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Banana Snack Cake with Chocolate Chips & Crumble Topping

April 17, 2026 by Gina +

There is something so satisfying about turning a few overripe bananas into a recipe everyone gets excited about. And while banana bread will always have its place, this banana snack cake feels a little more fun, a little more bakery-style, and honestly even easier to slice, serve, and snack on throughout the week.

This cake is soft, moist, packed with banana flavor, and topped with a buttery cinnamon crumble that takes it over the top. I love it as an afternoon snack with coffee, packed in lunches, or warmed up for dessert. If you have three ripe bananas sitting on the counter, this is the recipe to make next.

Why Youโ€™ll Love This Banana Snack Cake

  • Uses 3 very ripe bananas
  • Softer and fluffier than banana bread
  • Easy one-bowl style recipe
  • Perfect for snacks, dessert, or breakfast
  • Family-friendly and freezer friendly
  • Crumble topping + chocolate chips = so good

Ingredients

For the Banana Snack Cake

  • 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • 1/3 cup melted butter or neutral oil
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

For the Crumble Topping

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons melted butter
  • Pinch of salt

Main Ingredient Breakdown

Bananas

The star of the recipe. Very ripe bananas bring natural sweetness, moisture, and the best banana flavor.

Greek Yogurt

Adds richness and moisture while keeping the cake tender. Sour cream also works well.

Chocolate Chips

Mini chocolate chips give you chocolate in every bite without overpowering the banana flavor.

Crumble Topping

A simple mix that bakes into a sweet buttery layer with the perfect little crunch.

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350ยฐF. Grease and line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the crumble topping ingredients until sandy clumps form. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, eggs, Greek yogurt, melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
  4. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Fold in the mini chocolate chips.
  6. Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the top.
  7. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the center is set and a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean.
  8. Let cool before slicing and serving.

Tips for the Best Banana Snack Cake

  • Use bananas with lots of brown spots for the sweetest flavor.
  • Do not overmix the batter or the cake can become dense.
  • Tent loosely with foil near the end if the top browns too quickly.
  • Let it cool before slicing so the texture sets properly.
  • Warm leftovers for 10 seconds in the microwave for an extra cozy treat.

FAQ

Can I make this without chocolate chips?

Yes. You can leave them out or swap for chopped nuts.

Can I freeze the banana snack cake?

Absolutely. Slice first, wrap well, and freeze for up to 2 months.

Can I use whole wheat flour?

You can substitute part of the flour, but all-purpose gives the softest texture.

How should I store it?

Store covered at room temperature for 2 days or in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Can I make this in a loaf pan?

Yes, but the bake time will be longer and the texture will be more like banana bread.


You might also like:

Easy Cinnamon Banana Bread Recipe Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Banana Bites Frozen Sโ€™mores Bars: A Cool Twist on a Classic Treat Pumpking Streusal Muffins – A Perfect Fall Treat

Filed Under: Breakfast, Desserts, Recipes, Snacks Tagged With: banana, cake, chocolate chips, snack

The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house loves

Make sure youโ€™re following @gina_gibson_cooks for easy healthier recipes and save this one. I promise youโ€™ll love it. 

Theyโ€™re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese.

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375ยฐF for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.
A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco s A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco skillet. Made with simple ingredients you probably already have. It bakes in the oven for an easy, hands-off dinner and comes together in under 40 minutes.

1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup blended cottage cheese
1 (15 oz) jar salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar or taco cheese blend
1 package taco seasoning
*chips, sour cream, avocado for topping and scooping

Preheat oven to 375ยฐF. In an oven-safe skillet, cook ground beef and onion on medium heat until beef is browned.

Stir in taco seasoning. Add salsa, cottage cheese, the rice, then 1/2 cup water. Mix well.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes

Remove from oven, top with cheese. Serve with sour cream, avocado, and plenty of chips for scooping

Save this for your next quick dinner night.
2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potato 2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potatoes the first night sandwiches after that

The sauce is the real star here. Savory, rich, and packed with flavor from the miso, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger.

2 lb chuck roast
Salt + pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white miso paste
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1ยฝ cups beef broth
1 tsp sesame 

Mashed potatoes, for serving

Season the chuck roast well with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pan and sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned.

In a bowl, whisk together the miso paste, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, beef broth, and sesame.

Pour the sauce over the roast, cover, and braise at 300ยฐF for about 3 to 3ยฝ hours until the beef is fall apart tender.

Remove the meat and shred or slice it. Simmer the sauce on the stovetop for 5โ€“10 minutes until thickened and glossy.

Serve over mashed potatoes and spoon all that sauce right on top.
Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsup Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsupps Ricket blasts are getting us there. Limited time. Whatโ€™s your fave poolside or beach bev?!

#giftedbyoom
#bloompop
Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice ๐Ÿค

This might be one of my favorite easy dinners lately. The buttery garlic shrimp, blistered tomatoes, cilantro lime rice, and salty feta all work so well together

Youโ€™ll need 
1 pound shrimp
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic minced
juice of 1 lemon
2 cups cooked rice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
juice of 1 lime
crumbled feta for topping 
salt, and pepper.

Cook the rice and mix with chopped cilantro, lime juice, and a little salt. Add olive oil to a hot skillet and cook the cherry tomatoes until blistered and softened. Push the tomatoes to the side of the skillet, then add butter, garlic, and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the shrimp are pink and lightly golden. Squeeze in the lemon juice and mix everything together with the tomatoes. Spoon over the cilantro lime rice and top with feta.

Save this for an easy weeknight dinner and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy family meals and Dinner Diaries ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ
DINNER DIARIES WEEK 11 Bringing back this series DINNER DIARIES WEEK 11

Bringing back this series to help you with easy dinners. 

This weekโ€™s lineup:โ€จโœจ Cheeseburger Sheet Pan Friesโ€จโœจ Chicken Caesar Smash Burger Tacosโ€จโœจ Crispy Chicken Protein Mac & Cheese

we reused ingredients across multiple meals to keep grocery waste low ๐Ÿ™Œ

The crispy chicken on the protein mac & cheese might be one of my favorite dinners Iโ€™ve made in a while 

Comment DINNER and Iโ€™ll send you all 3 recipes + the grocery list
The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house loves

Make sure youโ€™re following @gina_gibson_cooks for easy healthier recipes and save this one. I promise youโ€™ll love it. 

Theyโ€™re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese.

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375ยฐF for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.
A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco s A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco skillet. Made with simple ingredients you probably already have. It bakes in the oven for an easy, hands-off dinner and comes together in under 40 minutes.

1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup blended cottage cheese
1 (15 oz) jar salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar or taco cheese blend
1 package taco seasoning
*chips, sour cream, avocado for topping and scooping

Preheat oven to 375ยฐF. In an oven-safe skillet, cook ground beef and onion on medium heat until beef is browned.

Stir in taco seasoning. Add salsa, cottage cheese, the rice, then 1/2 cup water. Mix well.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes

Remove from oven, top with cheese. Serve with sour cream, avocado, and plenty of chips for scooping

Save this for your next quick dinner night.
2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potato 2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potatoes the first night sandwiches after that

The sauce is the real star here. Savory, rich, and packed with flavor from the miso, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger.

2 lb chuck roast
Salt + pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white miso paste
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1ยฝ cups beef broth
1 tsp sesame 

Mashed potatoes, for serving

Season the chuck roast well with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pan and sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned.

In a bowl, whisk together the miso paste, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, beef broth, and sesame.

Pour the sauce over the roast, cover, and braise at 300ยฐF for about 3 to 3ยฝ hours until the beef is fall apart tender.

Remove the meat and shred or slice it. Simmer the sauce on the stovetop for 5โ€“10 minutes until thickened and glossy.

Serve over mashed potatoes and spoon all that sauce right on top.
Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsup Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsupps Ricket blasts are getting us there. Limited time. Whatโ€™s your fave poolside or beach bev?!

#giftedbyoom
#bloompop
Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice ๐Ÿค

This might be one of my favorite easy dinners lately. The buttery garlic shrimp, blistered tomatoes, cilantro lime rice, and salty feta all work so well together

Youโ€™ll need 
1 pound shrimp
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic minced
juice of 1 lemon
2 cups cooked rice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
juice of 1 lime
crumbled feta for topping 
salt, and pepper.

Cook the rice and mix with chopped cilantro, lime juice, and a little salt. Add olive oil to a hot skillet and cook the cherry tomatoes until blistered and softened. Push the tomatoes to the side of the skillet, then add butter, garlic, and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the shrimp are pink and lightly golden. Squeeze in the lemon juice and mix everything together with the tomatoes. Spoon over the cilantro lime rice and top with feta.

Save this for an easy weeknight dinner and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy family meals and Dinner Diaries ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ
DINNER DIARIES WEEK 11 Bringing back this series DINNER DIARIES WEEK 11

Bringing back this series to help you with easy dinners. 

This weekโ€™s lineup:โ€จโœจ Cheeseburger Sheet Pan Friesโ€จโœจ Chicken Caesar Smash Burger Tacosโ€จโœจ Crispy Chicken Protein Mac & Cheese

we reused ingredients across multiple meals to keep grocery waste low ๐Ÿ™Œ

The crispy chicken on the protein mac & cheese might be one of my favorite dinners Iโ€™ve made in a while 

Comment DINNER and Iโ€™ll send you all 3 recipes + the grocery list
The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house loves

Make sure youโ€™re following @gina_gibson_cooks for easy healthier recipes and save this one. I promise youโ€™ll love it. 

Theyโ€™re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese.

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375ยฐF for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.
A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco s A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco skillet. Made with simple ingredients you probably already have. It bakes in the oven for an easy, hands-off dinner and comes together in under 40 minutes.

1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup blended cottage cheese
1 (15 oz) jar salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar or taco cheese blend
1 package taco seasoning
*chips, sour cream, avocado for topping and scooping

Preheat oven to 375ยฐF. In an oven-safe skillet, cook ground beef and onion on medium heat until beef is browned.

Stir in taco seasoning. Add salsa, cottage cheese, the rice, then 1/2 cup water. Mix well.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes

Remove from oven, top with cheese. Serve with sour cream, avocado, and plenty of chips for scooping

Save this for your next quick dinner night.
2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potato 2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potatoes the first night sandwiches after that

The sauce is the real star here. Savory, rich, and packed with flavor from the miso, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger.

2 lb chuck roast
Salt + pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white miso paste
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1ยฝ cups beef broth
1 tsp sesame 

Mashed potatoes, for serving

Season the chuck roast well with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pan and sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned.

In a bowl, whisk together the miso paste, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, beef broth, and sesame.

Pour the sauce over the roast, cover, and braise at 300ยฐF for about 3 to 3ยฝ hours until the beef is fall apart tender.

Remove the meat and shred or slice it. Simmer the sauce on the stovetop for 5โ€“10 minutes until thickened and glossy.

Serve over mashed potatoes and spoon all that sauce right on top.
Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsup Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsupps Ricket blasts are getting us there. Limited time. Whatโ€™s your fave poolside or beach bev?!

#giftedbyoom
#bloompop
Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice ๐Ÿค

This might be one of my favorite easy dinners lately. The buttery garlic shrimp, blistered tomatoes, cilantro lime rice, and salty feta all work so well together

Youโ€™ll need 
1 pound shrimp
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic minced
juice of 1 lemon
2 cups cooked rice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
juice of 1 lime
crumbled feta for topping 
salt, and pepper.

Cook the rice and mix with chopped cilantro, lime juice, and a little salt. Add olive oil to a hot skillet and cook the cherry tomatoes until blistered and softened. Push the tomatoes to the side of the skillet, then add butter, garlic, and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the shrimp are pink and lightly golden. Squeeze in the lemon juice and mix everything together with the tomatoes. Spoon over the cilantro lime rice and top with feta.

Save this for an easy weeknight dinner and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy family meals and Dinner Diaries ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ
DINNER DIARIES WEEK 11 Bringing back this series DINNER DIARIES WEEK 11

Bringing back this series to help you with easy dinners. 

This weekโ€™s lineup:โ€จโœจ Cheeseburger Sheet Pan Friesโ€จโœจ Chicken Caesar Smash Burger Tacosโ€จโœจ Crispy Chicken Protein Mac & Cheese

we reused ingredients across multiple meals to keep grocery waste low ๐Ÿ™Œ

The crispy chicken on the protein mac & cheese might be one of my favorite dinners Iโ€™ve made in a while 

Comment DINNER and Iโ€™ll send you all 3 recipes + the grocery list

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