Gluten Free Banana Cake with Cinnamon Buttercream

Gluten Free Banana Cake with Cinnamon Buttercream is a match made in heaven! It’s moist and light and you’ll never know it’s gluten free.

Once bananas get just slightly soft, with any brown spots at all, I won’t eat them.  I just don’t like the texture at that point–mushy.  So if I don’t throw them into a smoothie bowl, I’ll bake with them. And that’s exactly what I did with this cake and I’m so glad I did. The combination of bananas and cinnamon has always been a perfect pairing, so why not create a cake with it?

What You’ll Need to Make this Cake

This cake comes together in no time and uses ingredients you probably already have on hand in your kitchen, including those overripe bananas!

Cake Ingredients

• Kim’s gluten free flour blend–a store bought blend may be substituted, but hasn’t been tested
• Cornstarch
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Buttermilk, preferably whole fat
• Vanilla extract
• Butter
• Granulated sugar
• Eggs
• Mashed ripe bananas–about 3-4 bananas

Buttercream Ingredients

• Butter
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Cinnamon

Bake the Cake

Baking this gluten free banana cake isn’t much different than baking any other cake. Start by creaming the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, which takes about 3-4 minutes to fully cream so make sure you give it enough time. Add the eggs, one at a time, followed by the mashed banana, and continue beating until fully incorporated. Reduce the speed to low and alternate adding the dry ingredients with the wet and beat just until combined.

The batter for the cake is very thick and will need to be spread into the prepared cake pans. Bake the cake in three 8-inch cake pans (you can also use two 9-inch cake pans, but you’ll need to adjust the baking time slightly). When it springs back after a light touch (or a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean), remove the cakes and place on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the cakes from the pans and allow to cool completely before frosting.

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Make the Buttercream

This cinnamon buttercream is based on my favorite American buttercream recipe. It uses the same amount of butter to powdered sugar (in weight) so there is no need to add any liquid. Not to mention it’s way less sweet than many other American buttercreams. I always get lots of compliments on any buttercreams I make and this is why. People constantly say they don’t like frosting, but love mine. The less sugary sweet, the better.

With just four ingredients, you can imagine how quickly it comes together. Cream the butter just until light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar and beat it for a good 3-4 minutes on a medium speed. It will transform into something that’s much lighter in both color and texture and you’ll see the difference.

Finally, add the vanilla extract and cinnamon and beat to combine fully. This buttercream is also used on my gluten free churro cupcakes, which are soooo good! If you have any leftover frosting, make a half batch of the cupcakes and you’ll be in heaven!

Frosting the Cake

I did a simple design on this cake using a frosting comb.  It looks just like a little comb with teeth, only it’s for cakes and not hair. You can find them just about anywhere, even at a grocery store, or a craft store that sells cake decorating stuff. You can always order them online.  I also left the top edges uneven for a rustic feel, which I really like.

A turntable (for cake decorating) makes it easier, but you don’t need one, especially if you’re just gonna frost the cake and not decorate it.  But if you do decide to use a frosting comb, hold it at a 90-degree angle to the cake (resting on the turntable) and turn the table (not the comb). It usually takes a little practice, but it’s something that’s pretty easy and fun to do.

Next time you have overripe bananas lying around, make this cake and save the smoothie for another day.  You’re sure to go bananas for it 😉