Sugar-Free Banana Cake – Fruit-Sweetened, Moist, and Frosted Like a Banoffee Dream

Let’s be honest: bananas aren’t keto. But they can be part of a low-sugar plan when you’re aiming for real food, not artificial flavors. This sugar-free banana cake uses ripe bananas and dates to sweeten naturally, no refined sugar required. The result? A moist, tender cake with a flavor that hits like banoffee pie—but with way less junk.

This one’s not strict keto—but it is grain-free adaptable, gluten-free, low added sugar, and perfect for birthdays or those “I just want a real cake” days.

💡 Why It’s Better Than Store-Bought “Healthy” Cakes

• No added sugar – Just fruit and dairy.
• Naturally sweetened – Ripe bananas + date frosting means no artificial aftertaste.
• Creamy frosting without powdered sugar – The blended dates + cream combo is rich, sticky, and caramel-y.
• Easy to adapt – You can tweak the flours or flavors without wrecking it.

🧾 What I Used (And Why It Worked)

Banana Cake Base

• 4 ripe bananas (approx. 1⅓ cups mashed) – These do all the sweetening work. The riper, the better.
• ⅓ cup butter, melted – Moisture and richness.
• 3 eggs – Structure and fat.
• ½ cup buttermilk or yogurt – Adds tang and balances the banana sweetness.
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1¾ cups gluten-free flour – I used a mix of almond flour + arrowroot + coconut flour for a balanced crumb.
• 1 tsp baking powder + ½ tsp baking soda – Lift and tenderness.
• ¼ tsp salt – Always.

Date Caramel Frosting

• 8 Medjool dates – These make the “sugar” in this cake.
• ½ cup water – Just enough to puree the dates.
• 1 cup whipping cream – Blended into the dates for a sticky, almost whipped caramel vibe.

🔁 What You Can (and Can’t) Change

Swap	Works?	Notes
Almond flour for full flour	Yes	Use ~1½ cups almond flour + ¼ cup coconut flour
Greek yogurt instead of buttermilk	Yes	Adds protein, similar texture
Coconut cream instead of whipping cream	Yes	For dairy-free, but won’t whip as light
Replace banana with banana extract	No	Texture and moisture depend on real banana

⚠️ What I Got Wrong

What Went Wrong	Why It Happens	Fix It
Gummy center	Didn’t let GF flour rest	Let batter sit 30 min before baking
Thin frosting	Didn’t chill the date paste	Cool the puree before adding cream
Bitter flavor	Used underripe bananas	Go full-on brown spotted

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step: How to Make It

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line two 6-inch cake pans or one 8-inch square.
2. Mash bananas, stir in butter, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla.
3. Whisk together dry ingredients separately, then fold into wet mix.
4. Rest batter 30 min if using gluten-free flour, then pour into pans.
5. Bake 25–30 min until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
6. Frosting: Blend dates + water until smooth. Chill slightly. Add cream and blend again until thick.
7. Frost cake just before serving or store in fridge.

🧠 Smart Moves I Always Use

• I chill the date paste before whipping to avoid separation.
• I portion bananas by weight (about 300g mashed) to avoid going overboard on sugar.
• I’ve subbed 1 banana with ¼ cup pumpkin before—it works for a less sweet version.

🧊 Storage + Tracking Tips

• Fridge: Keeps 4–5 days. Frosting may firm up, but flavor holds.
• Freezer: Freeze slices unfrosted. Wrap tightly in plastic and foil.
• Track macros carefully—this one’s low added sugar, but still carb-heavy for strict keto.

❓ Real Keto Questions, Real Answers

Q: Is this keto?
A: No, it’s low sugar, not low carb. Each slice has ~33g total carbs from banana and dates. But there’s no refined sugar and it’s clean enough for birthdays or low-glycemic days.

Q: Can I use banana extract instead?
A: You can, but it won’t have the same texture or moisture. This cake needs real banana to feel like cake.

Q: Can I make it dairy-free?
A: Yes—swap butter for coconut oil, buttermilk for almond milk + vinegar, and whipped coconut cream for dairy cream.

🧮 Full Nutrition Facts (Per Slice – 1 of 12)

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	235 kcal
Total Fat	9.9 g
– Saturated Fat	5.7 g
Cholesterol	72 mg
Sodium	173 mg
Total Carbs	33.6 g
– Dietary Fiber**	2 g
– Net Carbs	~31.6 g
Sugar (natural)	12.7 g
Protein	4.9 g

Check out More Recipes:

• Low Carb Keto Banana Pancakes
• Sugar-Free Chocolate Chip Banana Bread – Moist, Chocolatey, and Gluten-Free
• Sugar-Free Chocolate Banana Bread – Rich, Moist, and Naturally Sweet