Ultimate Moist Banana Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

Prepare yourself for the most extraordinary banana cake you’ll ever bake! This isn’t just any banana cake; it’s a super moist, single-layer masterpiece, bursting with natural banana sweetness and crowned with a generous layer of sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting. It’s a delightful treat that’s surprisingly easy to make and guaranteed to impress.

Since sharing my popular banana cupcake recipe, many of you have asked for a soft, tender, and incredibly moist banana cake. Well, the wait is over! This recipe has been perfected to deliver on all fronts, and I have no doubt it will quickly become a cherished favorite in your kitchen.

What Makes This Moist Banana Cake So Irresistible?

This isn’t just a cake; it’s an experience. Here’s why this particular banana cake stands out from the rest:

• Rich, Decadent, and Perfectly Fluffy: Every bite offers a sublime balance of rich banana flavor with a light, airy, yet incredibly moist texture. It melts in your mouth!
• Effortlessly Customizable: While spectacular on its own, this recipe is a fantastic canvas for your creativity. Add crunchy walnuts, pecans, or crushed peanuts for texture. Stir in chocolate chips for an extra layer of indulgence. Serve it with a dollop of whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a sprinkle of colorful sprinkles for a festive touch.
• Made Entirely From Scratch with Pantry Staples: Forget box mixes! This recipe utilizes simple, wholesome ingredients you likely already have in your pantry, making it an accessible and rewarding baking project for home cooks of all skill levels.
• Versatile for Any Occasion: Whether you’re looking for a comforting breakfast treat, a delightful addition to your brunch spread, or an elegant dessert to cap off a meal, this banana cake fits the bill perfectly. It pairs beautifully with a cold glass of milk, a warm cup of coffee, or your favorite herbal tea.

Key Ingredients for a Flawless Banana Cake

The secret to an exceptional banana cake lies in using the right ingredients and understanding their role. Here’s a closer look at what makes this recipe sing:

Ripe Bananas: The Star of the Show

You absolutely need very ripe, spotty bananas for this recipe. Those brown spots aren’t a sign of spoilage; they’re an indicator of concentrated sweetness and intense banana flavor. As bananas ripen, their starches convert to sugars, enhancing both the taste and the moisture content of your cake. This natural sweetness means you won’t need any artificial banana extract. Avoid using frozen bananas directly without thawing and draining, as they can add too much excess liquid and alter the texture. If your bananas aren’t ripe enough, you can speed up the process by baking them in their peels at 300°F (150°C) for 15-30 minutes until they turn black and soft. Let them cool before mashing.

Buttermilk: For Ultimate Tenderness

Buttermilk is a crucial ingredient here, contributing to the cake’s incredible tenderness and a slight tangy note that perfectly complements the sweet bananas. Its acidity reacts with the baking soda, helping the cake rise beautifully and creating a soft, fine crumb. I highly recommend using store-bought buttermilk for consistent results. However, if you don’t have any on hand, you can easily make your own: simply add 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice or white vinegar to 1 cup of whole milk (or 2 tablespoons for 1.5 cups as required for this recipe). Stir it gently and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it slightly curdles. Voila, homemade buttermilk!

Cinnamon: A Warm Embrace

A touch of ground cinnamon adds a warm, inviting spice that beautifully enhances the banana flavor without overpowering it. It provides a comforting aroma and depth. If you’re not a fan of cinnamon, feel free to omit it entirely, or experiment with other warming spices like a pinch of ground nutmeg, allspice, or a blend of pumpkin spice for a different seasonal twist.

Unsalted Butter: The Foundation of Flavor

Using unsalted butter allows you to control the overall saltiness of the cake. Melting it for the cake batter contributes to a rich, moist texture, ensuring a consistently delicious result. Ensure your butter is fully melted but not boiling hot when you add it to the other ingredients.

Expert Tips for Banana Cake Perfection

Achieving a perfectly moist and delicious banana cake is simple with these essential tips:

• Avoid Overbaking at All Costs: This is perhaps the most critical rule for moist cakes. Overbaking is the quickest way to dry out your cake. Start checking for doneness a few minutes before the recommended bake time. The cake is ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, not wet batter.
• Use Room Temperature Eggs: Eggs at room temperature emulsify better with other ingredients, creating a smoother, more uniform batter. This leads to a more finely textured and tender cake. If you forget to take them out, place eggs in a bowl of warm water for 5-10 minutes.
• Don’t Overmix the Batter: Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mix only until they are just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to a tough, dense cake. A few small lumps are perfectly fine!
• Measure Flour Correctly: For accurate results, spoon your all-purpose flour into the measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge. Scooping flour directly from the bag can compact it, leading to too much flour and a dry cake.
• Patience is Key for Cooling: Resist the urge to frost a warm cake! The cream cheese frosting will melt and slide right off. Allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack before applying any frosting. This might take a couple of hours.

Cream Cheese Frosting: The Perfect Partner

The tangy, sweet, and incredibly fluffy cream cheese frosting is truly what elevates this banana cake from great to utterly sublime. Its subtle tartness cuts through the richness of the cake, creating a harmonious flavor profile that keeps you coming back for more.

Customizing Your Frosting: You can add a hint of citrus zest (lemon or orange) to your cream cheese frosting for an extra bright note, or even a tiny pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for a spiced variation.

Can I Use A Different Frosting?

Absolutely! While cream cheese frosting is highly recommended for its classic pairing with banana cake, feel free to customize to your heart’s content. Other delicious options include a rich chocolate buttercream, a simple vanilla buttercream, a brown sugar frosting, or even a light whipped cream for a less indulgent finish. Choose whatever frosting you love most!

Banana Cake vs. Banana Bread: Unraveling the Delicious Differences

While both banana cake and banana bread celebrate the beloved fruit, they are distinct baked goods with different characteristics:

• Texture: Banana cake is typically lighter, fluffier, and more tender, designed to be eaten with a fork. Banana bread, on the other hand, is usually denser, moister, and has a firmer, more robust texture, often enjoyed sliced by hand.
• Leavening: Cakes often rely on a combination of baking soda and baking powder for a lighter rise, whereas banana bread frequently uses just baking soda, which contributes to its denser crumb.
• Fat and Sugar Content: Cakes generally contain more fat (butter or oil) and sugar than banana bread, contributing to their richness and moistness. Banana bread can be a bit more “rustic” in its ingredient profile.
• Serving Style: Banana cake is almost always served with a frosting or glaze, positioning it firmly as a dessert. Banana bread is rarely frosted and is often enjoyed for breakfast, brunch, or as a snack.

Can I Use A Different Pan Size?

While a 9×13 inch pan is highly recommended for this recipe as it yields a perfect single-layer cake, you can certainly adapt it to other pan sizes. Just be mindful that baking times will vary significantly:

• Two 8-inch Round Pans: Divide the batter evenly. Baking time will likely be shorter, around 30-40 minutes.
• Bundt Pan: This recipe would work well in a standard 10-12 cup Bundt pan. Baking time will be similar to the 9×13, but keep an eye on it.
• Cupcakes: For banana cupcakes, fill cupcake liners about two-thirds full. Bake for approximately 18-25 minutes.
• Loaf Pans: This recipe is quite large for a single standard loaf pan. You would likely need two loaf pans, and baking time would be longer, around 50-70 minutes.

No matter the pan size, always use the toothpick test to determine doneness. Insert a toothpick into the center; if it comes out with moist crumbs (not wet batter), it’s ready.

Storage Tips for Your Banana Cake

Proper storage ensures your banana cake remains deliciously moist and fresh:

• Room Temperature: This cake, especially when frosted with cream cheese frosting, is best stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 3 days. If your kitchen is particularly warm, consider refrigerating it.
• Refrigeration: For longer storage, or if your kitchen is warm, store the cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. Bring it to room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor and texture.
• Freezing: You can freeze unfrosted slices or the entire unfrosted cake. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then frost and serve. Frosted cake can also be frozen for a shorter period (up to 1 month), but the texture of the frosting may change slightly upon thawing.

More Delicious Banana Recipes to Try

If you find yourself with extra ripe bananas often, don’t let them go to waste! Beyond this fantastic cake, here are a couple of my other favorite banana recipes you’ll love:

• These delightful Cream Cheese Banana Muffins are perfect for a grab-and-go breakfast or snack.
• For a weekend treat, these fluffy Banana Pancakes are an absolute breakfast favorite!

Moist Banana Cake Recipe

The most amazing banana cake you’ll ever have! A super moist single-layer cake topped off with sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients

For the Banana Cake:

• 3 ripe bananas, mashed with a fork
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3 eggs, room temperature
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking dish.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Set this dry mixture aside.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the mashed bananas, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until these ingredients are well incorporated.
4. Add the melted butter and the room temperature eggs to the banana mixture. Mix thoroughly until everything is well combined and smooth.
5. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Mix only until the ingredients are just combined; be careful not to overmix the batter.
6. Pour the cake batter evenly into the prepared baking dish. Place it in the preheated oven. Immediately reduce the oven temperature to 275°F (135°C) and bake for 60 minutes. Do not overbake; use the toothpick test for doneness.
7. Once the baking time is complete, remove the cake from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. This step is crucial before frosting.
8. While the cake cools, prepare the cream cheese frosting: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, softened unsalted butter, and vanilla extract together until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
9. Gradually add the powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture, beating on high speed for 3-4 minutes, or until the cream cheese frosting becomes light, fluffy, and smooth.
10. Once the cake is completely cooled, generously frost it with the prepared cream cheese frosting. If desired, garnish with fresh banana slices and a light dusting of ground cinnamon. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

• Ensure the cake is completely cool before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
• Baking in a buttered and floured 9×13 inch baking dish typically yields the best results for an evenly baked, moist cake.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.

• Calories: 525kcal
• Carbohydrates: 74g
• Protein: 5g
• Fat: 24g
• Saturated Fat: 14g
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g
• Monounsaturated Fat: 6g
• Trans Fat: 1g
• Cholesterol: 95mg
• Sodium: 226mg
• Potassium: 182mg
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 53g
• Vitamin A: 818IU
• Vitamin C: 2mg
• Calcium: 61mg
• Iron: 1mg

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