Ultimate Banana Cake Recipe

Name: Ultimate Banana Cake Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups flour; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1/4 cup oil (neutral oil like vegetable or avocado oil); 1/4 cup applesauce (unsweetened, plain); 2 eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 large bananas (mashed); 1/4 cup butter; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup powdered sugar; 1 tablespoon heavy cream; 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

4.95 from 17 votes

By Katie

May 16, 2024

56 comments

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This Ultimate Banana Cake Recipe is a simple, made from scratch banana cake filled with walnuts and slathered with amazing buttercream frosting. Perfect for special occasions or anytime you have ripe bananas! Move over banana bread, banana cake is here!

Why You’ll Love This Banana Cake Recipe!

Looking for the ultimate banana cake recipe that’ll have you licking your lips and reaching for seconds? Look no further! This easy recipe guarantees moist, flavorful banana cake with a heavenly frosting. If you have browning bananas on your counter, this would be a great treat for your weekend!

Ingredients Needed to Make the Ultimate Banana Cake

You only need a few simple ingredients, ripe browned bananas and about an hour to create this easy banana cake recipe:

All-Purpose Flour: For that perfect crumb texture
Baking Soda + Baking Powder: Leavening agents that help with rising
Salt: Enhancing flavors, one pinch at a time
Cinnamon + Nutmeg: Adds spice, warmth and depth
Granulated Sugar: Sweetening the deal
Oil: any light colored oil (coconut oil, vegetable oil, canola oil etc.) Keeps the cake moist and tender
Unsweetened Applesauce: My secret ingredient for moisture and softness
Eggs: The binding agent for a perfect bake
Vanilla Extract: Because vanilla makes everything better
Overripe Bananas: The star of the show, mashed to perfection

For the Frosting

Butter: For our decadent frosting
Powdered Sugar: Sweet, fluffy goodness
Heavy Cream: Adding richness to our frosting
Chopped Walnuts (Optional): For a delightful crunch

Variations:

Swap the walnuts for pecans or almonds for a different twist.
For a healthier option, use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose.
Experiment with adding chocolate chips for a delightful surprise.
Brown the butter first before making the frosting!

a piece of banana cake on a plate with a bite of cake on a fork

How to make the Ultimate Banana Cake Recipe

This homemade banana cake recipe is made in an 8×8 cake pan. Another idea is to make this cake into muffins by using a muffin tin. Feel free to double this recipe and use a 9×13 size cake pan. For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are step-by-step instructions for making the best banana cake recipe:

1. Preheat Oven + Prep Pan

Preheat oven to 325° F. Spray an 8×8 square dish with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper and set aside.

8x8 cake pan sprayed with nonstick spray

2. Make the Cake Batter

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg). Stir to combine and set aside.

In a separate bowl, using a hand mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix sugar, oil, and applesauce together. Add eggs, vanilla extract and mashed bananas and mix just until combined.

applesauce added to dry cake ingredients

Slowly incorporate the flour mixture into the wet until just combined.

dry ingredients being added to the wet ingredients

3. Bake Cake

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

4. Make the Frosting

Place butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. As soon as the butter melts, start swirling the pan in small circles. (If you’d like to make this a brown butter frosting, this is the point where you would let it keep cooking until brown and nutty.)

Remove from heat immediately and pour into a different container. Cool to room temperature.

In a small bowl, using a hand mixer or stand mixer, whip together cooled melted butter, vanilla extract, powdered sugar and heavy cream until smooth and creamy.

melted butter added to powdered sugar and heavy cream

hand mixer whipping frosting ingredients

5. Frost the Cake + Garnish with Walnuts

Spread over cooled cake and top with chopped walnuts, if desired. Slice into even squares and serve!

banana cake on a cutting board with walnuts sprinkled on top

Storage + Make Ahead Directions

Store any uneaten cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

To freeze this recipe: Simply wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.

Make Ahead Directions: Bake the cake, cool completely, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. Frost before serving.

squares of banana cake on a cutting board

Banana Cake Tips + Tricks

All ovens vary but here are some tips and tricks to try to work out some issues.

Check Your Oven’s Internal Temperature

Over time ovens become less accurate, there’s no way to prevent this, it just happens with repeated use. My suggestion is to use an internal oven thermometer to make sure your oven is accurate.

Dark Cake Pan

A darker pan usually always results in darker edges. If this is happening, try placing tin foil on top of the cake to try and prevent browning. You can also try reducing the heat and increasing baking time. If you do this check your cake often with a toothpick until it comes out clean.

High Altitude Baking

If you live at a higher altitude than most, you’ll need to change some baking measurements to get this cake right. Check here for some tips and tricks with this particular problem.

Like this banana cake? Try these other banana recipes:

With this ultimate banana cake recipe in your arsenal, you’ll be the star baker of every gathering. Moist, flavorful, and downright irresistible. The printable recipe card is below. Have a great day, friends! 🙂

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.