Fluffy Banana Bread Cake Recipe: A Slice of Sweet Comfort

Soft, moist banana bread cake sits at the heart of comfort baking, promising a delightful twist on a classic favorite.

Every home baker understands the magic that happens when ripe bananas meet flour and warmth.

Rich aromas will fill your kitchen, drawing everyone closer with anticipation.

Overripe bananas no longer mean waste but an opportunity for something extraordinary.

This recipe blends traditional banana bread techniques with cake-like decadence, creating a treat that’s both familiar and exciting.

Simple ingredients come together seamlessly, turning an ordinary afternoon into a sweet celebration.

Get ready to slice into a dessert that turns ordinary moments into memorable indulgences.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 370 kcal

Servings: 13

What You Need for a Moist Banana Bread Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the sturdy structure and tender crumb for your banana bread, selecting unbleached flour ensures the best texture.
• Baking Soda: Helps the cake rise and creates a light, airy consistency while neutralizing the banana's acidity.
• Salt: Enhances all other flavors and balances the sweetness of the cake.

• Butter, Sour Cream, Eggs: Creates a luxuriously moist and tender cake with deep, rich flavor layers.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, aromatic depth and complements the banana's natural sweetness.
• Ripe Bananas: Overripe, spotted bananas deliver maximum sweetness and intense banana flavor.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create a golden, tender crumb.

• Cream Cheese, Butter: Delivers a tangy, silky smooth base for the frosting with incredible richness.
• Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth, spreadable texture and balanced sweetness.
• Heavy Whipping Cream: Adds luxurious lightness and helps achieve perfect frosting consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: Rounds out the frosting's flavor profile with subtle warmth.

Handy Tools for Baking Banana Bread Cake

• Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining ingredients and creating the cake batter.
• Hand mixer or stand mixer: Perfect for creaming butter, sugar, and blending ingredients smoothly.
• Paddle attachment: Helps create a light and fluffy texture when mixing.
• 9×13 baking dish: Provides the right size and shape for baking the banana bread cake.
• Cooking spray: Ensures the cake doesn't stick to the baking dish.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Precise measurements are key to a successful recipe.
• Rubber spatula: Great for folding in bananas and scraping batter evenly.
• Toothpick: Helps check if the cake is fully baked.
• Electric mixer: Necessary for whipping up the creamy frosting.
• Mixing spoon or whisk: Useful for final mixing and blending of frosting ingredients.

Directions to Make Banana Bread Cake from Scratch

• Kitchen Preparation Warm up your oven to a cozy 350°F and lovingly coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray, creating a welcoming home for your delicious creation.
• Butter and Sugar Magic Grab your mixer and transform butter and sugar into a fluffy cloud of sweetness, whipping them together until they're light as air.
• Creamy Wet Ingredients Introduce eggs, sour cream, and vanilla to your butter mixture, blending them into a smooth, dreamy concoction that promises moisture and flavor.
• Dry Ingredient Harmony Gently fold in flour, baking soda, and salt, mixing just enough to bring everything together without overworking the batter.
• Banana Brilliance Softly incorporate mashed bananas, folding them into the batter with care, creating pockets of fruity goodness throughout the cake.
• Baking Adventure Pour the batter into your prepared dish, spreading it evenly and sending it into the warm oven for 25-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out nearly clean.
• Frosting Fantasy Whip butter and cream cheese into a silky smooth base, then dance in vanilla, powdered sugar, and heavy cream until you've created a luxurious, spreadable topping.
• Final Touch Allow the cake to cool completely before adorning it with your dreamy frosting, transforming it into a show-stopping dessert that'll make taste buds sing.

Banana Bread Cake Variations You’ll Love to Try

• Sprinkle chopped walnuts or pecans into the batter for extra texture and a delightful nutty flavor that complements the banana.
• Enhance the cake's warmth by mixing in ground cinnamon, nutmeg, or a dash of cardamom to create a more complex and aromatic profile.
• Fold in chocolate chips or drizzle melted dark chocolate over the frosted cake for a decadent upgrade that pairs perfectly with banana's sweetness.
• Swap half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour, or use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream to boost nutritional value without sacrificing moisture.
• Mix in shredded coconut or add a layer of caramelized pineapple chunks to transform this classic banana bread into a tropical-inspired dessert that will transport your taste buds.

Creative Ways to Serve Banana Bread Cake

• Serve Warm with Vanilla Scoop: Top each slice with a creamy vanilla ice cream for a delightful contrast between warm cake and cold ice cream.
• Pair with Morning Coffee: Slice a piece alongside your favorite coffee or cappuccino for a perfect breakfast or brunch treat that complements the rich banana flavor.
• Decorate with Fresh Fruit: Garnish the cake with sliced fresh bananas, a sprinkle of chopped walnuts, or a light dusting of cinnamon to enhance the presentation and add extra texture.
• Create Dessert Platter: Cut into smaller squares and arrange on a beautiful serving platter with fresh berries or mint leaves for an elegant dessert option that's perfect for gatherings.

Tips for Keeping Banana Bread Cake Fresh and Soft

• Store Freshly Sliced: Keep cake covered at room temperature for up to 3 days in an airtight container to maintain moisture and soft texture.
• Refrigerate for Extended Enjoyment: Transfer cake to sealed container and store in refrigerator for 5-7 days, ensuring flavor stays deliciously intact.
• Freeze for Future Treats: Wrap individual slices or whole cake tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 3 months for convenient dessert anytime.
• Optimize Frosting Freshness: Separate frosted and unfrosted cake sections when storing. Add frosting just before serving to prevent sogginess and maintain crisp cream cheese topping.

Moist Banana Bread Cake Recipe

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4.7 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Grandma’s banana bread cake combines rich, moist layers with classic comfort. Creamy frosting and caramelized banana notes create a delightful dessert you’ll savor to the last crumb.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 cup (240 ml) mashed bananas (about 3 bananas)
• 1½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
• 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (240 ml) full-fat sour cream
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup (113 g or 1 stick) butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• 3 cups (360 g) powdered sugar
• 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, full-fat
• ½ cup (113 g or 1 stick) butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsps heavy whipping cream

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and thoroughly grease a 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Creaming: Utilize an electric mixer to whip softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, creating a smooth, aerated base for the cake.
3. Wet Ingredients: Blend in eggs individually, then incorporate sour cream and vanilla extract, mixing until the mixture becomes uniform and silky.
4. Dry Ingredient Integration: Gently fold sifted flour, baking soda, and salt into the wet mixture, stirring minimally to maintain the batter’s delicate texture.
5. Banana Infusion: Fold mashed bananas into the batter, ensuring even distribution without deflating the carefully developed air pockets.
6. Baking Process: Pour batter into the prepared dish, smoothing the surface and eliminating air bubbles. Bake for 27-33 minutes, verifying doneness with a toothpick test – it should emerge with minimal moist crumbs.
7. Cooling: Remove from oven and allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack for approximately 1-1.5 hours.
8. Frosting Creation: Whip cream cheese and butter until completely smooth, then gradually blend in vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and heavy whipping cream to create a luxurious, spreadable frosting.
9. Finishing Touch: Once cooled, generously spread the frosting across the entire cake surface, ensuring an even, decadent layer.

Notes

• Banana Ripeness Matters: Use overripe bananas with dark brown or black spots for maximum sweetness and intense banana flavor, which enhances the cake’s moisture and depth.
• Mixing Technique Crucial: Avoid overmixing the batter after adding flour to prevent a tough, dense cake; mix just until ingredients are combined to maintain a tender crumb.
• Temperature Control Essential: Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature before mixing to create a smoother, more uniform batter that blends more effectively.
• Cooling is Key: Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting to prevent the cream cheese topping from melting and losing its perfect, smooth consistency.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 370
• Sugar: 37 g
• Sodium: 270 mg
• Fat: 16 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 56 g
• Fiber: 1.5 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 55 mg