Looking for a yummy make-ahead sweet treat? Banana Crumb Coffee Cake is perfect for brunches, afternoon tea, or even as an indulgent breakfast!
Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday! How are you celebrating the moms in your life (or yourself!)?
I’m back home after spending an AMAZING 11 days in Ireland (follow my Instagram feed and stories for pics and watch for travel tips here soon!). I love traveling but it’s so nice to be home with my family again. We’re planning a low-key Mother’s Day brunch here at our house with my parents, and my brother and his family.
Recently, I shared 35 Make-Ahead Brunch Recipes that are perfect for Mother’s Day. And I am excited to share one more: my make-ahead Banana Crumb Coffee Cake!
In the words of my husband, “This is the best banana cake I’ve ever had.” It’s light, fluffy, and moist- literally so perfect!
-MELISSA
Got ripe bananas to use up?
If you buy a lot of bananas like we do, you inevitably also end up with some ripe ones near the end of their prime that you want to use up. There’s only so much chocolate chip banana bread one can make.
So I also like to make this Banana Crumb Coffee Cake to mix things up.
So good!! Definitely a new favorite.
-Katie
Bananas + Coffee Cake + Crumb Topping = Food Bliss
I used to think that coffee cake had actual coffee in it. Nope. Coffee cake is named as such because it is usually enjoyed with a cup of coffee. That said, I think it would be amazing to make an espresso coffee cake! But, that’s for another time.
Right now, let’s talk bananas. If you have a couple of ripe bananas that you need to use up, this banana coffee cake with streusel topping recipe is a delicious way to do so!
It was delicious! Lovely recipe! Perfect with coffee!
-Kara-lynne
Dairy-Free Banana Crumb Coffee Cake
This Banana Crumb Coffee Cake recipe is:
- more moist and tender than plain ol’ coffee cake, thanks to the addition of ripe bananas,
- dairy-free, although you can use regular dairy if you don’t have a dairy allergy or sensitivity,
- topped with crunchy sweet crumb topping
- perfect with a cup of tea or coffee for breakfast, brunch, afternoon snack, or after dinner dessert!
How far in advance can I make this recipe?
You can make this yummy recipe a day in advance and either store at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
You can also freeze this cake inside an airtight freezer-safe container for up to one month. Simply thaw at room temperature for a few hours before serving.
“Amazing! Took it to work for my staff and I have to make another one as it was gone too fast and everyone loved it! So freaking good!”
– Reader Christine
These are my tried and true kitchen essentials. These are the best kitchen tools I personally use in my homecooking! From my favorite cooking tools to baking tools, the best small appliances for homecooks, and more, this kitchen essentials checklist will help you master most recipes in your home kitchen!
Best Instant Pot
I have and use this 8-quart Instant Pot Duo a few times a week. Be sure to check out my Instant Pot Recipes!
Best Blender
This Vitamix is one of the more affordable Vitamix blenders, and it gets the job done! I use this blender almost every day, for smoothies, soups, sauces, and so much more!
Best Stand Mixer
This 5-quart KitchenAid Stand Mixer is a workhorse in my kitchen! I use it almost every day for everything from cookies to pizza dough to icing. I use mine so much, I have two: one in a limited edition Ocean Drive color, and one in white.
Best Slow Cooker
I've had this Ninja 3-in-1 Cooking System for years, and it's amazing! I love using it mainly as a slow cooker. I also love to use it to keep food warm for parties. Cleans up easily too!
Daterra Cucina Cookware
Daterra Cucina is a Portland, Oregon-based family business that makes my favorite everyday cooking pans! They are professional grade, ceramic, non-stick, non-toxic pans that cook food BEAUTIFULLY and are super easy to clean. I love them and know you will, too!
Best Air Fryer: Rack Style
This is my newest air fryer. I love my basket style air fryer, but also needed to do recipe testing with a rack style air fryer since so many of you now use this style. The InstantPot Vortex Plus is a 7-in-1 workhorse that serves as an Air Fryer, Toaster Oven, and Rotisserie Oven, which allows it to Air Fry, Rotisserie, Roast, Broil, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate. The 10-quart capacity means you can air fry A LOT OF FOOD in one batch! Versus making several batches in the 5-6 Quart basket style air fryers.
Best Air Fryer: Basket Style
It took me a while to develop air fryer recipes that my whole family loved. During our kitchen remodel, I learned how to create delicious dishes using our GoWise Air Fryer, and now I love it! This 5.8 Quart, 8-in-1, XL Air Fryer is perfect size for families with 3+ people.
More Recipes You Might Like:
- Classic Chocolate Chip Bars
- Gingerbread Loaf with Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting
- Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
- Mini Citrus Bundt Cakes
Banana Crumb Coffee Cake Recipe
Banana Crumb Coffee Cake
Ingredients
Crumb Layers
- 1/2 cup cold butter (8 tablespoons), cut into small cubes I use vegan butter to keep this dairy-free
- 1 cup all purpose flour (gradually add more by the tablespoon if needed)
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
- 1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature again, use vegan butter for dairy-free option
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup almond milk (you can also use 1%, 2%, whole milk, or even buttermilk)
Glaze (optional)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 tbsp almond milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease a 9″ x 13″ baking dish with butter or cooking spray; set aside.
- In a large bowl, use your hands or two forks to crumble together the cold butter cubes, flour, sugars, and cinnamon until the mixture resembles a crumbly topping. Set aside the crumb mixture.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer, mix softened butter on medium until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and mix for another minute, until well incorporated. Then add the eggs, vanilla, and mashed bananas, and mix just until ingredients are incorporated (do not overmix!)
- Turn the mixer down to low, and alternate mixing in milk and flour until all ingredients are combined.
- Pour half of the cake mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with 1/3 – 1/4 of the crumb mixture. Then pour the remaining cake mixture on top of that layer and finally, top evenly with the remaining crumb topping.
- Bake at 350º for 50-55 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- To make the optional glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of milk. Add more milk as needed until you get the glaze consistency you prefer. Set aside.
- Cool at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before drizzling the glaze over the top, slicing, and serving.
Notes
Recipe was excellent. Everyone loved it!!
-April
PIN IT:
I love any baked good with bananas, I just like the texture it gives things and coffee cake is always a favorite. This sounds sooooooo good, I can’t wait to make it! I think I’ll be baking this weekend ;)
Welcome back from Ireland! I’m not the biggest fan of bananas (I usually just freeze them and toss them into smoothies), but I enjoy them in baked goods. Think I might bake up a vegan version of this coffee cake. Yum!
Welcome home! I love how this cake has it all. Its banana healthy and moist with texture from crumbs and glaze… and appropriate for any meal!
I thought coffee cake had coffee in it too, so now I know better. This sounds like a delicious alternative to my standard banana muffins.
Oh wow, that crumb topping looks to die for!
Banana, coffee and cake are on the list of my favourite ingredients and when they come together in one combination… Wow! I have to make them soon!
Welcome back from Ireland! I’m so glad you had a great time there :) This cake is right up my street and I just so happen to have all the ingredients in my cupboards to make this today! Can’t wait to eat it ;-)
I love this banana cake recipe. Looks so delicious and that crumbly topping is super tempting. I’m saving this recipe and making for weekends. My family will love this too.
This literally has my mouth watering, love your photos!
I love this as an alternative way to use those mushy bananas (that always happen in my house!) rather than making banana bread. The crumb on this cake looks scrumptious!
flavors are wonderful, batter was a good consistency. My only two issues I had was that there was SO much crumble! Even putting a ton in the middle, I couldn’t use it all. And in order to really get two layers, there wasn’t enough batter. I would have skipped the layering step and just made half the amount of crumb topping and it would have been perfect!
We always have overripe bananas laying around. And throwing them into a baked good makes it so nice an moist. Then add on that you can MAKE THIS AHEAD! Bamm! It’s a winner!
I love that you put the crumb mixture in the middle- doubling up on the best part!
Thanks so much Kelsey! More crumb mixture, the better, I say ;)
You list flour in the crumble instructions, but don’t list it in the ingredients.
Did you forget to include it?
Pat – thanks for catching that! Just updated the recipe. Start with 3/4 cup, then gradually add more if you want more of a flour texture to your crumb topping/mixture. Thanks.
Used Almond Milk. Love love love this recipe!
I just made this, love the flavor and concept, but there is way too much butter. Especially in the crumble. I made it with less than called for and it was still too much. Will probably try again when I have more bananas but tweak it even more.
Replace most of granulated sugar in batter part with apple sauce and you won’t be disappointed!
Made this for a coworkers going away carry in at work and although the flavors seem ok, there is no way the ratios for the crumb layer is correct! That is way too much butter and seems like too much brown sugar as well. The pictures posted didn’t look anything like what the batter or crumble turned out.
So good!! Definitely a new favorite.
Yummy! I didn’t add the optional glaze.
I experienced the exact same thing. I ended up using a different crumble recipe. I think this one had too much butter and not enough flour to create that true crumble.
This was soooo good! Definitely a hit with my family!
Very moist and good!
Like many others commented, I had trouble cutting a full cup of butter into 1 cup of flour. It did not crumble. It’s in the oven now and I’m hoping for the best.
The best use of ripe bananas ever, will for sure be my go to recipe, entire family loved it
Looks like the crumb topping has the incorrect amount of butter. 1 c.? I imagine it should be 1 stick, which is 1/2 c. =).
I used vegan butter, coconut sugar and oat milk. It was delicious! Lovely recipe! Perfect with coffee!
2nd time this month I had to make this. My husband LOVED it
I only have 2 ripe bananas. Can I still use the same measurements for everything to make this?
Crumb recipe is not as picture describes. Mine turned out like a caramelized, buttery crust. Not what I was hoping for. Overall, I feel like this recipe calls for way too much sugar.
For all those saying it’s difficult to make the crumb topping with a cup of butter — remember it calls for a HALF CUP (one stick) in the crumb topping mix. The other half-cup (stick) goes in the banana batter, Lastly, THANK YOU! to whomever said this recipe calls for too much sugar. So I only used 1 cup of white sugar (instead of 1 1/2 cup) and I LOVED IT!!! It was definitely sweet enough the crumb layer and topping!! With a tad less sugar, in the banana flavor really stood out in the banana bread. Soo, soo yummy and perfect!! Definitely recommend!!!
This was so delicious! That crumb topping was everything!
Has any one tried this in a loaf pan rather than a 9×13? If so how much batter per pan and how long did you bake it?
A big hit! The only different thing I did was add a handful of rolled oats to the crumb………makes it more crunchy…
Just made this yesterday. My first ever time making a crumb cake and it is DELICIOUS. Sent some off to friends too and they love it. Great recipe! Moist and tasty!
Hooray! Lauren, thank you for making the recipe and for taking the time to comment. So glad you all enjoyed it! :)
LOVE! I used oat milk since we were low on dairy milk and added 1/2 cup chopped pecans to the crumb mix. I followed the recipe for the rest. Cooked in a mini loaf tray (8 mini loafs) and cooked for 30min in the oven at 350.
Wonderful! Glad you love it Alicia!
I don’t have a stand mixer. Would a hand mixer work as well?
Hi Karen! A hand mixer should work just fine, although I have only used a stand mixer when I’ve made this recipe. Just be sure to mix thoroughly.
This coffee cake looks delicious. I was given some bananas for baking so I made 2 cakes one for coworkers and one for the family.
I made this last night and hands down it is DELICIOUS!! One of the most yummy things I have made ever – this recipe is a keeper!! Thanks so much!!
Hooray! So glad you loved it! Thank you for sharing, Amanda! :)
I just made this today and OMG is it amazing!!! Question… have you ever tried making this with pumpkin instead of banana for a fall treat? Or do you think it would be ok to just sub pumpkin for the banana?
Thanks for this excellent recipe!! Made it today and it was a success. I didn’t put 1 1/2 cup of sugar, only used 3/4 cup and it was enough… for my taste. There is enough brown sugar in the topping.
This is the best baked banana treat recipe ever. I typically don’t like banana bread, love banana cream pie so was trying to find something “in between”. So moist and flavorful, only negative is I can’t stop eating it. Made two cakes and gave some away to family. All rave reviews insisting this recipe is a keeper :)
Has anyone tried using flax eggs? Sounds like it would make a perfect vegan treat!
Thanks!
This came out delicious! I used all ingredients and measurements asked and wouldn’t change a thing. My family is satisfied!
I only have 2 bananas do you think it would be ok?
I’ve only made this recipe using three bananas, but I believe others have only used two and mentioned it turned out great on Pinterest. So you can certainly try! If you do please let us know how it goes!
Delicious! Very moist compared to many other coffee cake recipes. I substituted gluten free flour blend.
Hi! I am about to make this. I had to mash the bananas before so just wanted to check to see how many cups are 3 mashed bananas? Thank you!
Hi Cristy! It’s about one and a half to 1-3/4 cups, depending on the size of bananas and how you mash them.
Soooo good! Thank you for the recipe! My boyfriend loved it!!
Very happy with this recipe. I added a big handful of Blueberries and loves it. Easy to follow recipe. Highly recommended.