The Banana Cake Recipe Everyone’s Grandma Swears By (And Why Yours Will Too)

There are few things as comforting as the smell of freshly baked banana cake wafting through your kitchen. Sweet, moist, and lightly spiced, banana cake is the dessert that bridges generations—whether served at family gatherings, brought to potlucks, or enjoyed quietly with your morning coffee. Unlike banana bread, which is denser and more loaf-like, banana cake is light, fluffy, and topped with silky frosting that makes each bite feel like a celebration.

Homemade banana cake is one of those timeless recipes that doesn’t require expensive ingredients or advanced baking skills. All it asks is a few ripe bananas (the riper, the better), pantry staples, and a little love. While many people rely on boxed cake mixes for convenience, baking banana cake from scratch creates a depth of flavor that pre-made mixes simply can’t match.

In this recipe guide, you’ll learn how to make the perfect banana cake with easy-to-follow steps and tips to keep it moist and flavorful every time. We’ll also cover the best time to enjoy it, how to serve it like a bakery-style dessert, and the controversial truths about banana cake that home bakers rarely discuss.

Read here how to make Carrot Cake and Tiramisu

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Best Time to Eat and How to Partner

Banana cake is incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed at any time of day. It makes a sweet addition to breakfast or brunch spreads, a satisfying afternoon tea cake, or a comforting dessert after dinner. Its natural sweetness and light texture mean it pairs beautifully with both coffee and tea.

For an elevated experience, serve banana cake with a dollop of whipped cream or cream cheese frosting, topped with toasted walnuts or shredded coconut for added texture. If serving as dessert, pair it with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and a drizzle of warm caramel sauce for a truly decadent treat that will impress guests at any gathering.

While banana cake seems universally beloved, there is a long-standing debate among bakers about its true identity. Some argue that banana cake is simply a frosted banana bread, but purists know the difference lies in the texture and preparation. Banana cake uses cake flour or all-purpose flour with aerating methods for a lighter crumb, whereas banana bread is denser and often baked in loaf form without frosting.

Another controversial truth is that adding too many bananas can ruin the cake’s structure. While it might seem logical to pack in extra bananas for moisture, doing so can make the cake overly dense and heavy, losing its airy cake-like quality. The secret is balancing enough banana for flavor and sweetness without overwhelming the batter’s integrity.

Finally, many home bakers overlook the role of frosting. Traditional cream cheese frosting enhances banana cake’s sweetness with tang, while buttercream can make it overly rich. Some purists prefer a simple dusting of powdered sugar to let the banana flavor shine without added sweetness. This debate over frosting styles continues to divide baking circles, proving that even the simplest desserts come with passionate opinions about the “right way” to make them.

How to Make Banana Cake

Banana Cake Recipe Ingredients

For the Banana Cake:
2-3 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk
For the Frosting (optional):
1/2 cup butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
3-4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Step By Step How to Make Banana Cake

1. Prepare the Cake

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8-inch square baking dish or a similar size pan. In a bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract. Add the mashed bananas and mix until incorporated. Alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the banana mixture, starting and ending with the flour. Mix until just combined.

2. Bake the Cake

Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

3. Prepare the Frosting

Beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla extract.

4. Frost the Cake

Once the cake is completely cool, spread the frosting evenly over the top.

5. Serve

Cut into squares and serve.

Tips To Make Banana Cake

Use overripe bananas for the best flavor and moisture. The more speckled and brown, the better. Do not overmix the batter after adding the flour to keep the cake tender.

Check the cake a bit earlier than the stated time as oven temperatures can vary. The cake is done when it springs back to the touch.

If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a quick substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a cup of milk and let it sit for 5 minutes before using.

How Many Calories Has A Banana Cake

A single serving (one slice) of banana cake without frosting can contain around 200-300 calories. With cream cheese frosting, a slice may have between 300-400 calories, depending on how generously the cake is frosted.