Easy Banana Cake

This homemade banana cake gets rave reviews every single time. Follow my simple, foolproof steps to prep this cake in just 15 minutes with no baking experience needed. Your family and friends will never believe it was that easy because it’s just so good!

This is the Best Banana Cake Recipe

I am so excited to add this banana cake recipe to my collection of banana recipes. This is a super moist cake with just the right amount of sweetness paired with a tangy cream cheese frosting. Biting into this banana cake is like eating a little piece of heaven on a fork. Okay, so that may sound dramatic but this cake is that good, so it deserves a dramatic moment.

The hardest part of this cake recipe is trying not to eat it all yourself before you share it with others! Even if you’re not a baker, anyone can follow my step-by-step instructions to make a perfect banana cake. Keep reading for all my tips, how to store this cake, and more.

Why you’ll love this Easy Banana Cake

​There are so many reasons to love this banana cake, including:

• Great way to use up extra bananas
• Packed with fresh banana flavor
• Super easy recipe
• Only 15 minutes of active prep time
• Always a crowd-pleaser
• Paired with an easy and delicious cream cheese frosting recipe

Easy Banana Cake Recipe Ingredients

Surprisingly simple ingredients come together to make this cake with sweet banana flavor and a complimentary cream cheese frosting. Keep reading for the full recipe with measurements and instructions in the recipe card below. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:

Banana Cake

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Cinnamon 
• Unsalted butter: room temperature
• Granulated sugar
• Eggs
• Buttermilk
• Pureed or very smoothly mashed ripe bananas
• Vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting

• Cream cheese: softened
• Unsalted butter: softened
• Vanilla extract
• Powdered sugar
• Salt
• Milk or heavy cream

How to Make Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This recipe is in two parts: the banana cake and then the decadent cream cheese frosting that goes on top. Both are easy recipes and they come together with a perfect balance. Get the full recipe with ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below. Here’s the step-by-step instructions for banana cake and cream cheese frosting: 

Cake

1. Prep oven and pan. Preheat the oven to 350º F. Grease a 9×13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

2. Puree or mash bananas. Puree or very smoothly mash 3-4 large ripe bananas. Be sure to measure the bananas after, you need 1 ½ cups. I recommend pureeing the mashed bananas for a smoother, less chunky texture. Set aside. 
3. Mix dry ingredients. In a small mixing bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

4. Mix butter and sugar. In a large mixing bowl combine the butter and sugar, beat using an electric mixer, 1-2 minutes until fluffy.

5. Mix wet ingredients with banana. Add in the eggs, buttermilk, pureed banana and vanilla extract. Beat with the electric mixer.

6. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until the flour is incorporated.

7. Bake. Transfer the batter to the 9×13 inch pan and bake for 40-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Cool. Allow the cake to cool before adding the cream cheese frosting.  

Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Combine cream cheese and butter. Place the room temperature cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer on medium and beat together for 1-2 minutes, until whipped and fluffy.
2. Mix in remaining ingredients. Add in the vanilla extract and powdered sugar (and optional salt), beat again on low for 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until everything is incorporated.
3. Adjust if needed. If the frosting is too thick, add a splash of milk or heavy cream, beat until creamy.
4. Top the cake. Spread the frosting on top of the cooled cake.  

Variations of this Recipe for Banana Cake

While I always suggest following the recipe as provided, you can make some changes if you need or want to. Here are some variations and substitution ideas for this recipe:

• Fresh or frozen bananas: ​If you have overripe bananas that you saved in the freezer, you can use them in this recipe. Simply thaw them at room temperature first then drain off any excess liquid. It is important to note that riper, more brown bananas are much sweeter and may result in a sweeter-tasting cake.
• Add-ins​: You can add in things like chocolate chips or chopped nuts while combining the dry ingredients.
• Use a different frosting: If you love the combination of banana and chocolate, you could swap the cream cheese frosting for another type, like this chocolate frosting.
• Layer cake: If you’d rather make a banana layer cake with this recipe, divide the batter between two 9-inch cake pans and then decrease the baking time to 25-30 minutes or until the cakes look done.

Tips for Making this Moist Banana Cake Recipe

It’s hard to go wrong with this homemade banana cake recipe, but for the best results follow these tips:

• Don’t swap the buttermilk: ​This recipe needs the acidity from the buttermilk, so for the best final result, don’t swap it for another type of milk. If you’re really in a pinch, follow my homemade buttermilk tutorial.
• Properly measure flour: Measuring flour correctly is key to good baking! Use a kitchen scale or the spoon and level method for the best results.
• Combine butter and sugar until fluffy: ​Don’t skimp on the mixing when it comes to creaming together the butter and sugar for the cake. You want to mix until it’s very fluffy.
• Don’t over-mix cake batter: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix just until combined so you don’t end up with a cake that is too dense.

How to Serve a Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

After frosting the cake, you can add toppings to the entire cake before cutting, or cut slices and add preferred toppings to each person’s individual slice. This cake is great served as-is with no additional toppings, but if you want to dress it up a bit, here are some topping ideas:

• Garnish with banana slices
• Sprinkle of chopped walnuts
• Homemade whipped cream
• Chocolate shavings
• Drizzle of caramel
• Sprinkle of shredded or toasted coconut
• Fresh berries

How to Store Leftover Easy Banana Cake

If you have any leftover cake, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

If you want to make the cake ahead of time, store it tightly wrapped or in an airtight container for 2-3 days, or freeze it for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to serve, thaw to room temp and then proceed with making the cream cheese frosting and topping the cake.

More Banana Recipes

• Best Banana Pudding Recipe
• Banana Bread Muffins
• Banana Pudding Poke Cake
• Banana Nut Bundt Cake