Characteristics

This recipe provides a delicious, rich and creamy banana cake. This is a different spin on the traditional banana cake, which is commonly baked and includes many refined flour, fat and sugar ingredients. This banana cake is based on whole, mostly raw foods, and does not need to be heat processed. It provides us with optimally healthy ingredients and superfoods resulting in nutrient dense calories. It is loaded with healthy carbohydrates, fats and a super rich source of protein, as well as numerous vitamins and minerals. It is naturally low in sodium and cholesterol-free, and offers an excellent amount of fiber. The cake can be enjoyed as a snack, dessert or even a side to your breakfast smoothie!

TYPE: Snack, Dessert
PREP TIME: 10 - 15 mins + chilling time
SERVINGS: depends on cut sizes, fills a 9 X 13 inch pan/dish

  • Plant-based — Vegan
  • Raw — not baked
  • Wheat-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Seed-free
  • Peanut-free
  • Corn-free
  • Refined sugar-free

Goodies Needed

Base:

  • 1 & 1/2 cups Organic, Raw Cashews — soaked for 2-4 hours
  • 1 & 1/2 cups Organic, Raw Shredded Coconut — unsweetened
  • 1/2 cup Organic Almond Flour
  • 1 & 1/2 cups Organic Raisins

Topping:

  • 1 package (+/- 350g) Organic Tofu - firm
  • 6 Organic Bananas — very ripe with brown spots
  • 1 cup Organic Coconut Butter — also known as coconut manna, puree, or spread
  • 1 Tbsp Organic Pure Vanilla Extract

Optional additions:

  • Coconut flakes and/or fresh banana for top decoration

TOOLS:

  • Food processor
  • Silicone Spatula
  • Utensils
  • Measuring cup
  • 9 x13 Rectangular Glass Baking Dish

Preparation Steps

  1. Place the base ingredients into your food processor and process on high, until a sticky, crumbly, uniform mixture results.
  2. Transfer the mixture into your glass dish and press down evenly along the bottom, as well as up the sides (at least halfway), making an even crust all around.
  3. Place the filling ingredients into your food processor and process on high, until a smooth, uniform mixture results. (The coconut butter can be hard and will melt enough during processing. Using a fork, remove enough chunks to make up about 1.5 cups.)
  4. Transfer the filling mixture into your glass dish onto the crust, and spread around evenly with your spatula.
  5. Place the dish into the refrigerator (for about 4 hours) or freezer (about 2 hours) to chill and set. Remove when the cake looks “firm” and cut into squares.
  6. Serve and enjoy.
  7. Store the remainder in the refrigerator, or freeze for future use. Note: the cake, especially the top layer will brown slightly. This is a natural part of the oxidation process.)

Meal Nutritional Benefits

Cashews

  • provide healthy fats, protein, some carbohydrates, and fiber
  • provide phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provide vitamins, especially vitamin K and some of the B vitamins
  • provide minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium
  • support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
  • protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases

Coconut (fresh and dry)

  • provides healthy fats, protein, some carbohydrates, and fiber
  • provides antioxidants, phytonutrients, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provides vitamins, like vitamin C and some B vitamins, including folate and choline
  • provides minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, and copper
  • supports optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • supports healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and iron levels
  • can support proper bone health and protects against osteoporosis
  • can protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases
  • Health Tip: Avoid dry coconut that has been sweetened, sulfured, highly processed, or found to contain other additives or preservatives.

Almonds / Almond Butter

  • provide healthy fats, protein, some carbohydrates, and fiber
  • provide phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provide vitamins, especially vitamin A, E, and most B vitamins, including folate
  • provide minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, and manganese
  • support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
  • protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, osteoporosis, and other diseases
  • Tips: Choose organic and raw almonds and almond butter, as conventional almonds and roasted almonds have pesticide, toxin, and other health concerns.

Raisins

  • provide healthy carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and are virtually fat-free
  • provide lots of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provide vitamins, especially vitamin C, K, and most of the B vitamins
  • provide minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and iron
  • support optimal health, energy, weight, healing, and prevention
  • support the nervous, immune, and digestive systems
  • protect against cardiovascular disease, including cholesterol and blood pressure problems

Organic Tofu

  • excellent source of protein; provides some healthy fats and carbohydrates
  • provides antioxidants, phytonutrients, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provides vitamins, especially most B vitamins
  • provides minerals, especially calcium, manganese, copper, selenium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and zinc
  • helps support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • helps maintain healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
  • protects against cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes type 2
  • Health Tip: Choose only organic tofu or non-GMO certified tofu to avoid GMO soy, as soy is one of the most prevalent genetically engineered foods worldwide.

Bananas

  • provide healthy carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and are virtually fat-free
  • provide lots of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provide vitamins, including vitamin A, C, E, K, and most B vitamins
  • provide minerals, including potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, and zinc
  • support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • support healthy digestion, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
  • protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases

Vanilla

  • provides antioxidants and phytonutrients, like vanilloids, and has anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provides some B vitamins
  • provides some minerals, especially manganese, potassium, copper, and magnesium
  • supports healing, prevention, and overall health
  • supports cardiovascular and nervous system health Tips: Use the vanilla bean directly or choose pure, natural, and organic vanilla extracts. Avoid synthetic vanilla and similar artificial vanilla products.