Healthy Indulgence: Banana Whip Cake – Vegan
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Healthy whole food, plant based berry and banana dessert recipe that can be made for celebrations or a simple dessert.
It is the official start of BBQ season and it seems this time of year is also the time that everything is berries! Especially strawberries.
Everywhere I look the last two days – on magazine covers in the supermarket checkout line, on blogs and even on the morning news show – all I have been seeing is berry recipes for all kinds of yummy berry desserts to make for the holiday weekend.
I love berries, but most of the recipes I have seen call for sugar and butter and other ingredients I don’t eat.
To keep from feeling deprived of these desserts, I went in search of a little whole food, plant based indulgence. Something yummy, but healthy for a BBQ dessert this weekend.
If you like bananas and a variety of frozen fruit you will enjoy this dessert.
It can be made in layers or just one layer in a low sided pan.
It makes a great cake to celebrate.
And can even be made patriotic.
The fun part about making this style of “fruit cake” is you can add any fruit along with the bananas to create different flavors. My fave is with blueberries. Ed likes it with raspberries.
Try it with blackberries, peaches, or your favorite frozen fruit.
The recipe is below, but first I wanted to make sure anyone who is interested and wants to learn more about how I eat and why I changed to a 100% plant based diet, you can watch The Forks Over Knives documentary. The website is streaming it free to celebrate its 10th Anniversary.
If you haven’t seen it, and are interesting in learning more about plant-based eating, it is worth watching:
How to Make a Banana Whip Cake
The amount of bananas to berries can vary depending on your tastes. So if you only have 5 bananas, the frozen cake will still come out fine.
Note: The amount of bananas to berries will depend on the size of your pan. You want to have enough whipped bananas to cover the bottom of the pan so the layer is at least an inch or more high.
For the second layer or star center cake, you want to mix one or two bananas and a cup or two of berries – the more berries you use, the more colorful the second layer will be.
You can make the second layer all frozen berries if you want – there is no wrong or right way. Using more bananas will create a creamer cake.
Ingredients
- 5-7 Frozen Bananas – how many you need will depend on the size of your pan
- 1-2 cups Frozen Blueberries, Raspberries or and frozen fruit
- Optional: Cacao Nibs
- Optional: Large Star Cookie Cutter
1. Let bananas and berries sit at room temperature for about 8-10 mins so they soften a bit.
2. Break up 4 bananas and place in blender.
3. Blend on low and then on high power to whip bananas to a smooth consistency.
4. Spread the whipped bananas in an 8-inch pie plate or quiche dish.
5. Sprinkle cacao nibs over just spread banana layer. Set aside.
6. Break up 3 more bananas and place in blender. Add 1 – 2 cups of blueberries or frozen berries and whip in blender until smooth and a light purple color. The more berries you add, the more colorful the top layer will be.
7. Spread banana/blueberry mix evenly over cacao nib layer.
8. Place in freezer overnight or for 6-8 hours.
Remove from freezer 10 minutes before serving.
Healthy Indulgence Banana Whip Cake
Ingredients
- 5-7 Bananas frozen
- 1-2 cups Blueberries frozen
- 1/2 cup Cacao Nibs optional
Instructions
- Let bananas and berries sit at room temperature for about 8-10 mins so they soften a bit.
- Break up 4 bananas and place in blender. Blend on low and then on high power to whip bananas to a smooth consistency.
- Spread the whipped bananas in an 8-inch pie plate or quiche pan.
- Sprinkle cacao nibs over just spread banana layer. Set aside.
- Break up 3 more bananas and place in blender. Add 1 cup of blueberries and whip in blender until smooth and a light purple color.
- Spread banana/blueberry mix evenly over cacao nib layer.
- Place in freezer.
- Remove from freezer 10 minutes before serving.
- To make star cake/pie. Find a star cookie cutter and place in the center of a low-sided pan. Fill the star with strawberry/banana mix or a raspberry/banana mix. Once filled, then fill the rest of the pan with blueberry/banana mix. Give the pan a gentle shake to level the contents Leave the cookie cutter in place and place on a level surface in freezer. To serve: Let the cake thaw for 10 minutes and then remove the star cookie cutter. Serve.
Nutrition
WFPB Recipes I Found Online That You May Like
If you like berries and would like more ideas on how to use them to make a healthy dessert, here is one I want to try:
Thank you so much for the documentary. It was really worth watching and I learned so much. Thanks also for the treat recipes. I hope to make the banana whip cake tomorrow. Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend.
Am eager to try making the Banana Whip Cake, but before I do, please help me understand the blueberry amount needed. The ingredient list calls for 2 c. frozen blueberries, but the instructions state to add only 1/4 c. blueberries.
Thanks & please don’t stop these WFPB posts. I look forward to reading them every week.
Hi Nancy – Sorry about the typo. I just updated the recipe. Forget the 1/4 of berries – you want to use a cup or more. The amount of berries to bananas for the second layer can be any amount you want. The more berries, the more colorful the layer will be. I also make the cake in different size pans and just eyeball how many frozen bananas to berries I will need to fill it with layers. I have also make the top layer, just whipped up berries for a slightly different taste and texture.
Looks good but what do you do with the rest of the berries if you only add 1/4 cup? Or am I missing something?
Hi Lynn – I just updated the recipe. Forget the 1/4 of berries – you want to use a cup or more. The amount of berries to bananas for the second layer can be any amount you want. The more berries, the more colorful the layer will be. I also make the cake in different size pans and just eyeball how many frozen bananas to berries I will need to fill it with layers. I have also make the top layer, just whipped up berries for a slightly different taste and texture.
I will definitely try your recipe. Thanks.
This may be a silly question, but how do you freeze the fruit before you need them in a recipe? just peel bananas and place in plastic bag? Berries just rinse and then bag and freeze?
Hi Marge – Yes. Just remove the peel and place in a ziplock freezer bag. They last for months. I buy frozen berries at the supermarket in the freezer section. I have never frozen them, as it is easier and cheaper to buy them already frozen.
Oh my gosh! This looks so tasty, I can’t even believe it is healthy.
Can’t wait to try it! Thanks for sharing!
Isabella
I have been on the Paleo diet for about a week now.
You couldn’t of posted this recipe at a better time!
Whew! Thanks!
I looked at this and called it “just what I was looking for” with company coming for dinner tomorrow night. However many calories it has, it appears they are healthy ones. And here I was trying to think of something to do with Luigi’s Italian Ice that didn’t look like Luigi’s Italian Ice—i.e. no plastic cups with paper lids. (But I haven’t given up on the Luigi’s experiment when there is time. And maybe I can try it on my family first.)
I might add just a few of those teeny-tiny chocolate chips since it’s company and all. Or a few shaved chocolate curls on the top. Shh!
Personally, I give you a pass on the nutrition information since you are in the middle of “dumpstering” and “vanillaizing” and all. And not necessarily a food blogger. haha! Maybe someone else will jump in and help out.
But I’ll bet there are some reader friends who would love to help with that.
Ta da! Someone already the calculations. Hurray! I like it even better now.
Hi Diane,
Here you go: If you cut the pie/cake into 6 servings: Calories:215 and carbohydrate: 32 grams!
Many people think bananas are ‘ fattening’ but they are not, they are just like any other fruit, natural and filled with nutrients!!!
Susanne
Hi Susanne – Thank you for sharing your nutritional knowldege and the info for each slice of banana whip cake. I know many of my readers appreciate it as well. :-) XOXO
Welcome!!! I am going to make this on the weekend!!
Susanne
Hi Diane,
People are very aware of websites to calculate calories but it is time consuming and whenever a recipe is posted it is good to include serving size, calories and carb…. Biggest comment I receive from many. Yes it is natural which is wonderful!! Susanne
Hi,
I like the cake recipe but it would be helpful to list the serving size and at least the calories/carbohydrate content.
Being a nutritionist….I kno a lot of people would look for this especially if they are on a wt reducing regime.
Susanne
As a non-nutritionist, but a basic computer user, I found this very easy to find the approximate calorie content and carbs by using any number of online websites :-) For those who are eating this while being on a weight reduction diet , one would find it quite good. It is after all, real food God have us (i.e nothing artificial) :-D
I could eat this cake (or is it pie) every single day. I am definitely sharing this recipe. I want to make that striped floor rug also and am so excited to have your plans. Also, have you or anyone else found a place in Jax, Fla to buy the calcium carbonate? I don’t like the rubbery action I get whren I try to sand door trims that I am guessing were not properly prepped? I like shiny trims and because of this peeling paint I can not get them to look worth anything……. shiny shows all flaws. Any help is appreciated!!!
Hi Sheryll – Thanks for sharing. XO I do not know of a place to buy CCP in the Jax area. If you can’t find it at your health food store, try a shop that sells beer making supplies or farm supplies. Both sell it by the bag. You can also order it on Amazon. Here is the link for it: http://amzn.to/1P0SyfJ
Sheryl – Try GNC. There are several in the JAX area. The stores by me all carry it.
No Kim, they only carry the capsules and way too expensive & then to have to open all those little things…… no powder. I believe I have found a bag on Amazon, but right now I am broke again. Social Security retirement checks do not cut it but for about the first week of every month. lol. So will wait and try later on Amazon.