Vietnamese banana cake: A delicious dessert to savor on your trip

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Vietnam banana cake can be found at many street food stalls (Source: Collected)

On your Vietnam travel, do not miss out on Vietnamese banana cake. With its eye-catching golden brown color and greasy taste, this cake has captured the palates of food lovers and become one of the must-try Vietnamese foods for travelers. We will give you the traditional recipe to make Vietnam banana cakes at home and recommend its must-try variations.

1. Baked Vietnamese banana cake and how it is made

Vietnamese banana cake can vary in shape and texture due to the ingredients and recipes. The most typical variation of this Vietnam cake is baked banana cake.

1.1. Ingredients for Vietnamese banana cakes

The ingredients of baked banana cake are relatively simple, including ripe bananas, coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, wheat flour, bread, sugar, butter, red wine, eggs, honey, vanilla, and honey.

You should choose fairly ripe bananas (Source: Collected)

1.2. Process of making Vietnamese banana cakes

Here is a Vietnamese banana cake recipe for you to try at home:

Step 1: Prepare the bananas

• Peel the bananas and soak them in diluted saltwater for 2 – 3 minutes. 
• Take them out and add 350 grams of sugar, keep them in a cool place or the fridge for 8 hours.
• Cook the soaked bananas on low heat until they are soft. Add 2 tablespoons of red wine and butter while cooking.

Step 2: Mix the bread mixture

• Mix 800 ml of coconut milk, 100 grams of condensed milk, 2 eggs, 50 grams of wheat flour, 1 tablespoon of honey, a vanilla tube, and 1/4 tablespoon of salt in a large bowl. Then, add 300 grám of finely chopped bread and mix the mixture well.
• Mix a little of the cooked banana juice with the bread mixture and stir to combine everything.

Step 3: Place the bananas in the mold

• Put a layer of thinly sliced bananas at the bottom, followed by a layer of the bread mixture, and another layer of bananas.
• Pour all the cooked banana juice from step 1 over the layers and put in the oven, which is set between 160 – 170 degrees in around 90 minutes.
• A successful Vietnamese banana cake has a beautiful red-golden hue with a layer of bananas raised on the surface and soft inside.

Baked banana is one of the popular Vietnamese banana recipes (Source: Collected)

>>> Discover various types of Vietnamese rice cakes from North to South!

2. Is there any other variation of Vietnamese banana cake?

Besides the baked version, Vietnamese banana cake has some other variations such as steamed, grilled, or dried banana cakes, and glutinous rice cakes with bananas. These cakes mostly originate in South Vietnam and are among delicious Vietnamese street foods.

2.1. Vietnamese steamed banana cake (chuoi hap)

Steamed banana cake has long been a rustic dish in the Mekong Delta, made with ripe bananas and wheat flour. This Vietnamese banana cake variation boasts a chewy texture that blends harmoniously with the sweetness of ripe bananas, the rich creaminess of coconut milk, and a touch of roasted sesame. Anyone who has savored this dish will surely crave for more.

Steamed banana cake is often served with coconut milk (Source: Collected)

2.2. Vietnamese grilled banana cake (chuoi nep nuong)

Grilled banana cake is a pinnacle among Vietnamese banana desserts. Start by cooking sticky rice, then spread the sticky rice over peeled ripe bananas, wrap them with a layer of banana leaves, and grill over a flame. This Vietnamese banana cake achieves a perfect blend of the natural sweetness of bananas, the chewy texture of glutinous rice, and the fragrant aroma of banana leaves. It is often served with coconut milk and peanuts.

Vietnamese grilled banana cake (Source: Collected)

2.3. Vietnamese banana fritters (chuoi chien)

For many Vietnamese people, Vietnamese banana fritters are the nostalgic food of childhood. This variation of Vietnamese banana cake is simply made with ripe bananas dipped in a mixture of wheat flour, egg, sugar, and milk, then deep-fried until deep golden. Its crispy wheat flour crust and tender sweet banana filling will surely satisfy your taste buds. You can easily find this cake at many street food stalls in Vietnam.

Banana fritters are among the most popular street foods in Vietnam (Source: Collected)

2.4. Glutinous rice cake with banana (banh tet chuoi)

Vietnamese banana rice cake is a wonderful sweet treat in the South, especially during Lunar New Year. This Vietnamese banana cake variation is a combination of ripe bananas, mung beans, and glutinous rice, creating a scrumptiously chewy dish with an eye-catching appearance and delightful aroma. A special thing about this delicacy is that the yellow color of bananas will turn a shade of pinkish red when cooked.

Glutinous rice cake with banana is often served during Tet (Source: Collected)

>>> Check out the best food travel destinations in Vietnam!

In addition to Vietnamese banana cake, Vietnam is famous for a variety of other delicious foods. On your trip to the S-shaped country, don’t forget to savor banh chung, Vietnamese noodles, Vietnamese fried rice, Vietnamese pancake, Vietnamese spring rolls, and many more. 

Each region in Vietnam has its own culinary characteristics that contribute to the richness and diversity of the country’s cuisine. Combining sightseeing with culinary discovery is a must for anyone coming to Vietnam. Head to Hanoi, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Ha Long, and Danang, where stunning landscapes and delectable cuisines await.

While you are in these places, don’t miss out on VinWonders, a chain of top-rated amusement and theme parks in Vietnam, where you will be lost in a world of thrilling games, lively festivals, extravaganza shows, and more. One-of-a-kind experiences are exactly what you get in VinWonders Wave Park & Water Park, VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium, VinWonders Nam Hoi An, VinWonders Nha Trang, and VinWonders Phu Quoc.

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Vietnamese banana cake combines ripe bananas, bread, wheat flour, milk, and other seasonings into a delectable dessert. Apart from the typical baked version, this cake has many delicious variations such as steamed, grilled, dried, and incorporated in banh tet chuoi. Don’t forget to try these mouth-watering desserts during your trip to Vietnam!