Homey and nourishing vegan chickpea flour banana cake that is grain-free and gluten-free! It is ready, start to finish, in 30 minutes.

a square of vegan chickpea flour banana cake on a floral china plate

Banana Cake Made with Chickpea Flour

Yes, you need another banana cake recipe, and lucky for you, I have got one that is well worth trying.

It’s neither fussy nor precious, but it does have a special ingredient that makes it unique: chickpea flour!

What is Chickpea Flour?

Chickpea flour (aka garbanzo bean flour, ceci flour, chana, besan and gram flour) is made from finely ground dried chickpeas. It is naturally gluten-free, grain-free, straightforward-to-use, inexpensive, and incredibly versatile for making both sweet and savory eats.

Chickpea flour has a subtle nutty flavor and packs a bonus punch of protein, too. It is gaining in popularity in North America, but it is anything but faddish. Finely ground chickpeas have been around for centuries and are used in myriad cuisines from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Northern Africa and Southern Europe.

This banana cake is a great choice for giving chickpea flour a try. It is reliable for the lunch-packing season ahead since it can be made at the drop of a hat, is not-too-sweet and travels well.

Recipe Benefits

Vegan (egg-free, dairy-free)
Gluten-free
Grain-free
Quick and straightforward to prepare
Frugal (chickpea flour is inexpensive)

Vegan Chickpea Flour Banana Cake Ingredients

The exact amounts of each ingredient are indicated in the recipe card at the end of the post.Toggle betweenUS Customary(volume) andMetric(weights) for preferred measurement option.

nondairy milk (e.g., almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk)
lemon juice
chickpea flour
baking powder (certified GF, as needed)
baking soda
ground cinnamon
salt
natural cane sugar (or granulated sweetener of choice)
mashed very ripe banana
melted coconut oil (or vegetable oil of choice)
vanilla extract
Optional: 1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts

How to Make Vegan Chickpea Flour Banana Cake

Note that the complete instructions are also in the recipe card below.

Preheat oven to 375°F (190C). Line a 9-inch (22.5 cm) square metal baking pan. lightly grease or coat with nonstick cooking spray
Combine the nondairy milk and lemon juice in a small bowl. Let stand 5 minutes to curdle.
In a large bowl, whisk the chickpea flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Make a well in center of flour mixture.
Add the sugar, banana, oil, and vanilla to the curdled milk mixture, whisking until well blended. Add banana mixture to the flour mixture in large bowl, stirring just until moist. Stir in walnuts, if using. Spread evenly into prepared pan, smoothing top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cake in the pan 10 minutes on wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

overhead shot of chickpea flour banana cake ina silver baking pan, set atop a black wire cooling rack

FAQ

How Should I Store the Vegan Chickpea Flour Banana Cake?

Store the cooled cake in an airtight container at cool room temperature for 1 day, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or the freezer for up to 3 months.

Can I Leave out the Walnuts in the Vegan Chickpea Flour Banana Cake?

Yes, you can leave out the walnuts in the cake.

I can go either way with the addition of walnuts. I love their toasty flavor, but I think the cake is smashing without them, too. My husband holds fast that banana breads and cakes Worth keeping nuts to qualify for eating, but my sister and others believe the exact opposite.

Go with your own tastes, or by what’s on hand for the add-ins. You can also swap in chocolate chips, chopped dried fruits, or other types of nuts, or seeds, in place of the walnuts.

an overripe banana and toasted walnuts on a piece of slate

Can I Use A Different Flour, Less Sugar or Less Oil?

No, I do not recommend any other flour for this particular recipe; stick with chickpea flour. Further, use caution with substitutions and proportions here. Chickpea flour is not all-purpose flour, so changes in the amount of sugar, oil, banana, etc. will likely require some experimentation before achieving the right balance.

Happy baking!

a square of chickpea flour banana cake on a floral porcelain dis

Vegan Chickpea Flour Banana Cake (Grain-Free)

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 pieces

Ingredients

3/4 cup nondairy milk (e.g., almond milk, soy milk, cashew milk)
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 2/3 cups chickpea flour
2 teaspoons baking powder (Certified GF, as needed)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 cup natural cane sugar or granulated sweetener of choice
1 1/4 cups mashed very ripe banana (about 3 large)
1/4 cup melted coconut oil (or avocado oil , or oil of choice)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Optional: 1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts

Method

Preheat oven to 375°F (190C). Line a 9-inch (22.5 cm) square metal baking pan. lightly grease or coat with nonstick cooking spray
In a small bowl , combine the nondairy milk and lemon juice. Let stand 5 minutes to curdle.
In a large bowl , whisk the chickpea flour , baking powder , baking soda , and cinnamon. Make a well in center of flour mixture.
In a small bowl , whisk the sugar, curdled nondairy milk, banana, oil, and vanilla until well blended. Add banana mixture to the flour mixture in large bowl , stirring just until moist. Stir in walnuts, if using. Spread evenly into prepared pan, smoothing top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cake in the pan 10 minutes on wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Notes

Storage: Store the cooled cake in an airtight container at cool room temperature for 1 day, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or the freezer for up to 3 months.