Best Banana Cake

Best Banana Cake is super moist and flavor packed! Topped with smooth, sweet cream cheese frosting! Made with real bananas, this easy to make cake is the perfect year round dessert.

Banana Cake

If you’re a fan of Banana Bread (and let’s be honest – who isn’t?) then you’re going to LOVE this Banana Cake with cream cheese frosting! Made with very similar ingredients to banana bread like real bananas, brown sugar, and cinnamon, this sweet treat is one of my all time favorites. Banana bread is delicious, but when those same flavors are served as a light, fluffy, and moist cake topped with homemade frosting, it really becomes irresistible.  Make sure to try out our seriously good Pumpkin Cake soon too!

How to Make Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Whisk the dry ingredients. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt until well combined.  This is a short step and won’t take you more than 30 seconds
2. In a second large bowl beat together the softened butter and both sugars for 2-3 minutes on medium speed until smooth.  As you can see below the mixture may be slightly crumbly and that is fine.  Just don’t skip this step.
3. Add the other wet ingredients. Add in the mashed banana, eggs, sour cream and vanilla extract and don’t skip beating  on medium for 3-4 minutes until everything is very well mixed.
4. Combine the wet and dry mixtures. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and fold together with a spatula just until everything is moistened, do not over mix.
Bake and cool. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted near the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting or your frosting will just melt.

How to Store Banana Cake

Kept in an airtight container at room temperature, this frosted Banana Cake will stay fresh for one day and should be eaten as soon as possible. You can keep it fresh for a little longer if kept in an airtight container in the fridge, where it can last for up to 5 days.

Ingredient Notes for Banana Cake

Brown Sugar – All out of brown sugar? If you have plain white granulated sugar and molasses, you’re in luck! Combine one tablespoon of molasses (any brand works) with one cup of white granulated sugar to create brown sugar.
Bananas – Make sure your bananas are very ripe with lots of brown spots for best results! You will want to mash them very well until almost completely smooth to make sure your bread is nice and moist.
Sour Cream – Do not use a low fat option! That may affect the consistency of the cake.  You can use Plain Greek yogurt if that’s what you prefer.
Vanilla Extract – For the best results in flavor, pure vanilla extract, not imitation.  You can also add in some banana extract for extra pronounced banana flavor if you have some on hand!

Enjoy!

~Nichole

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5 from 3 votes

Best Banana Cake

By Nichole

Best Banana Cake is super moist and flavor packed! Topped with smooth, sweet cream cheese frosting! Made with real bananas, this easy to make cake is the perfect year round dessert.

Prep 15 minutes mins

Cook 30 minutes mins

Total 45 minutes mins

Servings 12 Slices

Ingredients 

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FOR THE BANANA CAKE

• ▢ 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
• ▢ 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• ▢ 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter Softened to room temp
• ▢ 1 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
• ▢ 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
• ▢ 1 1/2 Cups Mashed Banana 2-3 ripe bananas
• ▢ 3 Large Eggs
• ▢ 1/4 Cup Sour Cream
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

• ▢ 8 Ounces Cream Cheese Softened to room temp
• ▢ 3 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter Softened to room temp
• ▢ 1/2 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
• ▢ 2 Cups Powdered Sugar
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon Optional

Instructions 

FOR THE CAKE:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray, set aside.
• In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
• In a second large bowl (if using hand mixer) or in the bowl of your stand mixer beat together the softened butter and both sugars for 2-3 minutes on medium speed until smooth.
• Add in the mashed banana, eggs, sour cream and vanilla extract and beat on medium for 3-4 minutes until everything is very well mixed.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and fold together with a spatula just until everything is moistened, do not over mix.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted near the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting.

FOR THE FROSTING:

• Beat all ingredients together in a large bowl with hand mixer or in your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes until very smooth.

Video

Notes

NOTE ON MOIST BANANA CAKE:  Make sure you mash your bananas very well and do not omit the sour cream, this is what keeps the cake moist.

NOTE ON STORING: Kept in an airtight container at room temperature, this frosted Banana Cake will stay fresh for one day and should be eaten as soon as possible. You can keep it fresh for a little longer if kept in an airtight container in the fridge, where it can last for up to 5 days.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

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