Moist banana bread cake topped with luscious cream cheese frosting—a comforting, sweet treat perfect for any dessert lover or special occasion.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Moist And Soft Like Banana Bread, But Elevated As A Layered Cake
- Perfect Way To Use Overripe Bananas
- Rich, Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting Balances The Sweet Cake Beautifully
- Simple Pantry Ingredients
- Great For Birthdays, Potlucks, Or Casual Family Desserts
- Cinnamon Adds A Warm Touch (Optional But Recommended)
- Can Be Made In Advance
- Frosting Can Be Customized With Nuts Or Fruit Toppings
Ingredients
For The Cake:
- 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 ½ Teaspoons Baking Soda
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon (Optional)
- ½ Cup Unsalted Butter, Softened
- 1 ½ Cups Granulated Sugar
- 2 Large Eggs, Room Temperature
- 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 1 ½ Cups Mashed Ripe Bananas (About 3–4 Bananas)
- ½ Cup Buttermilk, Room Temperature
For The Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 Ounces Cream Cheese, Softened
- ½ Cup Unsalted Butter, Softened
- 4 Cups Powdered Sugar, Sifted
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- Pinch Of Salt
Directions
- Preheat Oven To 350°F (175°C). Grease And Flour Two 8-Inch Round Cake Pans Or Line Them With Parchment Paper
- In A Medium Bowl, Whisk Together Flour, Baking Soda, Baking Powder, Salt, And Cinnamon (If Using)
- In A Large Bowl, Cream Butter And Sugar Until Light And Fluffy
- Beat In Eggs One At A Time, Then Mix In Vanilla Extract
- Add Mashed Bananas And Stir Until Incorporated
- Alternate Adding The Dry Ingredients And Buttermilk To The Banana Mixture, Beginning And Ending With The Dry Mix. Mix Until Just Combined
- Divide Batter Evenly Between The Prepared Pans And Smooth The Tops
- Bake For 25–30 Minutes Or Until A Toothpick Inserted In The Center Comes Out Clean
- Let Cakes Cool In Pans For 10 Minutes, Then Transfer To Wire Racks To Cool Completely
- For The Frosting, Beat Cream Cheese And Butter Until Smooth
- Gradually Mix In Sifted Powdered Sugar, One Cup At A Time, On Low Speed
- Add Vanilla And A Pinch Of Salt, Then Beat On Medium-High For 2–3 Minutes Until Fluffy
- Once Cakes Are Fully Cooled, Frost One Layer, Stack The Second Layer, And Spread Frosting Over The Top And Sides
- Slice And Serve
Servings And Timing
- Servings: 12
- Prep Time: 20 Minutes
- Cook Time: 30 Minutes
- Total Time: 50 Minutes
- Calories: Approximately 450 Kcal Per Serving
Variations
- Add Nuts: Fold Chopped Walnuts Or Pecans Into The Batter For Extra Texture
- Spice It Up: Add Nutmeg Or Allspice For More Warm Flavors
- Sheet Cake Style: Bake In A 9×13-Inch Pan And Frost The Top Only
- Mini Cakes Or Cupcakes: Divide Into Cupcake Tins And Bake For 18–20 Minutes
- Tropical Twist: Add Shredded Coconut Or Pineapple For A Fruity Variation
- Gluten-Free Version: Substitute With Your Favorite 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour Blend
Storage/Reheating
- Room Temperature: Store Frosted Cake In An Airtight Container For Up To 1 Day
- Refrigerator: Store In The Fridge For Up To 4–5 Days. Let Sit At Room Temperature Before Serving For Best Texture
- Freezer: Wrap Unfrosted Cake Layers In Plastic Wrap And Foil; Freeze For Up To 2 Months. Thaw And Frost When Ready
- Reheating: Individual Slices Can Be Gently Warmed In The Microwave For 10–15 Seconds
FAQs
Can I Use Frozen Bananas?
Yes, Thaw Them First And Drain Any Excess Liquid Before Mashing.
Do I Have To Use Buttermilk?
You Can Make A Substitute By Mixing ½ Cup Milk With 1½ Teaspoons Of Vinegar Or Lemon Juice.
Can I Make This As A Single-Layer Cake?
Absolutely! Just Use A 9×13 Pan And Adjust Bake Time To About 35 Minutes.
Is The Cinnamon Necessary?
It’s Optional, But Adds A Nice Warmth And Depth To The Banana Flavor.
Can I Use Brown Sugar Instead Of White Sugar?
You Can Substitute Part Or All Of The White Sugar For Brown Sugar For A Richer, Molasses-Like Flavor.
How Can I Keep My Cake From Being Dry?
Don’t Overmix And Be Careful Not To Overbake. Use Ripe Bananas For Maximum Moisture.
What If I Don’t Have Cream Cheese?
You Can Use A Simple Buttercream Or Whipped Cream Frosting Instead.
Can I Turn This Into Cupcakes?
Yes, It Makes Great Cupcakes—Just Bake For 18–20 Minutes And Frost As Desired.
How Do I Get Smooth Frosting On The Cake?
Use A Spatula Or Offset Knife, And Chill The Cake Slightly Before Frosting To Reduce Crumbs.
Does This Cake Need To Be Refrigerated?
Yes, Because Of The Cream Cheese Frosting, It’s Best Stored In The Fridge.
Conclusion
Banana Bread Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Is The Perfect Dessert For Those Who Love The Classic Flavor Of Banana Bread But Want A Cake-Worthy Upgrade. It’s Moist, Flavorful, And Topped With Luscious Cream Cheese Frosting That Takes It To The Next Level. Whether You’re Making It For A Celebration Or Just Because, This Recipe Is Sure To Be A Favorite On Repeat.
Print
Banana Bread Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Moist banana bread cake topped with luscious cream cheese frosting—a comforting treat perfect for any dessert lover or special occasion.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3–4 bananas)
½ cup buttermilk, room temperature
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch cake pans or line with parchment.
Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl.
In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla.
Blend in mashed bananas.
Add dry ingredients and buttermilk alternately, starting and ending with dry. Mix gently.
Divide batter evenly into pans and smooth the tops.
Bake 25–30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then fully on wire racks.
For frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
Gradually beat in powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt until fluffy.
Frost cooled cake layers, stack, and cover top and sides.
Slice and enjoy!
Notes
- Add chopped walnuts or pecans for extra texture.
- For a sheet cake version, use a 9×13 pan and adjust bake time.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American