Low FODMAP Birthday Banana Cake with Lemon Icing

Ingredients

MAKE GLUTEN FREE

Makes 16 servings

Banana Cake

210   white sugar
250   butter or dairy free spread*
3   large egg
2   vanilla extract
600   banana (firm - no brown spots) (mashed- about 3-4 large bananas)*
2   lemon juice*
1   chia seeds (or 1 & 1/2 tsp guar gum/xanthan gum)
1   boiling water
2   baking soda
125   low FODMAP milk*
420   gluten free all purpose flour*
2   baking powder

Lemon Icing

1.5   lemon juice*
80   butter or dairy free spread*
195   confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)*
1   lemon zest*

* See the FODMAP Tips, Dairy Tips and Gluten Free Tips for the ingredient notes above the method.

Equipment

  • cake tin (25cm or 10 inch)

Low FODMAP Birthday Banana Cake with Lemon Icing

Last updated Dec 5th, 2024

PREP IN 15 MIN
COOKS IN 55 MIN
SERVES 16

BY Alana Scott
DIETITIAN REVIEWED BY Kate Watson (RD)
FEATURED IN Baking, Dessert, Snacks, Vegetarian Options

I made this gorgeous banana cake with lemon icing for my birthday. This low FODMAP cake has the sweetness from the bananas and tanginess from the lemons which makes it absolutely delicious!

My friends definitely couldn't tell it was low FODMAP, gluten and dairy free.

As always I would recommend having one piece of cake at a time so you don't have too much sugar at once.

FODMAP Note:  Common bananas are low FODMAP when they are firm (green to just yellow) in 1 medium banana serves, however they become high FODMAP quickly when they are ripe with brown spots.

This recipe is featured in The Gut Friendly Cookbook.

  • Gluten Free
  • Low FODMAP
  • Dairy Free
  • Soy Free

Ingredients

MAKE GLUTEN FREE

SERVES 16

Banana Cake

210   white sugar
250   butter or dairy free spread*
3   large egg
2   vanilla extract
600   banana (firm - no brown spots) (mashed- about 3-4 large bananas)*
2   lemon juice*
1   chia seeds (or 1 & 1/2 tsp guar gum/xanthan gum)
1   boiling water
2   baking soda
125   low FODMAP milk*
420   gluten free all purpose flour*
2   baking powder

Lemon Icing

1.5   lemon juice*
80   butter or dairy free spread*
195   confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)*
1   lemon zest*

* See the FODMAP Tips, Dairy Tips and Gluten Free Tips for the ingredient notes above the method.

Equipment

  • cake tin (25cm or 10 inch)
SHOW NUTRITION

Nutrition per serve

    | |
Calories 405
Fat 18g
Saturates 2.8g
Protein 3.7g
Carbs 56.8g
Sugars 31g
Fibre 1.1g
Salt 0.4g
Iron 0.9mg
Calcium 82.7mg
Calories 403
Fat 18g
Saturates 2.8g
Protein 3.7g
Carbs 56.2g
Sugars 30.7g
Fibre 1.1g
Salt 0.4g
Iron 0.9mg
Calcium 87.9mg
Calories 405
Fat 18g
Saturates 2.8g
Protein 3.7g
Carbs 56.8g
Sugars 31g
Fibre 1.1g
Salt 0.4g
Iron 0.9mg
Calcium 82.7mg
    | | |
  1. Preheat the oven to 170ºC / 340ºF bake function. Grease and line a 25cm (10inch) round cake tin with baking paper. If the dairy free spread (olive oil spread or butter) isn't at room temperature, soften it slightly in the microwave for 10 seconds (you want it soft enough that you can press your finger in easily but not melted). Add the dairy free spread and sugar to a large bowl and mix using egg beaters or a cake mixture until it is creamy and fluffy. Add in the vanilla and then the eggs, one at a time until well mixed.
  2. Mash the bananas until you have two cups. Zest and juice the lemon. Place the zest to one side for the icing. Measure out 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and save the rest of the lemon juice for the icing. Mix the banana and the lemon juice through the wet mixture.
  3. In a cup dissolve the chia seeds with 1 tablespoon of boiling water. Stir until the mixture becomes gluggy. Then stir through the wet mixture - if using guar or xanthan gum instead add it now  (this will help hold the baking together like gluten does in normal baking).
  4. Heat the low FODMAP milk in the microwave until warm (about 20 to 30 seconds on high). Then mix the baking soda into the warm rice milk. Fold through the wet mixture.
  5. Sift the gluten free all purpose flour into a large bowl and stir through the baking powder. Tip the dry mixture into the wet mixture and stir until it is well combined (you can use a cake mixer if you have one).
  6. Pour into the cake tin and place in the middle rack of the oven. Cook for 45 to 60 minutes until the top is golden and the cake feels spongy to touch. To check the cake is fully cooked, push a wooden skewer through the center of the cake and if it comes our clean the cake is ready.
  7. Allow the cake to cool before icing.
  8. To make the icing place the confectioners sugar (powdered sugar) in a large bowl. Soften the dairy free spread (olive oil spread or butter). You want it soft enough that you can press your finger in easily but not melted (if it's melted start again as the icing will fail). Add the dairy free spread to the confectioners sugar (powdered sugar). Start mixing then add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (you put this aside earlier). Mix the icing until smooth. If the mixture isn't wet enough (it should look like creamy butter) add another 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice.
  9. Ice the cake and sprinkle with the lemon zest you put aside earlier.
  10. To serve cut the cake into 16 pieces by cutting the cake into quarters and then each quarter into four pieces. Enjoy!

Buying Tips

When choosing bananas make sure you select common bananas. Then use the bananas when they are firm (green to just yellow) and then become high FODMAP when they are ripe (have brown spots).

Buy a gluten free plain flour or gluten free all purpose flour. The one we used contains these ingredients: maize starch, rice flour, tapioca starch, rice bran, & guar gum. Avoid flour blends that contain soy flour, chickpea/besan/gram/garbanzo bean flour, lentil flour, coconut flour, amaranth flour, or lupin flour.

Make your lemon juice and lemon zest from fresh lemon.

Low FODMAP milk options include lactose free milk, almond milk, hemp milk, macadamia milk, quinoa milk, rice milk (3/4 cup or less per serve), soy milk made from soy protein (not whole or hulled soybeans), UHT coconut milk (1/2 cup or less per serve).

Make sure your low FODMAP milk does not include high FODMAP ingredients like inulin (chicory root), agave syrup, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, molasses, or honey.

If using a dairy free alternative choose one that contains 120mg of calcium per 100ml serve, and 3g of protein per 100ml serve (this info is in the nutrition label).

Gluten Free Tips

Most icing sugars (powdered sugar) are gluten free, however some do contain wheat starch. This means you should check that your icing/powdered sugar is gluten free.

Dairy Free Tips

Use a dairy free spread or olive oil spread instead of butter. Butter is considered low FODMAP.

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Author: Alana Scott

In 2013, Alana was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. She also suffers from coeliac disease, is allergic to nuts and is intolerant to dairy products. This means she understands how difficult it can be to cook with multiple food intolerances. Her exp... Read More

Professional Reviewer: Kate Watson (RD)

Kate Watson is a FODMAP trained registered dietitian in the USA. She is the former co-founder and president of Nicer Foods, the first company in the US dedicated to making pre-made FODMAP friendly foods. Kate struggled with IBS for two decades until sh... Read More

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