Guatemalan Pastel de Banano Recipe

Pastel de Banano is a type of Banana cake that originates from Guatemala. The cake is made using a combination of ripe bananas and cinnamon which are baked into a cake.

‘Pastel de Banano’ literally translates to ‘banana cake’ in English, and it is enjoyed as a dessert or a sweet snack all over the country. 

Origin and Cultural Significance

Guatemala is one of the world’s largest producers of bananas, growing over five million metric tons in 2022 – so it is no surprise that bananas are included in one of the country’s most popular desserts.

The cake is made using local ingredients, including cinnamon and vanilla extract and is often enjoyed with a cup of coffee – another one of Guatemala’s biggest exports.

Often the cake is enjoyed after physical training – since bananas are great for energy. On the 23rd of February every year, the cake is celebrated in the United States on the Dia del Pan de Banano.

It is believed Pastel de Banano was first produced in the beginning of the 19th Century in Europe, eventually arriving in the Americas during the colonial period, where locals put their own spin on the popular dessert.

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Guatemalan Pastel de Banano Recipe

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Pastel de Banano is a type of Banana cake that originates from Guatemala. The cake is made using a combination of ripe bananas and cinnamon which are baked into a cake.

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Ingredients

• Ripe bananas (mashed) - 3
• All-purpose flour - 2 cups
• Sugar - 1 cup
• Baking soda - 1 tsp
• Baking powder - 1 tsp
• Ground cinnamon - 1 tsp
• Eggs - 2
• Vegetable oil - 1/2 cup
• Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
• Salt - 1/2 tsp

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.
2. In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
3. In another bowl, mix mashed bananas, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Let the cake cool before serving.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 391Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 383mgCarbohydrates: 60gFiber: 2gSugar: 31gProtein: 5g

Nutrition is provided and calculated by Nutritionix. It is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimation.