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4.9 from 420 votes

The Best Banana Cake Recipe

This is the best easy, moist banana cake recipe, and it's made completely from scratch! My recipe is perfectly balanced with extra bananas and complementary spices and it's crowned with a silky smooth cream cheese frosting. This is the snack cake of your dreams!Be sure to check out the how-to video!

Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
Servings: 24 slices
Calories: 350 kcal
Course: Dessert , Cake
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • ¾ cup avocado, canola or vegetable oil
  • 1 cup light or dark brown sugar
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 cups well-mashed ripe bananas (this is typically 4 bananas for me)
  • 2 large eggs room temperature preferred
  • ¼ cup buttermilk
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
Silky Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon heavy cream
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts for topping (optional)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and spray a 9x13" (approximately 23x33cm) pan with baking spray or lightly grease and flour.  Set aside.
  2. Combine butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl and use an electric mixer). Beat until well-combined and light and fluffy.
  3. Add oil and beat to combine.  
  4. Stir in mashed bananas.
  5. Add eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract and stir until well-combined.
  6. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  7. Gradually add to wet ingredients until completely combined.  
  8. Spread batter into prepared pan and bake on 350F (175C) for 45-55 minutes (see note 1) or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with few moist crumbs.  Allow to cool completely before covering with frosting.
Silky Cream Cheese Frosting
  1. Combine cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, and salt in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until creamy.
  2. With mixer on low-speed, gradually add powdered sugar until completely combined.
  3. Add heavy cream and gradually increase speed to high. Beat on high for 30 seconds.  
  4. Spread over completely cooled banana cake. Top with chopped walnuts (if using).  Slice and serve!

Notes

  • Keep an eye on your banana cake as it bakes. 30 minutes in, check your cake to see if it's becoming too brown on top (pay attention to the edges, if they're getting darker in color and pulling away from the edges), if so you may lightly tent with foil before baking the remaining 15 minutes. I had this issue when baking in a glass dish but not in a metal one (which was the opposite of what I expected).  
  • I store my cake in the pan that I baked it in, covered. It will keep at room temperature for a day or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 1slice Calories 350kcal (18%) Carbohydrates 37g (12%) Protein 3g (6%) Fat 22g (34%) Saturated Fat 14g (70%) Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 51mg (17%) Sodium 234mg (10%) Potassium 80mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 26g (52%) Vitamin A 456IU (9%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 37mg (4%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 24slices

Amount Per Serving

Calories 350

% Daily Value*

Serving 1slice
Calories 350kcal 18%
Carbohydrates 37g 12%
Protein 3g 6%
Fat 22g 34%
Saturated Fat 14g 70%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 51mg 17%
Sodium 234mg 10%
Potassium 80mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 26g 52%
Vitamin A 456IU 9%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 37mg 4%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.