Banana Bread Cake – A Comforting Classic with a Frosted Upgrade
If you love banana bread, just wait until you meet her fancy cousin: banana bread cake with cream cheese frosting. It’s soft, dense yet fluffy, full of ripe banana flavor, and topped with a luscious, tangy cream cheese frosting that makes each bite absolute heaven. Whether it’s for brunch, birthdays, or just a cozy night in—this cake is the perfect way to use up those ripe bananas in style.
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Why You’ll Love This Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This recipe takes everything comforting about banana bread and turns it into a rich, moist cake. It bakes beautifully in one pan, is easy to whip up, and that creamy frosting? It’s basically banana bread’s soul mate.
🍌 Rich banana flavor from real ripe bananas
🍌 Lightly spiced and not too sweet—just right
🍌 Thick, dreamy cream cheese frosting on top
🍌 No fancy tools, no layers, no stress
Perfect for potlucks, birthdays, or just because!
Ingredients banana bread cake with cream cheese frosting
For the Banana Bread Cake:
- 1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3–4 bananas)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream or plain yogurt
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Necessary Tools for Preparation
- Mixing bowls
- 9×13-inch baking pan
- Whisk or hand mixer
- Rubber spatula
- Offset spatula (for spreading frosting, optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease your baking pan.
- Mix the wet ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together mashed bananas, melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and sour cream until smooth.
- Whisk dry ingredients: In another bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
- Combine: Add dry ingredients into wet, stirring just until combined. Don’t overmix!
- Bake: Pour into prepared pan and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the cake cool completely in the pan before frosting.
- Make the frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat until fluffy.
- Frost and serve: Spread over cooled cake. Slice and enjoy!
Tips for Perfecting the banana bread cake with cream cheese frosting Recipe
- Use super ripe bananas—they add natural sweetness and keep the cake moist.
- For extra depth, brown your butter before mixing it in.
- Chill the frosting for 10–15 minutes before spreading if it’s too soft.
- Add chopped walnuts or pecans for a crunchy twist.
What to Serve With It
- Serve with fresh berries or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
- Pair with a cup of cold brew or spiced chai.
- Add a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar on top for an extra finish.
Storage Instructions
- Fridge: Store frosted cake covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Unfrosted cake freezes beautifully. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.
- Reheat: Let slices come to room temp or warm gently in the microwave (frosting may melt slightly).
General Information banana bread cake with cream cheese frosting
This banana bread cake is a hit with kids and adults alike. The sour cream adds richness while keeping the crumb tender. It’s perfect for banana lovers, casual bakers, and anyone needing a crowd-pleasing dessert.
FAQ
Can I make this into cupcakes?
Yes! Fill cupcake liners ¾ full and bake at 350°F for 18–20 minutes.
Can I make it gluten-free?
Absolutely—use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
Can I use yogurt instead of sour cream?
Yes, plain Greek yogurt works great.
Can I add mix-ins?
Totally! Fold in ½ cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips.
Conclusion
This banana bread cake with cream cheese frosting is the best of both worlds—comforting like banana bread, but with the elegance (and delicious decadence) of a frosted cake. You’ll be amazed at how easy and satisfying it is to make!
🥄 Tag your bakes @poulefrecipe on Pinterest—I’d love to see your frosted creations!
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Best-Ever Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (Easy 1-Pan Treat)
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This banana bread cake is soft, moist, and packed with banana flavor, topped with a rich cream cheese frosting. An easy one-pan dessert for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the cake:
1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3–4)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
½ cup melted butter
¾ cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup sour cream or plain yogurt
For the frosting:
8 oz cream cheese
¼ cup unsalted butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350°F and grease 9×13″ pan.
-
Mix mashed bananas, butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and sour cream.
-
In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, powder, salt, and cinnamon.
-
Add dry to wet and stir until just combined.
-
Pour into pan, bake 30–35 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
-
Cool completely.
-
Beat frosting ingredients until smooth and fluffy.
-
Frost cooled cake and serve.
Notes
Use ripe bananas for max flavor. Add chopped nuts or chocolate chips for extra texture. Cake can be made ahead and frosted the next day.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 35
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
