We all know and love banana bread, but this light and fluffy Banana Cake is next level. Smothered in a vanilla cream cheese frosting, it is totally indulgent and the best way to use bananas.
There really aren't enough words to describe just how GOOD this cake is. It's light, moist, sticky, and beats regular banana bread by a mile. You could just slice the cake up as it is, but why not go all out with the vanilla cream cheese frosting. You will want to put it on everything!
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Why you will love it
- Better than banana bread
- A good way to use up over ripe bananas
- Moist and fluffy cake
- Kids love it!
How to make banana cake - Step by step
One: In a small bowl, mash the bananas.
Two: In a larger bowl, beat the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy.
Three: Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well.
Four: Add the mashed banana and mix well.
Five: In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda.
Six: Add the flour mixture gradually to the large bowl, stirring well.
Seven: Gently stir in the chocolate chips and buttermilk.
Eight: Pour the mixture in to a greased and lined 10x12 inch baking tray. Put in a preheated oven at 190°C/375°F/Gas 5 for 50 minutes, until a knife comes out clear.
Nine: To make the frosting, mix together the cream cheese and mascarpone. Then gradually add the icing sugar and the vanilla and mix well.
Ten: Once the cake it cooked, remove it from the oven and pan and put on a cooling rack and cool for at least an hour. Spread with the frosting and put in the fridge for a couple of hours for the frosting to set.
What spices can you use?
I have always loved cinnamon in banana bread, so it made sense to use it in this banana cake too. However, you could use ginger or nutmeg, or a mixture of all of them.
What else can you add in?
What I love about these kinds of cakes, is that there are so many ways you can adapt them and add in different things. We have gone with dark chocolate chips, as they go well with bananas, however you could use white or milk chocolate chips instead.
You don't have to use chocolate chips at all. You could mix in some raisins or dried cherries, chopped pecans or walnuts or even some fresh banana slices if you wanted to add even more banana flavour. Sometimes I like to put some banana slices on top with a sprinkling of crushed walnuts.
Do I have to use buttermilk?
Buttermilk is what makes this cake so incredibly moist and delicious, however it isn't an ingredient that most people just have on hand. You could instead add a table spoon of white vinegar or lemon juice (this is the acid) to a measuring jug and then add whole milk until it makes up 300ml. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using it in this recipe.
Frosting
You don't have to add frosting to this cake, and it is still delicious (and certainly less messy) without it, however the frosting just takes it to another level. A mixture of cream cheese and mascarpone with icing sugar and vanilla. So simple, but deliciously indulgent.
You could do a chocolate version by swapping a little of the icing sugar with cocoa powder.
Can you make these as cupcakes?
If, like me, you can't be trusted not to slice off half of the cake. Then cupcakes might be a good option. Divide the mixture between cupcake cases until they are about half full and then back them for 20 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean.
FAQs
Over ripe bananas are the best type of bananas to use. Once they are black they might be a bit past their best, but still usable, so try to go for ones that the peel is covered in brown spots. The more ripe the bananas, the sweeter and more intense banana flavour the cake will have.
If you bananas aren't quite ripe yet, did you know that you can ripen them in the oven? Preheat your oven to 170°C/325°F/Gas 3 and place the unpeeled bananas on a lined baking tray for around 20-25 minutes, until the insides are mushy and the skin is black. Make sure you let them cool completely before handling.
You can slice the cake up, wrap the individual slices and they will store well in the freezer for up to 3 months. Simple take them out of the freezer and thaw at room temperature and serve cold.
More cake recipes
If you’ve tried this banana cake recipe, then let us know how you got on in the comments below.
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Recipe
Banana Cake
Ingredients
Cake:
- 3 Bananas
- 170 g Butter
- 170 g Caster sugar
- 80 g Light brown sugar
- 3 Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 370 g plain flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.5 tablespoon Ground cinnamon
- 75 g dark chocolate chips
- 300 ml Buttermilk
Frosting:
- 300 g Cream cheese
- 200 g Mascarpone
- 250 g Icing sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mash the bananas.3 Bananas
- In a larger bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.170 g Butter, 170 g Caster sugar, 80 g Light brown sugar
- Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well.3 Eggs, 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- Add the mashed banana and mix well.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda.370 g plain flour, 1 teaspoon Baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 0.5 tablespoon Ground cinnamon
- Add the flour mixture gradually to the large bowl, stirring well.
- Gently stir in the chocolate chips and buttermilk.300 ml Buttermilk, 75 g dark chocolate chips
- Pour the mixture in to a greased and lined 10x12 inch baking tray. Put in a preheated oven at 190°C/375°F/Gas 5 for 50 minutes, until a knife comes out clear.
- To make the frosting, mix together the cream cheese and mascarpone. Then gradually add the icing sugar and the vanilla and mix well.300 g Cream cheese, 200 g Mascarpone, 250 g Icing sugar, 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- Once the cake it cooked, remove it from the oven and pan and put on a cooling rack and cool for at least an hour. Spread with the frosting and put in the fridge for a couple of hours for the frosting to set.
Notes
- You could swap the dark chocolate chips for white chocolate chips.
- Not a fan of cinnamon? Use ginger or nutmeg, or a mixture of the three.
- You could make a chocolate cream frosting by swapping a little of the icing sugar for cocoa powder.
- You can make these in to cupcakes by dividing the batter in to cupcake cases until half full and then baking for 22 minutes.
- Feel free to get creative with extras like raisins, white chocolate chips or chopped pecans or walnuts.
Lia
This recipe looks amazing! I am definitely doing this.
I've never made frosting with cream cheese before though, any advice on which brand is best to use?
Dannii
We use full fat Philadelphia.
Danielle Wolter
This came out so perfect and moist. Great, easy to follow instructions. Will definitely be making again!
Genevieve from @fittyfoodlicious
This banana cake sounds amazing and super easy to make!
cyndy
This cake was amazing and was a great use of bananas in lieu of banana bread. I made chocolate frosting because my kiddos requested it and it was soooo good. Thanks for the great idea!
Liz
One of our kids loves bananas so this cake is going to be perfect!! Such a yummy idea. We might try it as cupcakes!
Traci
Easy, delicious, and makes me feel like I'm eating a healthier dessert with the bananas being the star of the show. Great recipe! Thanks!
Amy
This looks so tasty and I love the sound of that frosting!
Lisa Huff
Ummm yeah, I'm going to need to make this ASAP! I'm drooling! That is some PERFECT looking banana cake!
Jordin
Yum this cake looks so delicious and easy to make! I can’t wait to make it for my family they will love it!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
What a delicious looking cake! A dessert that my whole family would enjoy for sure.
Kushigalu
Totally in love with this recipe. This cake was so delicious and super hit.
Nart at Cooking with Nart
This looks SO good. Getting a glass of milk now... Ready to devour the whole thing!!
Christie Gagnon
Oh wow, this cake looks amazing and I just so happen to have some ripe bananas on hand. Can't wait to make this!
Emily
I absolutely love everything about this banana cake! The cake is so moist and the frosting is delicious and they complement each other perfectly!
Emese
I know I should have come for the banana cake, but it just looks absolutely gorgeous with this frosting. I can't wait to try it!
Cate
Yummm this cake looks SO delicious!! Can't wait to try this!