Banana Cake Recipe
User Reviews
5
Banana Cake Recipe
Description
The Banana Cake centers on ripe mashed bananas mixed with flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt to create a batter that combines moistness and gentle spice. Butter and sugars are creamed until light and fluffy before eggs and vanilla are added, ensuring a tender crumb. Alternating the dry ingredients with the banana mixture while mixing on low speed helps prevent overdeveloping gluten, preserving cake softness.
Baked in a 13x9-inch pan at 350°F for about an hour, the cake develops a moist crumb, confirmed by a clean toothpick test. After cooling, it is covered in a cream cheese frosting made by beating cream cheese with butter, vanilla, and confectioners’ sugar for a smooth, tangy finish that complements the sweet cake.
This cake works well as a casual dessert or celebration treat. For a layered version, the batter can be divided into two round pans and baked for shorter times, with frosting spread between and over layers. Add-ins like chopped walnuts or chocolate chips can personalize the texture and flavor. Using a scale to measure flour or fluffing it before measuring avoids a dense cake.
The cake’s moistness is reliant on very ripe bananas and careful mixing to avoid toughness. Frosting the cake once completely cool prevents melting and preserves texture.
Ingredients
- 2 cups banana about 4 bananas (466 grams, mashed ripe
- ½ cup milk room temperature (120 ml, whole
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3½ cups all-purpose flour (420 grams)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1¼ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup butter softened (227 grams, unsalted
- 1½ cups granulated sugar (300 grams)
- 1 cup light brown sugar (220 grams)
- 4 large egg room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1 (8-ounce/227g) block cream cheese
- ½ cup butter softened (113 grams, unsalted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4½ cups confectioners’ sugar (540 grams)
Instructions
For the Cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 13x9-inch cake pan with baking spray with flour.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the bananas, milk, and lemon juice.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
- In the bowl of a stand mixture with a paddle attachment, add the butter and sugars. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until completely combined before adding the next. Stop and scrape down the bowl occasionally. Beat in the vanilla.
- With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture alternating with the banana mixture, just until incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Place on a wire cooling rack and let cool completely in the pan.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add the cream cheese and butter. Beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl as necessary. Add the vanilla and beat on until combined. With the mixer on medium-low, gradually add the confectioners’ sugar. Once fully incorporated, scrape down the bowl and beat again until fluffy, about 1 minute. Spread frosting over the top of the cooled cake. Store any leftovers covered and refrigerated for up to 4 days.
Notes
- Use a kitchen scale to measure flour accurately to avoid a dense texture.
- Very ripe bananas blend well into the batter and keep the cake moist; underripe bananas can cause hard chunks.
- Avoid over-mixing batter to prevent tough cake texture caused by gluten overdevelopment.
- Optional add-ins include finely chopped walnuts or mini chocolate chips for extra texture and flavor.
- For layer cake presentation, divide batter into greased 8-inch round pans and reduce baking time to 30-35 minutes.
- Apply frosting only after the cake is fully cooled to maintain frosting texture.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 878 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 878kcal | 44% |
| Carbohydrates | 127g | 42% |
| Protein | 9g | 18% |
| Fat | 38g | 58% |
| Saturated Fat | 23g | 115% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 162mg | 54% |
| Sodium | 465mg | 19% |
| Potassium | 299mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 94g | 188% |
| Vitamin A | 1348IU | 27% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 91mg | 9% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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