Craving a comforting slice of cake but avoiding eggs? This Banana Walnut Tea Cake recipe delivers a wonderfully moist, flavorful cake that’s surprisingly simple to make, perfect for any occasion. You’ll love how easy it is to bake a delicious treat without eggs.
Key Ingredients & Substitutions:
- Ripe Bananas: Essential for moisture and flavor. Use very ripe, spotty bananas for the best results.
- All-Purpose Flour: Can substitute with a gluten-free baking blend designed for cakes.
- Baking Soda & Vinegar: Your egg-free leavening power. Do not skip!
- Granulated Sugar: Can reduce slightly if your bananas are very sweet.
- Vegetable Oil: Any neutral oil like canola or sunflower works.
- Walnuts: Adds texture and nutty flavor. Pecans are a great substitute.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the flavors.
Ingredients:
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 very ripe medium bananas, mashed (about 1 ½ cups)
- ¾ cup chopped walnuts
How Much Time Will You Need?
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Servings: 8-10 slices
- Tools: 9×5 inch loaf pan, mixing bowls, whisk, spatula.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Prepare Your Pan and Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal. This prevents sticking and ensures your cake comes out beautifully.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Set this mixture aside for now.
3. Mix Wet Ingredients
In a separate medium bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, white vinegar, and vanilla extract. Whisk these ingredients until they are well blended and smooth.
4. Add Bananas
Fold the mashed ripe bananas into the wet ingredient mixture. Stir gently until just combined; you don’t want to overmix at this stage.
5. Combine Wet and Dry
Pour the wet banana mixture into the dry flour mixture. Stir with a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough cake.
6. Fold in Walnuts
Gently fold in the chopped walnuts. Make sure they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
7. Bake the Cake
Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Bake for 60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Cool and Serve
Let the cake cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy your delicious egg-free Banana Walnut Tea Cake!
Variation Ideas:
- Chocolate Chip: Add ½ cup chocolate chips with the walnuts for an extra treat.
- Spiced: Include ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg for a warmer flavor.
- Coconut: Mix in ¼ cup shredded coconut for a tropical twist.
- Glazed: Drizzle a simple powdered sugar glaze over the cooled cake for added sweetness.
Storage Instructions:
Store your Banana Walnut Tea Cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can refrigerate it for up to a week. To reheat, warm individual slices in the microwave for a few seconds until just warm.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
- Why do I need to use ripe bananas for cake recipes without eggs? Very ripe bananas provide essential moisture, sweetness, and act as a binder, crucial for egg-free cake recipes.
- Can I use frozen bananas? Yes, thaw them completely and drain any excess liquid before mashing them for your cake.
- What if I don’t have white vinegar? You can substitute it with apple cider vinegar. It works with baking soda to create the necessary lift for egg-free cakes.
- Can I make this in a different pan? A round 8-inch cake pan would work, but you may need to adjust the baking time. Start checking for doneness around 45 minutes.
- My cake sunk in the middle, what happened? This can happen if you opened the oven door too early, overmixed the batter, or if your baking soda is old.
- Is this recipe gluten-free? No, it uses all-purpose flour. You would need to use a certified gluten-free baking blend to make it gluten-free.