This Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe is everything you want it to be, and more! Two moist layers of ‘from scratch’ Banana Cake, topped with a sweet frosting!
I love making from scratch cakes. If you’re craving the perfect Chocolate Cake or want to try your hand at Coconut Cake, I’ve got you covered!
Perfect Birthday Cake
Happy Birthday to me!!!!! Or you. Today could be SOMEONE’s birthday, right?
Sometimes you have to take the initiative and wish yourself a happy birthday….and bake your own cake!
As you can see, I baked up a layered Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Such a great use for those overripe bananas on the kitchen counter!
You guys, this is what I want every birthday. For real.
- A sweet layered cake packed with banana flavor
- Covered in cream cheese frosting
- And, as you can see I’m not about fancy frosting swirls or crazy garnishes. Just give me an extra large slice of cake (which means I’ve got lots of frosting).
My kids? They tend to swipe off some of that extra frosting and just eat the cake. So bizarre. I don’t complain though, because I just scoop that extra frosting with my spoon and eat it up. I don’t get the name “Shugary Sweets” for nothing 🙂
Ingredient Notes
Butter- I use unsalted for 99% of my baking!
Bananas- as ripe as you can get them. The more brown, the sweeter they are! Use our guide on how to ripen bananas in 20 minutes!
Vanilla Extract- love using my homemade vanilla extract in baking.
Substitutions:
- You can swap out the sugar and use vanilla sugar if desired!
- Add chopped walnuts for a nutty cake!
- Use almond extract to add some depth of flavor to the banana cake.
- Add cinnamon to the frosting for a hint of warmth.
Step by Step Instructions
STEP 1: Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans (or use my homemade pan release).
PRO TIP: When making a layer cake, I like to use these Wilton’s Bake Even Strips. It keeps your cake layers level and flat, perfect for stacking (and they just slide right onto your cake pans)!
STEP 2: Beat room temperature butter and sugar in a mixing bowl for several minutes, until creamy. Add in egg, vanilla, and mashed ripe bananas. You can mash banana in a bowl, or directly in your butter mixture.
Add remaining dry ingredients and beat for 2 minutes until fully blended.
STEP 3: Pour batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Check if done by toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool in pans for 10 minutes, then flip onto a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
STEP 4: For the cream cheese frosting, beat softened butter and cream cheese in a large bowl for 3-4 minutes until fluffy and pale. Add vanilla extract, heavy cream, and powdered sugar. Beat for an additional 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy.
STEP 5: To assemble the cake, lay one layer of cooled cake on a cake plate. Spoon a generous amount of filling over the first layer. Add second layer of cake. Spread frosting over cake. Slice and enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
- Ensure that your butter (and cream cheese for the frosting) are room temperature.
- Don’t over mix the cake batter. When adding the dry ingredients, do it just until combined.
- Check your oven temperature for accuracy. Oven temps oven vary, so if you don’t have a gauge in your oven, be sure to check your cake early.
- Use Wilton’s bake even strips. They wrap around your cake pan and create LEVEL cakes which results in NO waste.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Keep this banana cake covered in the refrigerator for best results, for up to 3 days.
You can also freeze this cake (whole) in an airtight container. Or, like I do, cut slices and wrap them individually in plastic wrap. Slide slices into a ziploc freezer bag or airtight container. Thaw in refrigerator overnight and enjoy.
Typically banana bread is more dense and baked in a loaf pan. Banana Cake has a light crumb texture and can be made in a 13×9 or cake pans and layered.
More Banana Recipes
A delicious Banana Cake with Nutella Frosting. Sweet, moist banana cake with a nutty, creamy frosting. Doesn’t get much better than this!
So many fun flavors in one cake! This Banana Split Cake has it all…bananas, pineapple, strawberry, chocolate, whipped cream frosting and more! Perfect for a birthday cake, graduation, or just a dessert with family and friends!
No oven needed with this beautiful, layered NO BAKE Banana Cream Cheesecake! You’ll love the cookie crust with the creamy cheesecake, fresh bananas, banana pudding and whipped topping!
Add a little texture and tang to your breakfast with this Sour Cream Banana Bread. The addition of sour cream in this recipe is pure genius for the most delicious, moist slice of banana bread!
You’re going to love eating these Carrot Cake Muffins for breakfast. Especially since they are topped with a cream cheese frosting and walnuts!
How about baking up a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bundt Cake this fall? Not only will your house smell amazing, but the flavor of this cake will knock your socks off!
This Carrot Cake Cheesecake Cake is a showstopper! Layers of homemade carrot cake, a cheesecake center and it’s all topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting!
MORE Cake Recipes:
- Best Chocolate Cake Recipe – with chocolate frosting too!
- Coconut Cake
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Cake
- Lemon Coconut Cake
- Hummingbird Cake
- Ding Dong Cake
Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is everything you want it to be, and more! Two moist layers of 'from scratch' Banana Cake, topped with a sweet Cream Cheese frosting!
Ingredients
For the cake:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 bananas (about 2 cups mashed)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
For the frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 package (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Grease two 9-inch cake pans with shortening and flour. I like to use these Wilton's Bake Even Strips. It keeps your cake layers level and flat, perfect for stacking (and the just slide right onto your cake pans)! Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy, about 3 minutes. Add in egg, vanilla, and bananas (you can mash them first, but I toss them in and it does the work). Add in flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Beat for a couple minutes until fully blended.
- Pour batter evenly between the two cake pans. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool in pans for about 10 minutes. Flip onto a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
- For the frosting, beat butter and cream cheese for 3-4 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add in vanilla, heavy cream, and powdered sugar. Beat an additional 3-5 minutes. scraping down the sides of the bowl periodically.
- To assemble the cake, lay one layer of cooled cake on a cake plate. Spoon frosting over middle layer generously. Top with second layer of cake. Spoon and spread frosting over cake evenly. ENJOY!
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 417Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 169mgCarbohydrates: 59gFiber: 1gSugar: 43gProtein: 3g
*Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.
Perfect Banana Cake recipe with homemade cream cheese frosting. You’ll love this easy, from scratch recipe!
I halved this recipe and baked it in a loaf pan like banana bread. Added nuts and it was super delicious. I only had one banana and wish I would have had one more but it was still tasty and moist.
What is oven temp and timing to make a single 13×9 instead of 2 layers?
I baked this cake and it was very delicious. Use Monk fruits instead of sugar
I have used this cake and made a peanut butter icing. Great
I baked this great cake in a 9×13 cake pan and served it to my family for my 73rd birthday. We loved it! Thank you for sharing.
Awesome!! Happy Birthday 🙂
How about 9×13 baking pan? Has anyone done this… then you have all that creamy frosting on top!!!
Absolute perfection! Excellent flavor and the cake was nice and moist. But the best part was the cream cheese frosting…wow!!!
Hardly enough to fill 2 cake pans. I have about a half inch layer in the bottom of each one that i had to spread – not pour. Seems like there should be some liquid in this recipe. Also never says when the cinnamon goes in. I assume with the flour mixture. I am not too confident this is going to bake properly. Even cake you make from a box, you need to add water. we will see:)
I made this cake yesterday and it was perfect. Wonderful flavor and texture. The layers were done in 23 minutes. I followed the directions exactly when removing the cakes from the pans. No problems. I used only 3 cups of confectionary sugar in the frosting because I felt 4 cups would be too sweet. This cake was perfect.
Please convert this recipe in grams i reallly need it, please help me thanks so much?
Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is great! To be honest, I’m not good at cooking but I like them, they give me joy and excitement every time I finish the dishes, which is a great thing. With your recipe, I just need to follow the instructions and the rest is simple. Thanks for your recipe.
The knowledge gives by you is not only helpful for me but also for all humans. thank you very much.
I made this cake with honey instead of sugar (half the amount of honey) and found that it didn’t make enough batter for two cakes but it’s still delicious. Thanks!
Next time I I’ll use 8 in. Pans. Otherwise great recipe.
I made this recipe into cupcakes. It made 23 for me. I frosted them using my own standard cream cheese frosting that only uses 1/2 cup of salted butter, an 8 oz. pkg cream cheese, I cup homemade sweetened whipped cream, and 3 cups powdered sugar. I piped on the frosting and they looked and tasted wonderful! Love the banana cake recipe! Thank you!
How long do you cook the cupcakes?
Could this be made in a bundt pan??
Can I double the recipe to have larger layers? So that I can cut each layer in 2.
Hello. Wondering if this recipe can be doubled to make a 4 layer cake?