Ultimate Banana Cake Recipe

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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!

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.

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. 

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

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. 

5. Frost the Cake + Garnish with Walnuts

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

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.

Banana Cake Tips + Tricks

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

Like this banana cake? Try these other banana recipes:

• Homemade Banana Pudding Recipe
• Mini Banana Coconut Cream Pies
• Banana Bread (no nuts)
• Banana Pancakes with Chocolate Chips & Walnuts
• Magnolia Bakery Pumpkin Gingersnap Banana Pudding

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.

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4.50 from 2 votes

Ultimate Banana Cake Recipe

This Ultimate Banana Cake Recipe is made with walnuts and slathered with buttercream frosting. Enjoy on special occasions or just because!

servings 9 servings

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

for the cake-

• ▢ 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

for the frosting-

• ▢ 1/4 cup butter
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 1 cup powdered sugar
• ▢ 1 tablespoon heavy cream
• ▢ 1/4 cup chopped walnuts optional

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325° F. Spray an 8×8 square dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  
• In a large bowl, combine 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, mix sugar, oil, and applesauce together. Add eggs, vanilla extract and mashed bananas and mix just until combined.
  
• Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. Pour into prepared dish and bake 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted. Cool completely.
  

for the frosting-

• Place butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. As soon as the butter melts, 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.
  
• Spread over cooled cake and top with chopped walnuts, if desired.
  
• Slice into even squares and serve!
  

Video

Notes

Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 388kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 251mg | Potassium: 174mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 255IU | Vitamin C: 2.6mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1.3mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Banana Cake, Banana Cake Recipe, Brown Butter Frosting