The Best Banana Cake Recipe – Moist, Easy & Creamy
Learn how to make the best banana cake ever—super moist, packed with flavor, and topped with dreamy cream cheese frosting. Easy, cozy, and impossible to resist.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1½ cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3–4 medium bananas)
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2⅛ cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1½ cups buttermilk
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3½ cups icing sugar (powdered sugar)
Optional Toppings
- Chopped walnuts or pecans
- Shredded coconut
- Banana slices or caramel drizzle
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 275°F (135°C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.
- Mash the Bananas: In a small bowl, combine the mashed bananas with lemon juice. Set aside — the lemon keeps the bananas from browning and adds a tiny zing that brightens the flavor.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. You’ll add this gradually to your wet mixture later.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy (about 3 minutes). This step traps air in the batter — think of it as building the cake’s structure.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Stir in vanilla. The batter should look silky and smooth at this point.
- Combine the Mixtures: Alternate adding the flour mixture and buttermilk into your creamed butter base — starting and ending with flour. Stir in the banana mixture just until combined. Don’t overmix — that’s how cakes go dense.
- Bake the Cake: Pour batter into your prepared pan and bake for about 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Lock in Moisture (Secret Step!): As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, place the entire pan in the freezer for 45 minutes. This rapid cooling seals in moisture and gives you that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Make the Frosting: While the cake cools, beat together butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add vanilla and gradually blend in the icing sugar. Beat on high for 2–3 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Frost and Finish: Once the cake is completely cool, spread the frosting evenly on top. Sprinkle with walnuts or decorative touches if desired.