Should you’re trying to find the greatest banana cake recipe, your search is over. Not banana bread masquerading as cake—it is a comfortable, buttery, ultra-moist sheet cake loaded with actual banana taste and topped with silky cream cheese frosting.

I initially printed this recipe in 2016 and have since added new photographs and some extra success ideas.

My Go-To, By no means-Fail Banana Cake

That is my go-to banana cake when I’ve a bunch of overripe bananas sitting on the counter—and when you attempt it, you’ll perceive why. It’s unbelievably comfortable and moist with a wealthy buttery crumb and loads of daring banana taste in each chew. We’re not making banana bread right here—it is a true cake, tender and fluffy, topped with a thick layer of tangy cream cheese frosting that takes it excessive.

It’s easy sufficient for an informal bake, but particular sufficient for birthdays, gatherings, and holidays. One chew and also you’ll perceive why it is a reader favourite!

One reader, Paul, commented: “I’ve been baking for 15 years. I take advantage of nothing however the most interesting elements. This banana cake IS by far one of the best banana cake I’ve ever made or tasted!!! ★★★★★“

One other reader, Lorena, commented: “Phrases don’t do justice to what occurs to your style buds as they expertise the primary chew. The feel is completely moist, the flavour is beautiful. Fingers down one of the best banana cake ever. It’s a kind of recipes that you just wish to go down as household heirlooms. ★★★★★“

One other reader, Jacqui, commented: “The title of this recipe positively holds true… it is a keeper for positive! ★★★★★“

One other reader, Barb, commented: “My husband tried it and stated that this was one of the best banana cake he’d ever had. I informed him that was the title of the recipe! … We’d give it 10 stars if we might. Nice recipe, Sally, thanks! ★★★★★“

Do not forget that time I informed you about one of the best banana cake I’ve ever had? I loved obsessed over it at a household reunion. My husband’s cousin made it and I stalked her down like a dessert creep and proceeded to speak her ear off about cream cheese frosting and spotty bananas for 35 minutes straight.

What? You don’t do this at events?

It was the moistest cake I’ve ever eaten. Stick-to-the-back of your fork moist. The proper cream cheese frosting, each candy and tangy, sinking into the highest of the cake made it even moister. Candy, however not overpowering. Mega banana taste, definitely extra banana taste than any banana bread I’ve ever eaten. Very buttery and cakey from creaming the butter and sugars. Only a ridiculously wealthy, decadent dessert.

The banana cake was dense, however not heavy. If that makes any sense? (Coming from the woman who talks about rotting bananas at social gatherings, however follow me right here.) The crumb was very comfortable, however they have been tight crumbs. The cake didn’t disintegrate if you took a forkful.

It was, palms down, one of the best banana cake I’ve ever had. And I haven’t stopped eager about it since.

Begin with Spotty Bananas

The recipe begins with 1 and 1/2 cups (345g) mashed bananas, or about 4 medium or 3 giant ripe bananas. Now, be certain these bananas are good and spotty. Extra brown spots = sweeter, extra banana taste. It’s what you need for banana bread, chocolate banana bread, and banana muffins, too. Your cake (and everybody who eats it) will thanks.

I merely mash the bananas in my mixer—the identical mixer I take advantage of to make the remainder of the batter. Beat the bananas on excessive velocity for a minute, then switch to a different bowl. No want to clean the blending bowl earlier than you cream the butter and sugars.

Can I Use Frozen Bananas?

Sure and I do that typically. Thaw the frozen bananas at room temperature. Drain off any extra liquid, mash, then use as instructed within the recipe under. See How you can Freeze & Thaw Bananas for Baking.

Different Elements You Want:

• Flour: All-purpose flour creates the construction of this banana cake.
• Baking Powder & Baking Soda: For carry. Make certain they’re recent—expired leaveners will depart you with a dense, stodgy cake.
• Cinnamon & Salt: For taste.
• Butter: You’ll want to begin with correct room-temperature butter.
• Sugar: You want each white granulated and brown sugar to sweeten this cake.
• Eggs: To bind every thing collectively and add tenderness and carry.
• Vanilla: Important for taste in all banana desserts!
• Buttermilk: Buttermilk is the moist-maker on this cake. The cake wouldn’t be what it’s with out it! You additionally want the acid in buttermilk to assist the baking soda do its job. Should you don’t preserve buttermilk available or can’t discover it on the retailer, you can also make this buttermilk substitute: measure 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Pour right into a liquid measuring cup. Then add sufficient complete milk till it reaches 1 and 1/2 cups. Stir, let it sit for five minutes, after which it’s able to be added to your batter.

Right here’s the batter. There might be some lumps, and that’s fantastic!

You need to use both a metallic or glass 9×13-inch pan. I often bake this cake in a glass pan, which works rather well and bakes it evenly. If utilizing glass, the bake time could also be on the marginally longer finish.

The Greatest Frosting for Banana Cake

That is the silkiest and smoothest cream cheese frosting I’ve ever tasted! It’s much like the cream cheese frosting that we use for carrot cake, however the ratio of cream cheese to butter is completely different. For this banana cake, we’re utilizing a 2:1 ratio of cream cheese to butter, as an alternative of the carrot cake’s 4:1 ratio. So this makes the frosting just a little firmer, silkier, and positively extra buttery!

There’s additionally quite a lot of cream cheese frosting. Once you start slathering it onto the cake, you’ll in all probability go “Sally, that is approach an excessive amount of frosting!” Nevertheless it’s not. You need a good thick layer. It’s important.

Should you love the flavour of brown butter, the brown butter cream cheese frosting from my zucchini cake could be unbelievable right here.

Not a fan of cream cheese frosting or simply wish to attempt one thing completely different?

Extra frosting flavors for banana cake:

This banana cake recipe is easy, dependable, and ideal for every thing from informal baking days to celebrations, and I’ve a sense it’ll earn a everlasting spot in your recipe rotation. Simply scroll by way of the various, many opinions under by house bakers who swear by this recipe for one of the best banana cake!

Different Banana Cake Sizes

1. Layer Cake (Pictured Above): You may make this as both a 2-layer or 3-layer cake. For a 2-layer cake, divide the batter between two greased and lined 9-inch spherical pans and bake at 350°F (177°C) for 26–half-hour, or till a toothpick inserted within the heart comes out clear. For a 3-layer cake, divide the batter between three pans and bake for 22–26 minutes.
2. Cupcakes: I’ve gotten a number of questions on turning this cake into cupcakes. For about 2 dozen cupcakes, fill the cupcake liners midway and bake for about 20-22 minutes. Similar oven temperature. Or use this very related banana cupcakes recipe.
3. Bundt Cake: I like to recommend utilizing my related recipe for chocolate marble banana Bundt cake as an alternative. (There’s just a little further baking powder for carry, which is useful when baking in a big Bundt pan.) You’ll be able to pass over the chocolate swirl in that recipe if you want, and high with the cream cheese icing from this recipe for hummingbird Bundt cake.

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