Irresistibly Moist Vegan Banana Crumb Cake with Crunchy Pecan Streusel

Discover the ultimate vegan banana crumb cake – a delightfully moist and tender cake base crowned with a generous, crisp pecan streusel. This easy-to-make plant-based dessert is so incredibly delicious, you’ll find it utterly addictive!

Indulge in the comforting embrace of this sensational vegan banana crumb cake, the perfect treat for any time of day. Whether you’re seeking a satisfying snack, a luxurious breakfast companion to your morning coffee, or a delightful dessert, this cake truly delivers. It features a beautifully moist and tender banana cake, baked to perfection, and topped with an irresistible, golden-brown sugar pecan streusel that adds a delightful crunch to every bite. The harmonious blend of soft cake and crisp crumble creates a textural masterpiece that is simply beyond compare.

This recipe embodies everything you love about a classic coffee cake, but with a fantastic plant-based twist. For those unfamiliar, an “American coffee cake” isn’t a cake flavored with coffee, but rather one traditionally served alongside a cup of coffee. These cakes are typically simple, unfrosted, and often feature warm spices and a delectable streusel topping. Our vegan banana crumb cake fits this description perfectly, offering a wonderfully spiced banana base that pairs exquisitely with a rich, nutty streusel. It’s a comforting bake that invites you to slow down and savor the moment, free from dairy and eggs.

Crafted to be both incredibly flavourful and surprisingly straightforward, this vegan banana crumb cake is an adaptation of my much-loved easy vegan banana bread recipe. That original recipe is fantastic if you prefer a simpler, plain banana loaf, but this crumb cake elevates it to a whole new level of deliciousness with its textural contrast and spiced pecan topping. It’s a testament to how easy and rewarding vegan baking can be, transforming humble, ripe bananas into a show-stopping bake that everyone will adore. Get ready to impress your taste buds and your guests with this fantastic creation!

Essential Ingredients for Your Vegan Banana Crumb Cake:

Creating this incredible vegan banana crumb cake relies on a selection of simple, readily available ingredients. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and why each component is crucial for the perfect bake:

For the Cake Base:

• Very Ripe Bananas: The star of the show! Overripe bananas, those with plenty of brown spots and a soft texture, are absolutely essential. They are naturally sweeter and contribute significant moisture and a rich, intense banana flavor to the cake. Don’t be tempted to use firm, yellow bananas; the riper, the better for that signature moist crumb and deep sweetness.
• Light Brown Soft or Muscovado Sugar: This type of sugar not only provides sweetness but also adds a lovely caramel-like depth of flavor that complements the banana beautifully. Crucially, brown sugar also introduces extra moisture, helping to keep the cake incredibly tender. While white granulated sugar can be used in a pinch, brown sugar truly enhances the overall taste and texture.
• Neutral Flavored Oil or Melted Vegan Block Butter: For the cake, a neutral oil like sunflower, vegetable, or canola oil is ideal as it contributes moisture without imparting a strong flavor. Melted coconut oil or melted vegan block butter are also excellent options. Oil tends to create a slightly more moist crumb, while melted butter can add a richer, more buttery note. All options yield fantastic results.
• Plain (All-Purpose) Flour: Regular plain white flour works wonderfully to create a light and fluffy cake texture. If you’re looking to add a bit more fiber and a nuttier flavor, you can substitute up to a third of the plain flour with wholemeal (whole wheat) flour. Alternatively, white spelt flour offers a slightly lighter texture than wholemeal with a distinct, pleasant taste.
• Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk: Soy milk is often recommended for vegan baking due to its higher protein content, which can contribute to a more stable and tender crumb. However, most unsweetened non-dairy milks (almond, oat, cashew) will work well. Just be sure to avoid tinned coconut milk, as its fat content and flavor profile are not suitable for this recipe.
• Cider or White Wine Vinegar: A small amount of acid, like vinegar, is vital in vegan baking. It reacts with the bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) to create carbon dioxide bubbles, which are responsible for giving the cake its lift and light texture. If you don’t have vinegar, a teaspoon of lemon juice can be used as an effective substitute.
• Baking Powder and Bicarbonate of Soda (Baking Soda): These are your key leavening agents. Together with the vinegar, they ensure that the banana cake rises beautifully, resulting in a wonderfully light, airy, and fluffy texture that melts in your mouth.
• Vanilla Extract: A dash of vanilla extract adds a layer of warmth and complexity, enhancing the overall flavor profile of the cake. While optional, it’s highly recommended for a richer taste.
• Ground Cinnamon and Nutmeg: These warm spices are the perfect companions to banana. They infuse the cake with a cozy, aromatic flavor that truly makes it special. I strongly advise against omitting them, as they are integral to the signature taste of this crumb cake.
• Salt: Just a small pinch of salt works wonders to balance the sweetness and enhance all the other flavors in the cake, making them more vibrant and pronounced.

For the Irresistible Crumble Topping:

• Plain (All-Purpose) Flour: Provides the structural base for the crumble, giving it that classic sandy texture.
• Light Brown Soft or Muscovado Sugar: Essential for both sweetness and contributing to the rich, slightly caramelized flavor and golden-brown color of the streusel.
• Ground Cinnamon: Pairs perfectly with the banana cake, adding a fragrant, warm spice to the crunchy topping.
• Cold, Diced Vegan Block Butter/Margarine: This is crucial for achieving a proper crumbly streusel. Unlike spreadable margarines in tubs, block vegan butter has a lower water content and firmer consistency when cold, allowing it to be rubbed into the flour and sugar to form distinct crumbs. Brands like Naturli Vegan Block are excellent choices for this purpose.
• Roughly Chopped Pecans (or Other Nuts): Adding chopped nuts to the crumble is optional but highly recommended for an extra layer of flavor and a delightful textural crunch. Pecans are fantastic, but hazelnuts, walnuts, or even almonds would be equally delicious, allowing for customization based on your preference.

Baking Your Perfect Vegan Banana Crumb Cake: A Simple Guide

Creating this delightful vegan banana crumb cake is a straightforward and rewarding process. The magic happens in two main stages: preparing the crisp, buttery streusel topping and then mixing the moist, spiced banana cake batter. Each step is designed to be simple, ensuring a successful bake even for novice bakers.

(For precise ingredient quantities and detailed, step-by-step instructions, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card located below.)

Crafting the Crunchy Pecan Crumble:

Begin by preparing your crumble topping. In a medium bowl, combine the plain flour, light brown soft sugar, and a generous amount of cinnamon. Next, add small, cold diced pieces of vegan block butter. Using your fingertips, gently rub the butter into the dry ingredients. Continue this motion until the mixture transforms into a texture resembling coarse breadcrumbs, with no large lumps of butter remaining and the mixture beginning to clump together. This method ensures an even distribution of butter, which is key for a truly crisp topping. Once the desired consistency is achieved, stir in your chopped pecans (if using) for an added layer of flavor and crunch. Place the bowl in the fridge to chill while you move on to the cake batter – this helps the crumble stay perfectly crisp during baking.

Mixing the Moist Banana Cake Batter:

For the cake batter, start by whisking together the dry ingredients in a large bowl: plain flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Whisking them thoroughly ensures that the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed throughout the flour. In a separate bowl, mash your very ripe bananas until mostly smooth (a few small lumps are fine for texture). Add the mashed bananas to the dry ingredients, along with the light brown soft sugar, sunflower oil (or your chosen oil), non-dairy milk, vinegar, and vanilla extract. Using a whisk, gently mix all the ingredients until just combined and no pockets of dry flour remain. Be mindful not to over-beat the batter, as excessive mixing can develop the gluten too much, resulting in a tougher cake. A light hand is key for a tender crumb.

Assembling and Baking Your Crumb Cake:

Pour the prepared banana cake batter evenly into a greased and lined 23 cm (9 inch) square cake tin. Gently spread the batter to ensure it forms a level layer. Then, retrieve your chilled pecan crumble topping from the fridge and sprinkle it generously and evenly over the top of the cake batter. This careful distribution will ensure every slice gets a good amount of crunchy streusel. Transfer the tin to your preheated oven and bake for approximately 40-45 minutes. The cake is perfectly baked when the top is golden, the cake feels firm and springy to the touch, and a skewer inserted into the very center comes out clean or with only a few moist crumbs attached, indicating no wet batter. Allow the cake to cool slightly in the tin before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. The wait is the hardest part, but entirely worth it for this delicious vegan banana crumb cake!

 

Expert Tips for a Flawless Vegan Banana Crumb Cake:

Achieving the perfect vegan banana crumb cake is easy with a few key considerations. Follow these expert tips to ensure your cake turns out beautifully moist with an exquisitely crisp streusel every time:

• Precision is Key: Weigh Your Ingredients! For consistent and optimal baking results, I cannot stress enough the importance of weighing your ingredients using a digital kitchen scale. Gram measurements are far more accurate than cup conversions, which can vary greatly depending on how ingredients are packed. Accurate measurements are especially critical in vegan baking, where the balance of wet and dry ingredients is delicate.
• Cold Vegan Block Butter for the Crumble: When making the streusel topping, always use cold, solid vegan block butter or margarine. Avoid the spreadable, softer varieties found in tubs, as these contain a higher water content and will not create the desirable crisp, crumbly texture. Block butter, like Naturli Vegan Block, is firmer and allows for distinct “crumbs” when rubbed into the flour.
• Do Not Over-mix the Batter: Once you’ve combined your wet and dry ingredients for the cake batter, mix only until no dry lumps of flour remain. Over-mixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to a dense, tough, and chewy cake rather than a light and tender one. A few small lumps are perfectly fine!
• Embrace Ripe Bananas: The riper your bananas are, the better your cake will be. Look for bananas that are heavily speckled with brown or almost entirely brown. These are sweeter, softer, and provide the most intense banana flavor and moisture. If your bananas aren’t quite ripe enough, you can speed up the process by baking them in their skins at 150°C (300°F) for 15-20 minutes until they turn black and soft.
• Nut Choices and Optionality: Pecans offer a wonderful buttery flavor and crunch to the crumble topping, but feel free to experiment with other nuts. Hazelnuts, walnuts, or even sliced almonds would be absolutely delicious. If you or your guests have a nut allergy or simply prefer a nut-free topping, you can easily omit them from the crumble mixture without sacrificing too much flavor or texture.
• How to Tell When Your Cake is Done: A perfectly baked cake will be firm to the touch in the center and golden brown around the edges. The most reliable test is to insert a wooden skewer or toothpick into the very center of the cake. If it comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached, your cake is ready. If it comes out with wet batter, continue baking for a few more minutes and re-test.
• Proper Cooling is Essential: While it’s tempting to dive right in, allow your cake to cool in the tin for about 20 minutes before carefully lifting it out onto a wire rack using the parchment paper overhang. Let it cool completely on the rack before slicing. This allows the cake to set properly and prevents it from crumbling when cut, ensuring the best texture.
• Storage for Freshness: This vegan banana crumb cake is at its absolute best when enjoyed on the day it’s baked, when the crumble topping is wonderfully crisp. Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. While the cake will remain moist and delicious, be aware that the crumble topping will naturally soften over time.

Can I Freeze This Vegan Banana Crumb Cake?

Absolutely! This vegan banana crumb cake freezes beautifully, making it an excellent option for meal prepping or having a delicious treat on hand whenever a craving strikes. To freeze, ensure the cake has cooled completely. You can freeze it whole, or for convenience, slice it into individual portions before freezing. Wrap the cake or slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in an airtight freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. It can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. When you’re ready to enjoy, simply allow the cake to defrost at room temperature for a few hours. While the cake itself will remain wonderfully moist, do note that the crispness of the crumble topping will soften slightly after freezing and thawing, but the overall flavor will still be fantastic!

More Delightful Vegan Banana Recipes:

If you love baking with bananas, explore these other fantastic plant-based recipes:

• Fluffy vegan banana pancakes
• Banana bread cinnamon rolls
• Easy vegan banana bread
• Vegan chunky monkey ice cream
• Banana porridge with blueberry compote
• Vegan chocolate chip banana bread
• Vegan biscoff banana bread
• Vegan chocolate banana bread
• Vegan banana scones
• Vegan banana cake with peanut butter chocolate frosting
• Vegan banana blondies

If you tried this delicious vegan banana crumb cake recipe, I would love to hear how it turned out for you! Please take a moment to rate it, leave a comment below, or share your creation on Instagram by tagging @domestic_gothess and using the hashtag #domesticgothess. Your feedback means the world!

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