashed avocados for a creamy texture and natural sweetness.
- Ground Cinnamon - If you're not a fan of cinnamon, you can skip it or try a pinch of nutmeg for a different warm flavour.
- Cocoa - No cocoa on hand? Swap it with carob powder for a chocolate-like taste.
- Oatmeal - Rolled oats work well, or if you're looking for a gluten-free option, try quinoa flakes.
- No Vegan Chocolate - use vegan chocolate chips. Many brands offer chocolate chips made without dairy. Also, dark chocolate is good; look for dark chocolate that doesn't contain any dairy.
- Sunflower Oil - Any neutral-flavoured oil, like canola or vegetable oil, can be used.
- Chopped Nuts - If you have allergies or prefer a different texture, try toasted coconut flakes or seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
📖 Variations
- Nutty Bliss: Stir in ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans into the batter. Toasting the nuts first brings out their rich flavour and adds a wonderful crunch.
- Berry Burst: Layer fresh raspberries or strawberries between the banana-oat mixtures. The bright, tart berries cut through the sweetness beautifully.
- Salted Caramel: Drizzle with vegan caramel sauce and flaky salt before serving. Quick hack: Mix 2 tablespoon date syrup with 1 tablespoon nut butter for instant "caramel."
- Warm Spices: Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon + ¼ teaspoon nutmeg to the dry ingredients. Perfect for fall! Pairs wonderfully with the chocolate.
- Tropical Twist: Mix in ⅓ cup toasted coconut flakes and 2 tablespoon diced pineapple. Pro tip: Pat the pineapple dry first to prevent sogginess.
- Citrus Zing: Add 1 teaspoon orange or lemon zest to the filling. The bright citrus notes balance the rich chocolate flavour.
👩🍳 How To Make Vegan, No-Bake Dessert!
This no-bake banana cake might look like a complicated dessert, but it’s super quick and easy to make. It’s the kind of treat that makes you feel like a pro in the kitchen without any hassle!
Step 1: Prepare the Banana Mixture: Mash the ripe bananas in a large mixing bowl until they are smooth and free of lumps. Add the ground cinnamon, cocoa powder, and oatmeal to the mashed bananas, and mix everything until well combined.
Step 2: Layer the cake: Press half of the banana-oat mixture into the cake pan, using a spatula or your hands to smooth the surface and pack it down. Add a layer of sliced bananas, then cover it with the rest of the oat mixture.
Step 3: Decorate the cake: Melt the chocolate, pour it over the top, and spread it evenly. Sprinkle chopped nuts on top if desired. Cover the cake pan with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for at least 2 hours until it's firm.
Step 4: Serve: When you're ready to serve, let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to soften slightly. Enjoy!
Pro Tip: For ultra-creamy texture, blend the oats into a fine flour first! This creates a smoother cake that holds together better when sliced.
❓FAQs
You can! While cocoa adds a chocolaty twist, you can leave it out if you prefer a classic banana flavor.
No worries! If you're out of oatmeal, you can use other rolled grains like quinoa flakes or even crushed graham crackers.
Sure thing! If you don't have sunflower oil, you can substitute it with another mild vegetable oil like canola or grapeseed oil.
Of course! If you don't have a 16 cm cake pan, you can use a similar-sized pan or even a square one. Just adjust the layer thickness accordingly.
Place the cake in an airtight container or wrap it well in plastic wrap, then store it in the fridge where it’ll stay fresh for 4 to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze individual slices in freezer-safe bags or containers—they’ll keep well for a couple of months.
If You Enjoyed This Recipe, You Will Love These Too
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No-Bake Banana Cake
Equipment
- 1 chopping board or a food processor
- 1 cake ring
- 1 bowl
- 1 large plate
Ingredients
- 5 ripe bananas
- 2 tablespoon cocoa
- 3 cups oatmeal
- 3.5 oz vegan chocolate
- 1 teaspoon of sunflower oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
To decorate
- chopped nuts ( I used almonds) optional
Instructions
- Start by mashing 4 bananas in a large mixing bowl until they're smooth and free of lumps.
- Add ground cinnamon, cocoa powder, and oatmeal to the mashed bananas. Mix everything thoroughly until well combined.1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 2 tablespoon cocoa, 3 cups oatmeal
- Prepare a 15 cm wide cake ring. Grease the sides with cooking oil and place it on a plate.1 teaspoon of sunflower oil
- Take half of the banana-oat mixture and press it into the cake ring, smoothing the surface with a spatula or your hands. Layer sliced bananas on top and cover them with the remaining oat mixture, pressing gently.
- Roughly chop the chocolate and melt it in a bowl over boiling water, stirring until it's completely smooth.3.5 oz vegan chocolate
- Pour the melted chocolate over the banana cake, using a spatula to spread it evenly and cover the entire surface.
- If you'd like to add nuts, blend them or chop them roughly. Sprinkle the chopped nuts on top of the chocolate, if desired.chopped nuts ( I used almonds)
- Pop the cake into the refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours, allowing it to firm up.
- When it's time to serve, take the cake out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes to soften slightly.
- Finally, slice the cake and serve your delicious creation. Enjoy!
Swathi says
This vegan dessert is delicious ingredients, love the addition of oatmeal, cocoa and banana.
Ashley says
Okay this sounds amazing! I'm trying to eat healthier and have cut out refined sugars. I'm so excited to have found a dessert that I don't have to feel guilty about eating!
Elizabeth says
This dessert is so simple but so good! I loved that I didn't have to spend much on ingredients since we already had them at home. Perfect sweet treat!
Nicole Kendrick says
This was so good, and I really enjoyed how easy it was. I'm a BIG fan of easy!
Liz says
I needed a gluten free dessert to serve to some friends and this was a big hit!!! I had to give my girlfriend the recipe so she could make it at home.
Deb says
I used vegan chocolate and what a delight it was. Thanks for posting this recipe.
Swathi says
Banana cake is the perfect treat, I made it for my family they loved it.
JC says
Absolutely delicious! I love no-bake desserts in the summer. Will be making again!
Liz says
Such a delicious dessert!!! It was perfect to make during the latest heat wave---and my family devoured it.