The Best Banana Cake
User Reviews
4.9
The Best Banana Cake
Description
This banana cake begins by creating a milk and lemon juice mixture to add moisture and slight acidity. Mashed bananas are combined with lemon juice separately to preserve freshness. Butter is creamed with brown and white sugars for balanced sweetness, then eggs and vanilla extract are incorporated to create a fluffy batter.
The dry ingredients—flour, baking soda, and salt—are alternately added with the milk mixture to form a batter without overmixing, maintaining a soft crumb. The batter is baked at 350°F, then lowered to 300°F, and baking time varies by oven, with doneness checked by a clean toothpick. Cooling in the freezer briefly before frosting helps retain moisture.
The frosting mixes cream cheese, butter, lemon zest, and juice with powdered sugar to produce a smooth, tangy topping that complements the cake's moist texture and banana flavor. The cake is ideal for gatherings where a rich, fruity dessert is desired.
The extended baking time may vary, so starting checks around 55 minutes is advised. The freezer step before frosting is an optional technique to keep the cake moist and make frosting easier.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 2 ½ tablespoons lemon juice divided, fresh
- 1 ⅓ cups banana about 3 medium bananas, mashed
- ⅔ cup butter softened, unsalted
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- ⅓ cup butter softened
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vanilla extract, fresh
- 1 ½ teaspoons lemon from 1 lemon, optional, zest
- 3-3 ½ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 pan.
- Place 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice in a measuring cup. Top to 1 ½ cups with milk. Set aside.
- Mix together mashed banana with 1 tablespoon lemon juice, set aside.
- Beat together butter, brown and white sugar until combined. Add in eggs one at a time and vanilla. Mix on high until light and fluffy (almost the texture of frosting).
- Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Alternate adding flour mixture and milk to egg mixture stirring just until combined. (Do not overmix). Fold in bananas. Pour into prepared pan.
- Put into the oven and reduce heat to 300°F. Bake 60 – 70 minutes (see note below) or just until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (do not over bake).
- Remove from oven and place in the freezer for 45 minutes to make the cake extra moist. Cool completely before frosting.
FROSTING
- Cream together butter & cream cheese until fluffy. Add in lemon zest and juice.
- Add powdered sugar a little at a time until you reach desired consistency. Spread over cooled cake.
Notes
- Baking times vary; start checking with a toothpick at 55 minutes and continue until it comes out clean, which can take up to 90 minutes depending on your oven.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 15servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 470 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 470 | 24% |
| Carbohydrates | 70g | 23% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 19g | 29% |
| Saturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Cholesterol | 84mg | 28% |
| Sodium | 331mg | 14% |
| Potassium | 178mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 48g | 96% |
| Vitamin A | 680IU | 14% |
| Vitamin C | 3.1mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 62mg | 6% |
| Iron | 1.5mg | 8% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
You'll Also Love
