The Greatest Banana Cake I’ve Ever Had

When 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 revealed this recipe in 2016 and have since added new pictures 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 strive it, you’ll perceive why. It’s unbelievably comfortable and moist with a wealthy buttery crumb and loads of daring banana taste in each chunk. 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 chunk 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 best substances. This banana cake IS by far the most effective 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 chunk. The feel is completely moist, the flavour is beautiful. Palms down the most effective banana cake ever. It’s a kind of recipes that you simply need to cross down as household heirlooms. ★★★★★“

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

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

Keep in mind that time I advised you about the most effective 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 right 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 keep on with me right here.) The crumb was very comfortable, however they had been tight crumbs. The cake didn’t collapse whenever you took a forkful.

It was, arms down, the most effective banana cake I’ve ever had. And I haven’t stopped enthusiastic 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 pace for a minute, then switch to a different bowl. No want to scrub 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 Easy methods to 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 raise. Ensure they’re contemporary—expired leaveners will go away you with a dense, stodgy cake.
• Cinnamon & Salt: For taste.
• Butter: Be sure you begin with correct room-temperature butter.
• Sugar: You want each white granulated and brown sugar to sweeten this cake.
• Eggs: To bind every part collectively and add tenderness and raise.
• 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. When you don’t preserve buttermilk readily available or can’t discover it on the retailer, you may 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 will likely be some lumps, and that’s wonderful!

You should use both a metallic or glass 9×13-inch pan. I normally bake this cake in a glass pan, which works very 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 totally different. For this banana cake, we’re utilizing a 2:1 ratio of cream cheese to butter, as a substitute of the carrot cake’s 4:1 ratio. So this makes the frosting slightly firmer, silkier, and undoubtedly extra buttery!

There’s additionally lots of cream cheese frosting. Whenever you start slathering it onto the cake, you’ll most likely go “Sally, that is manner an excessive amount of frosting!” Nevertheless it’s not. You desire a good thick layer. It’s important.

When 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 need to strive one thing totally different?

Extra frosting flavors for banana cake:

This banana cake recipe is straightforward, dependable, and excellent for every part from informal baking days to celebrations, and I’ve a sense it’ll earn a everlasting spot in your recipe rotation. Simply scroll via the numerous, many critiques under by dwelling bakers who swear by this recipe for the most effective 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 middle 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 couple 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. Identical oven temperature. Or use this very comparable banana cupcakes recipe.
3. Bundt Cake: I like to recommend utilizing my comparable recipe for chocolate marble banana Bundt cake as a substitute. (There’s slightly additional baking powder for raise, 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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