Chocolate Banana Crumb Cake
I write this post as a pile of tissues lies by my side and my nose resembles that of Rudolph’s. In other words, I’ve got a terrible cold..for the second time in a row! I seriously had just recovered from 2 weeks of acute bronchitis, where I had a horrible cough and had lost my voice. Then, just as I was starting to feel myself again, I felt my throat start to itch with that foreboding sensation that can only be recognized as the first sign of a cold. Sure enough, I woke up to a runny nose and some serious congestion. I wish I could say I was surprised, but I can’t. This is what happens to me. I don’t get sick, but when I do, I get SICK. I tell you all this just to say that the fact that I made this chocolate banana crumb cake and actually got some photos out of it was amazing.
Halfway through the cake baking, I couldn’t handle the itchy throat situation anymore so I downed some cold syrup. Problem was that this was maximum relief cold syrup that was meant to be taken at night. Yeah. So when the timer went off for this lovely cake, it took me a full 30 seconds to realize the oven was beeping. And then, I haphazardly grabbed my camera and started snapping away, not sure if the photos were blurry, crooked, or if the lighting was even ok. I then literally ditched the cake and went straight to my bed to doze off for a good 2 1/2 hours. So, as I uploaded these photos onto the computer, I wondered if there’d be any photos that were actually usable, and I was relieved to find some. One of the photos, not pictured here, was absolutely ridiculous and was right near the end of my photo session where I’m pretty sure I was walking away as I took it.
All this said, this cake is divine. Even with all my senses inhibited, the sweet banana and chocolate flavors shined through; the two are just an irresistible combination. The chocolate chips that are placed on top seep down and melt into the surface of the banana cake. That, paired with the crunchy, brown sugar topping is the perfect play on varying textures. You’ve got the super moist cake, which if you’ve made decent banana bread, you can completely imagine, and then you’ve got the crunchy topping with the crumbled streusel and almonds. This is why I love this cake even more than I love banana bread, which I didn’t think was possible. Banana bread, even with walnuts embedded throughout, tends to leave a little something to be desired in terms of texture. I like when my food has varying textures as I think it makes the whole dish feel complete. You can make this chocolate banana crumb cake in a pie dish like I did, or in a square/rectangular baking pan. I just wish I hadn’t been sick so I could share this cake with all my family and friends. I have a feeling no one will want to accept a slice of this cake from me once they take a look at me, no matter how delicious looking this cake is!
Chocolate Banana Crumb Cake
Ingredients
- 1/2 c unsalted butter, (1 stick)
- 3/4 c granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 c sour cream
- 1 1/2 c mashed bananas, about 4 to 5 ripe bananas
- 1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
for the streusel
- 3/4 c brown sugar
- 1/2 c all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 c unsalted butter, softened and cubed
- 6 oz of chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp to 3 shaved almonds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch pie pan or 8-inch baking pan with baking spray. If you're going to be removing the cake from the pan, fit a long piece of parchment paper in the pan, with some of the parchment paper hanging off of the edges of the pan.
- Create the cake by creaming the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy; about 2 minutes. Add in the egg, vanilla, and sour cream on low speed. Add the mashed bananas and mix just until combined; cake may look lumpy and curdled - thats perfectly fine.
- Sift the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together before adding to the wet ingredients. Mix until everything has been incorporated. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and use a spatula to even the batter out in the pan.
- To create the streusel topping, whisk the sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt together to combine. Drop in the butter and use your fingers to rub the butter into the dry ingredients and create a crumble. Stir in the chocolate chips before evenly distributing this mixture all over the top of the cake. Garnish with some shaved almonds all over the top.
- Bake the cake for 45 to 50 minutes on a center rack in your oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with little to no crumbs. Let the cake rest in the pan until it's just warm. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Notes
adapted from Barefoot Contessa
I’m so sorry to hear about your cold, Beeta. How are you feeling?
Such a lovely cake – you have a knack for making things beautiful!
Thank you so much, Marissa! You are so sweet <3 I look a little better now as my nose is no longer Rudolph-looking, but I'm dealing with the lingering cough phase…always my least favorite as it keeps me up at night! Can't wait to get back to 100% and bake like crazy again 🙂 Thank you for your sweet words and thoughtfulness! XO
Oh no Beeta! I’m so sorry to hear about your Bronchitus, I hope you get well soon, and I am sending you lots of cyber tissues right now! Well done with managing to still take such stunning photographs after the cough syrup – I definitely wouldn’t have been able to have done that!! This cake looks and sounds absolutely delightful. Banana and chocolate is a match made in heaven, and the streusel element sounds so delicious! Mmm!
Thank you, Harriet! I will take all the tissues I can get, as I’ve currently gone through a couple of the tangible boxes 😉 Thank you so much for your kind words and support! XO
First of all, I would GLADLY accept a slice of this cake from you, regardless of how you looked! Second, I’m pretty sure that I just read a study claiming that chocolate banana bread crumb cake has recently been found to be an effective treatment for common colds, such as the one you described. You may want to consider going into culinary medicine, Beeta. I can’t imagine that this delightful treat would not be a great cure for whatever ails you! Looks perfectly delicious to me and I hope you are on the mend!
Thank you, Dan!! You made me laugh out loud! This banana crumb cake definitely tasted better and made me feel better than the cold medicine, so that’s got to be something, right!? I’d happily share this cake with you, for what it’s worth! 🙂
I hope you get well soon! It’s definitely no fun when you’re sick. I’m super impressed that you were able to get such gorgeous picture on cough syrup! I know all mine would’ve been of my pillow as I’d be too passed out to remember to get it out of the oven 😉 I might’ve risked sickness for a slice of this though…it looks super delicious <3
Thanks so much, Alexis! I seriously was debating just turning the oven off halfway through and going to sleep, but I’ve never done anything like that so I worried it would ruin the cake! :p XO
oh wow- the idea of chocolate in a streusel sounds so fab. and i love how many bananas you squished into the cake- i always have too many lying around, and get excited when i find recipes like this that use up a ton.
I’m the same way, Heather, so I totally know what you mean! Thank you! 🙂
What a delicious cake, the crumb topping looks very crunchy and the interior very soft and moist! Hope you feel better soon from your cold! It’s amazing you baked this beautiful cake despite the cold.
Thank you so much, Sarah! 🙂
Oh no, Beeta!! I’m so sorry to hear you are sick. Again!!! 🙁 I agree with Thao, airborne helps me power through being sick (nothing really keeps me from getting sick). I am sending huge hugs and warm wishes for a super quick recovery – Begone you measly illness!As for this cake- holy bananas (literally)!!! This looks SERIOUSLY delicious! LOVE the flavors you have going on here and I’m a HUGE sucker for anything with a crumbly struesel topping!! I’m in shock and awe at how pretty your pictures are, I could not tell at all that you were rushed, let alone in a half cold medicine induced stupor! Always love your recipes and this is no exception! Thanks for always sharing the yum♡ Feel better soon and Cheers, my dear!
Thanks so much, Cheyanne! You are so sweet <3 P.S. I'm a sucker for all things streusel too! 🙂
I swear by Airborne to keep me healthy. I run a daycare out of my home and work with infants through pre-K. Someone is always sick, so at the first sign of a cold, I take my regiment of Airborne and it will usually curtail or prevent a cold from developing.
I love banana desserts, and this pie looks scrumptious! I’m glad you found some great photos to work with. 🙂
Thank you so much, Thao! I will definitely have to stock up on the airborne! I’ve heard great things about it. 🙂