Best Banana Cake Recipe (2024)

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By LeanneWrecipe

This banana cake has been described as “the best ever”. We think it’s worthy of a place in your recipe box.

Cake

  • 1 1/2 cups bananas, mashed, ripe
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 2 1/8 cups sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Frosting

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 1/2 cups icing sugar
  • chopped walnuts, optional

Directions
1Preheat oven to 275°.
2Grease and flour a 9 x 13 pan.
3In a small bowl, mix mashed banana with the lemon juice; set aside.
4In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
5In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 1/8 cups sugar until light and fluffy.
6Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in 2 tsp vanilla.
7Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk.
8Stir in banana mixture.
9Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for one hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
10Remove from oven and place directly into the freezer for 45 minutes. This will make the cake very moist.
11For the frosting, cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth.
12Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla.
13Add icing sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high speed until frosting is smooth.
14Spread on cooled cake.
15Sprinkle chopped walnuts over top of the frosting, if desired.

Comments (11)

kimmi 86 on

What flour do you use self raising or plain - please let me know thank you☺☺Sheila Bell

DemiSoni on

This is "The Best Ever" . I have been making this for about a year now and it gets rave reviews! I think it is the most moist cake you will ever eat. Don't skip the freezer part. It won't be as good.

virago on

This banana cake recipe is FANTASTIC! I bake it low and slow, just like the recipe states, in two NordicWare 9x2.5 inch heavy aluminum rounds, parchment lined bottoms, flour-sprayed sides, cake-strip wrapped pans. Cakes rise almost to the top of the pans and are absolutely flat. I've never put mine in the freezer after baking; it's plenty moist from the start and stays that way even in refrig storage.

rebeabdo on

Hi! One question if I don't have buttermilk can I use something else?

jasamy on

This cake has become legend! I have made it with and without freezer step. Both taste fine. However, If you are doing anything larger than 8" or 9" and you want to stack it (layer cake), definitely freeze the layers prior to handling as they are fragile.

rebeado, you can make a buttermilk substitute by placing one TBSP lemon juice or white vinegar in 1 c measuring cup, add milk to make up the rest of cup (needs to be at least 2% fat). It make not have exact flavor but will give desired acidity

JustLovely on

I've been making this one for awhile now ever since I stumbled upon it online and read amazing reviews. Everyone always loves it, I've never made it in the correct pan however. I've always made it in my 8" or 6" and it works just fine. If I cover in fondant I substitute BC icing or chocolate ganache, always a big hit!

rebeabdo on

Super! thank you for helping me with the buttermilk substitute recipe.

nanachele on

"Bake at 275" seems a little low to me is this correct?

tootsie03 on

Did anyone also have trouble with the 275 temperature? It took 1 hour 45 minutes to bake and it did not bake evenly. Next time I'm trying 350 degrees

craftylady75093 on

Made this cake today with very ripe bananas(yellow with lots of brown speckles, NOT black). I used 4 Large Bananas (1 1/2 Cups) that weighed 12 ounces total

The cake was very good & moist without freezing for 45 minutes! In fact, I never put it in the freezer; I just refrigerated it after frosting.

I decreased the sugar to 2 Cups (instead of 2 1/8 Cups) but next time I will remove an additional 2 Tablespoons from the 2 Cups of Sugar. The cake still was very sweet! Maybe if your bananas are not overly ripe, the quantity of sugar as mentioned in recipe is necessary, but I always use very ripe bananas in Banana Cake/Bread recipes.

I baked it in a 9" x 13" pan at 350 (Convection Bake) for 65 minutes. I had to tent the cake with foil during last 15 minutes to prevent from browning too much.

Just a note, the batter filled my pan 3/4 full and I was afraid it would spill over during baking but it didn't and cake was perfect!

I LOVE Banana Cake and this recipe is a keeper!!

Best Banana Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my banana cake not moist? ›

Why is my banana cake not moist? – Not Enough Bananas: Bananas not only add flavor but also moisture. Ensure you're using enough ripe bananas as they are moister and sweeter. – Over-mixing the Batter: Over-mixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to a denser, drier cake.

What is a secret ingredient for cakes? ›

Mayonnaise: The Hidden Gem in Cake Recipes

When it comes to baking moist and delicious cakes, you might be surprised to learn that mayonnaise can be a secret ingredient worth considering. Made up of eggs and oil, mayonnaise acts as an emulsifier, adding creaminess and moisture to your cake.

What makes a cake more moist? ›

10 WAYS TO MAKE CAKE MOIST
  1. USE THE CORRECT TEMPERATURE AND BAKING TIME. Consider lowering your oven temperature slightly when baking a cake. ...
  2. USE VEGETABLE OIL. ...
  3. USE BUTTERMILK INSTEAD OF MILK. ...
  4. ADD INSTANT PUDDING MIX. ...
  5. ADD MAYONNAISE. ...
  6. USE SIMPLE SYRUP OR GLAZE. ...
  7. USE CAKE FLOUR. ...
  8. DON'T OVERMIX.

Why is my banana cake dense and rubbery? ›

You Over-Mix the Batter

For soft and tender banana bread, gently stir the wet ingredients into the dry — don't overmix! The more you stir, the more gluten will develop. The result will be a tough, rubbery banana bread.

What adds richness to cakes? ›

The milk adds fat, which results in a better flavor and density in your cake. If you want to make your cake extra rich, swap out the milk for buttermilk. Because buttermilk is extra thick, use a few more tablespoons than the recipe calls for.

What ingredient makes cake Fluffy? ›

Cakes and pastries are fluffy and light in nature due to the presence of baking soda in it. When baking soda is combined with both an acidic ingredient and a liquid, it becomes activated. Upon activation, Carbon dioxide is produced, which allows baked products to rise and become light and fluffy.

Can bananas be too ripe for banana cake? ›

Bananas can go from yellow with brown spots to totally black and still be okay to eat and use for baking. In fact, black bananas are some of the best for making banana bread because they have developed more sugar as they sit around and therefore taste sweeter. They may also be moister, which is perfect for baked goods.

Does Duncan Hines have a banana cake mix? ›

Duncan Hine's Dolly Parton's Favorite Southern-Style Banana Cake Mix Set! Banana Flavored Cake Mix With Chocolate Frosting! Make Your Own Deliciously Moist Banana Cake Mix! Choose Your Flavor!

Why is my banana cake too soft? ›

Using a lot of bananas adds excess moisture, and there are two ways to get rid of it. You could either add more flour or increase the baking time. Add a tablespoon of extra flour at a time into the batter and give it a good whisk until its consistency starts to look right: thick but runny enough to fall off a spoon.

What makes a cake not moist? ›

If you have too much flour in a recipe and not enough fat, like butter or oil, your cake is going to be dry and hard. For best results, I would encourage you to use a scale when baking, but if you don't have a scale, then just make sure you're using measuring cups correctly.

Why is my banana cake raw in the middle? ›

You may be baking at too high a temperature. Home ovens are often not accurate. Try lowering the temperature by 25°F, and bake for a slightly longer time. If you are using a dark colored pan like many non-stick pans it will cause the outside to brown more quickly while the inside stays raw.

Why did my banana bread come out dry? ›

Using too much flour makes for an extra crumbly bread.

If you're tapping your measuring cup to level out flour as you measure, or you're pushing down the piled-up powder, you'll end up using too much of it. I packed my flour for this loaf, and what I got was a crumbly cake with a dry crust all around.

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