Easy banana cake recipe (2023)

Make this easy banana cake recipe when you’re craving a sweet treat. It uses everyday ingredients and makes a manageably-sized banana snack cake that’s soft, moist, and banana-y. Enjoy it directly from the pan with powdered sugar, or spread it with icing for the ultimate banana cake with cream cheese frosting.

They say being one day older doesn’t matter, unless you’re a banana. So true. One day they’re perfect and the next day this ??.

Don’t fret. Those brown-spotted past-their-prime bananas are a jumping-off point for many good things.

I use them to make banana smoothies, baked oatmeal, ice cream, gluten-free pancakes, frosty adult beverages, and banana bread.

Why you’ll love this easy banana cake recipe

• At its most basic, this is a lop-off-a-piece-and-shove-it-into-your-mouth snack cake.
• It’s a great way to use those ripe bananas no one wants to eat.
• The recipe is easy to make, with ingredients you probably have on hand.
• Takes only 15 minutes of hands-on prep.
• The recipe makes a small, single layer banana cake that stays moist, tender and delicious for days.
• You can eat it directly from the cake pan (the way we did as kids) or put it on a cake plate (if you want to be fancy).
• It doesn’t need frosting, but adding cream cheese frosting to this banana cake makes it positively glorious.

Ingredients for banana snack cake

• Ripe bananas
• Granulated Sugar
• Unsalted Butter
• Eggs
• Vanilla
• Flour
• Iodized Salt
• Baking Powder
• Baking Soda
• Cinnamon
• Greek Yogurt

How many bananas make do you need to make this banana cake recipe?

This recipe uses 1 cup of mashed bananas, which is usually about two medium fruit, give or take. To be sure you’ve got the correct amount, smush the fruit with a fork in a glass measuring cup and look at the line gradients. Add or subtract as needed.

How to make banana cake

1. Cream the room-temperature butter and sugar together until fluffy. (I use a hand mixer for this.)
2. Beat in the eggs.
3. Add the mashed banana and vanilla and mix well.
4. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a separate bowl.
5. Add half of the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix until the ingredients are combined, but don’t over-mix.
6. Add half of the Greek yogurt and blend together.
7. In two more additions, add the rest of the flour and yogurt until just combined.
8. Pour the banana cake batter into the prepared baking pan and bake.

Pro-Tips:

Use a sturdy baking pan with sides that are at least 2″ high.

This easy banana cake recipe makes a lot of batter, which will rise as it bakes. A heavier gauge cake pan with high sides will ensure even baking and prevent overflow accidents.

I used an 8-inch square cake pan with 2″ sides and watched with equal parts dread and prayer as the banana snack cake puffed over the very top of the pan — and stopped without spilling. Phew.

Variations:

• Add chopped toasted nuts to the banana cake batter for a bit of texture and crunch. I recommend pecans or walnuts.
• Make a chocolate chip banana cake with mini chocolate chips. Toss one cup of the chocolate chips in a little flour before adding them to the banana cake batter (so they don’t sink to the bottom). Sprinkle a handful of chocolate chips on top before baking.
• Try this recipe with apple bananas. These specialty fruits are half the size of regular bananas and have a distinct apple flavor. To make this banana snack cake recipe with them, you’ll likely need 3 or 4 apple bananas.
• Want a banana coffee cake? Add a simple streusel topping before baking.

To frost or not to frost

This is entirely up to you and your mood.

At its most elemental, this recipe is for a banana snack cake. It’s meant to be easy. Sprinkle some powdered sugar over the top and cut a thick wedge. Done.

However, if you’ve got the time, ingredients and inclination, there is nothing better than adding a swirly layer of cream cheese frosting over the banana cake (below).

More garnishing options

Another option is this not-too-sweet but ultra-light and fluffy, ermine frosting.

You could also go with a chocolate buttercream, caramel frosting, peanut butter glaze, or garnish the banana cake with a puff of sweetened whip cream or scoop of vanilla.

There is no wrong way to enjoy this easy banana dessert.

FAQ’s

We love how high the banana cake rises in the pan. When you dig your fork into a slice, you’ll notice the substantial crumb it has.

This banana cake is moist and fluffy with a delicious banana flavor. I find it’s even better the next day. The snack cake is even moister, and the banana flavor is more intense. Not that I ever have restraint enough to wait that long.

My tasters loved the taste and soft texture of the banana cake on its own. Just an easy sprinkle of powdered sugar is a perfectly acceptable garnish.

The banana cake with cream cheese frosting took it to an entirely new level.

So, it’s up to you. With or without frosting, you’re going to love it.

More easy banana cake recipes (and a few breads) you’ll love:

• Banana Bundt Cake
• Moist Brown Sugar Banana Bread
• Crunchy Banana Chip Mini Muffins
• Banana Cream Rum Parfaits
• Best Blueberry Banana Bread Recipe
• Coconut-Macadamia Banana Bread
• Gluten-Free Banana Coconut Bread