Easy Banana Cake Recipe with Frosting

 Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is a moist cake bursting with banana flavor and topped with sweet brown butter cream cheese frosting.

You will love this savory and easy Banana Cake Recipe

Growing up in my house, love was spelled B A N A N A – B R E A D! I didn’t think anything could compare to a warm piece of buttered banana bread. Turns out, this Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting compares and runs a tight race!

This easy banana cake is a baker’s delight! It’s quick to mix together and bake, but tastes like a million bucks! The Cream Cheese frosting has the perfect hint of browned butter which adds a touch of savory flair while embracing all the banana-cream cheese goodness! This is a great cake for parties, gatherings, or to enjoy all by yourself! No judgment here!

Ingredients for Banana Cake

• 1/2 cup butter melted– I always use salted butter, which is what I keep on hand.
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups mashed bananas (approx. 4 bananas) I like to mash my bananas at the beginning to really let their flavor develop. As with banana bread, the riper, the better.
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt

Frosting for Banana Cake Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened – I try to take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator for about 30 minutes prior to tossing it in with the butter. The mixer’s muscles will handle the rest and combine well.
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• pinch salt
• up to 1/4 cup heavy cream- Do not add this all at once. Begin with small amounts of cream and add a little at a time until the frosting has reached your desired consistency. You can also use milk instead of heavy cream in the frosting, just note that you’ll need significantly less milk because it is much more thin in comparison to the heavy cream.

Easy Banana Cake Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Add 1/2 cup of walnuts as a topping or in the batter to add some crunch and texture. Or add ½ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips for the chocolate lovers.

Easy Banana Cake Substitutions

• Apple sauce works great. Just replace ¼ cup apple sauce for every 1 egg.
• Maple Butter Cream is delicious on this cake. Also, a thin Vanilla Glaze reduces the sweetness, but still adds enough sugary taste to keep your mouth happy and the banana flavor popping.

Can I use salted butter for cream cheese frosting?

I actually always use salted butter for my frostings, so YES, use salted butter!

How to make Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 9×9 square cake pan with non-stick spray.
2. Mash your bananas and set aside.
3. Using either an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, mix together the melted butter and brown sugar.
4. Add in the vanilla, eggs and mashed banana.
5. Add the flour, baking soda and salt to the bowl. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients until just combined. Do not over mix.
6. Pour into prepared cake pan. Bake at 350° F for 25-30 minutes. It should pass the toothpick test before taking it out of the oven.
7. While the cake is baking, brown your butter for the frosting.
8. In a small sauce pan, heat your butter on low, stirring constantly until the color of the butter turns a golden brown and it gives off a nutty aroma. (Don’t get lost in the smell here. It’s amazing!)
9. Immediately transfer the brown butter to a cool bowl or container to stop the cooking so the butter doesn’t burn.
10. Allow the butter to sit until close to room temperature and then place in the fridge for approx. 30 minutes, or until the butter is almost back to its solid form.
11. Once the butter is back to being mostly solid, it is time to make the frosting. At this point, your cake should be out of the oven.
12. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the brown butter and cream cheese until mixed thoroughly.
13. Scrape the sides of the bowl and then alternate adding the remaining ingredients, adding a portion of the powdered sugar and then some liquid, letting the mixer go on low until the powdered sugar is completely incorporated before adding more.
14. Repeat this process until all of the ingredients have been added. You can adjust the consistency of the frosting by adding more heavy cream to this the frosting or more powdered sugar to thicken the frosting.
15. Spread on top of your banana cake. (Thick layers= more love!) Slice and serve.

Easy Banana Cake Tips

You can double this recipe to make a 9×13 pan of the cake, or bake one recipe of cake in a 9×13 pan for a thinner layer. This makes the frosting to cake ratio a little more even.

How to serve Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

I like to serve the cake by cutting it into squares and then serving on small plates. You could use round cake pans for this recipe and serve in slices, if you’d rather.

How to store Banana Cake with Brown Butter Frosting

How long can cake with cream cheese frosting sit out?

Store your Banana Cake in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days

How Long Does Cream Cheese Frosting Last in the Fridge?

Up to 5 days, but I bet it’ll be eaten before then!

Can I freeze banana cake with cream cheese frosting?

Yes, the frosting will help keep the cake moist during thawing. Banana Cake can be frozen for up to 3 months.

More Banana Recipes you’ll love:

Easy Banana Bread Recipe

Banana Cream Cheesecake

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins