If you’re looking for the ultimate comfort bake, Banana Cake is bound to become your go-to dessert. This delightfully moist treat brings together the homey sweetness of ripe bananas with a gentle hint of cinnamon, all topped off with a silky cream cheese frosting if you’re in the mood. Whether it’s for Sunday brunch, a last-minute celebration, or just to use up those spotty bananas on your counter, this recipe guarantees a cake that’s full of cozy flavors and tender crumb, with a lovely balance between sweet and tangy. Trust me, once you try this Banana Cake, you’ll wish you’d made a double batch.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You won’t believe how simple ingredients come together to create a spectacular Banana Cake. Every item here plays an important role–from the bananas that bring natural sweetness and moisture, to a touch of cinnamon for warmth, each component creates the flavors and textures that make this cake so beloved.
- All-purpose flour: Forms the structure of your cake and keeps the crumb tender.
- Baking powder: Gives the cake its rise, creating a fluffy interior.
- Baking soda: Works with the bananas for extra lift and softness.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors and keeps things balanced.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds a cozy warmth that pairs perfectly with bananas.
- Unsalted butter, softened: Gives richness while allowing you to control the salt.
- Vegetable oil: Helps make the cake even moister without heaviness.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens and gives structure to the crumb.
- Brown sugar: Adds depth and a caramel-like note to every bite.
- Eggs: Bind everything together and add a lovely richness.
- Sour cream: The secret to that luxurious, soft texture and a subtle tang.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavors with a beautiful floral touch.
- Ripe bananas, mashed: The heart and soul of the cake, making it sweet, moist, and utterly delicious.
- Optional Cream Cheese Frosting: A blend of cream cheese, unsalted butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract for a tangy, creamy finish.
How to Make Banana Cake
Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan generously. This ensures a perfectly baked Banana Cake that pops out easily, so you can slice generous squares without sticking. Set your pan aside as you move on to the next step.
Step 2: Whisk the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. This blends the leaveners and spice evenly into the flour, ensuring you don’t get any uneven bites or clumps. The cinnamon infuses a gentle warmth right from the start!
Step 3: Cream the Butter, Oil, and Sugars
In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light in color and fluffy in texture. This step is essential, as it traps air and gives your Banana Cake its tender crumb. Don’t rush; a good three to four minutes of mixing here makes a big difference.
Step 4: Add Eggs, Sour Cream, and Vanilla
Add the eggs, one at a time, to your creamed mixture, beating gently after each addition. Fold in the sour cream and vanilla extract. The sour cream adds moisture and a slight tang, creating a cake that’s never dry, while vanilla wraps everything up with gorgeous fragrance.
Step 5: Blend in the Mashed Bananas
Stir in your mashed ripe bananas until everything is evenly mixed. The bananas add not just their signature flavor, but also a luscious, natural sweetness and moisture that makes Banana Cake unlike any other baked treat.
Step 6: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry flour mixture to your banana mixture. Mix on low speed or fold by hand until just combined. Don’t over-mix; you want a soft cake, not something heavy or dense. Stop as soon as the streaks of flour disappear.
Step 7: Pour and Bake
Pour your batter into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top gently with a spatula. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center. The aroma will fill your kitchen and your cake’s surface will turn a beautiful golden brown.
Step 8: Cool and Frost (Optional)
Let the cake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. If you want to take it over the top, beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth, add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, then whip until fluffy. Spread this luscious frosting over your cooled Banana Cake and get ready for rave reviews!
How to Serve Banana Cake
Garnishes
Add an extra wow factor to your finished Banana Cake with a light sprinkle of cinnamon, some toasted walnuts, fresh banana slices, or a drizzle of caramel. For a festive touch, a dusting of powdered sugar always looks lovely, too!
Side Dishes
Banana Cake plays wonderfully with a dollop of freshly whipped cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or even a bowl of mixed berries. The cake’s cozy, mild sweetness pairs beautifully with fruit and creamy accompaniments.
Creative Ways to Present
For something fun, try cutting your Banana Cake into small cubes and serving on skewers with strawberries and marshmallows for a playful dessert platter. Or, layer it in pretty jars with extra cream cheese frosting for take-home treats at your next gathering.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover Banana Cake well wrapped or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. For longer freshness (and to keep the frosting firm), pop it in the refrigerator, where it will stay moist for up to five days.
Freezing
This cake freezes beautifully! To freeze, wrap unfrosted Banana Cake slices tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag or container. It’ll keep perfectly for up to two months. Thaw at room temperature and frost after defrosting for a bakery-fresh texture.
Reheating
If you like your cake a little warm, microwave individual slices for about 15-20 seconds. This brings back the softness and releases the sweet banana aroma—especially delicious if served with a dollop of ice cream!
FAQs
How do I know when my bananas are ripe enough?
The best bananas for Banana Cake have skins covered in brown spots and are very soft inside. The riper the banana, the sweeter and more pronounced the flavor will be in your cake.
Can I make Banana Cake without the cream cheese frosting?
Absolutely! This cake is plenty moist and flavorful on its own. The frosting just adds extra decadence, but a plain or lightly glazed cake is still fabulous.
Can I add nuts or chocolate chips to my cake?
Go for it! A handful of toasted walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips mixed into the batter will give extra texture and a flavorful twist. Just fold them in gently before pouring the batter into the pan.
What if I don’t have sour cream?
If you’re out of sour cream, substitute with plain Greek yogurt or even full-fat buttermilk for a similar tang and moisture. Your Banana Cake will still be delicious!
Is it possible to make this Banana Cake gluten-free?
Yes! Use your favorite gluten-free all-purpose flour blend in place of the regular flour. The rest of the ingredients don’t contain gluten, so you can serve it to all your guests without worry.
Final Thoughts
Once you bake this Banana Cake, you’ll understand why it’s a family favorite in so many kitchens. It’s simple, it’s satisfying, and every bite is a happy reminder of how delicious something homemade can be. Give it a try—you might just find yourself looking for excuses to let your bananas ripen!
Print
Banana Cake Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 16 slices 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the moist and flavorful Banana Cake topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting. This easy-to-make dessert is perfect for any occasion and will have your guests coming back for more.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Wet Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
Optional Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Prepare dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, beat butter, oil, sugars, and eggs until creamy. Add sour cream, vanilla, and mashed bananas.
- Combine: Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture and mix until just combined.
- Bake: Pour batter into the pan, smooth the top, and bake for 35–40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool and frost: Let the cake cool completely and frost with cream cheese frosting if desired.
Notes
- Enhance flavor by adding walnuts or chocolate chips to the batter.
- Cake stays fresh covered at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 26g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
