If there’s a recipe that shouts comfort and joy from the rooftops, it’s Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Imagine the tender crumb of classic banana bread you love, turned into a plush, bakery-style cake and finished with a thick layer of tangy, creamy frosting. It’s the kind of bake that fills your kitchen with warmth and anticipation, perfect for celebrations or as an anytime treat your friends and family will talk about long after the last morsel is gone.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting lies in its simplicity. Every ingredient serves a purpose: from making the cake extra moist to bringing out those toasty, caramelized banana flavors, and giving the frosting its silky finish. Here’s what you’ll need and why it matters:
- All-purpose flour: The sturdy base that gives your cake structure without making it dense.
- Baking soda: Helps your cake rise beautifully, keeping it light and airy.
- Salt: Just a pinch wakes up all the other flavors, ensuring every bite is well-balanced.
- Cinnamon: Adds a warm, subtle spice that makes the banana flavor pop.
- Unsalted butter (softened): Makes the cake rich and tender, and helps the frosting whip up fluffy and creamy.
- Granulated sugar: Gives just the right sweetness and helps with that tender crumb.
- Brown sugar: Adds moisture and deep caramel notes for a banana bread cake that’s anything but flat.
- Eggs: They give the cake structure and help bind everything together seamlessly.
- Vanilla extract: Elevates all the other flavors and gives the frosting its lovely aroma.
- Sour cream: This secret ingredient makes your cake extra moist with a little tang to cut the sweetness.
- Ripe bananas (mashed): The star of the show—make sure they’re super spotty for maximum banana punch.
- Chopped walnuts (optional): For a little crunch and earthy richness, you can stir these in or sprinkle on top.
- Cream cheese (softened): Essential for that tangy, dreamy frosting everyone loves.
- Powdered sugar: Gives the frosting its smooth sweetness and spreadability.
- Pinch of salt (for frosting): Balances out the sweetness and enhances the cream cheese flavor.
How to Make Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Step 1: Prep Your Equipment and Ingredients
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and greasing a 9×13-inch baking dish. This ensures your Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting will release easily—no sad, stuck-on corners! Take a moment to let your butter, eggs, and cream cheese come to room temperature for the smoothest mixing and creamiest frosting.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. This simple step gives you an even mix and avoids any hidden clumps, which helps your cake bake up evenly and with that signature banana bread flavor.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with both the granulated and brown sugars until the mixture is light and fluffy. This little bit of beating time gives your cake an irresistible, soft crumb and helps lock in all that wonderful moisture.
Step 4: Add Eggs, Vanilla, Sour Cream, and Bananas
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Then, stir in the vanilla extract, sour cream, and mashed bananas until everything’s perfectly combined. This is where your cake gets its trademark moist, dense-yet-airy texture and irresistible banana flavor.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
Gradually add the dry ingredients to your wet mixture, mixing until just combined—no over-mixing, or you might end up with a tough cake. If you’re feeling a little nutty, gently fold in the chopped walnuts at this stage.
Step 6: Bake the Cake
Pour the thick, fragrant batter into your prepared baking dish and smooth the top. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean. Your kitchen is now a banana-scented wonderland! Allow the cake to cool completely before you even think about frosting.
Step 7: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting
While the cake cools, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until totally smooth and luscious. Gradually add in the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt, then whip until it’s light, creamy, and almost too good to resist sampling straight from the bowl.
Step 8: Frost and Serve
Once your cake is cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting generously and evenly over the top. If you’re feeling extra, sprinkle with chopped walnuts or freshly sliced bananas just before serving. Dive in, and revel in the blissful taste of Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting!
How to Serve Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Garnishes
For a bakery-worthy finish, top your Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting with a scattering of extra chopped walnuts or a handful of banana slices right before serving. Freshly grated cinnamon or a light dusting of powdered sugar adds a pretty touch without overpowering the flavor. Let your creativity shine—no wrong answers here!
Side Dishes
This cake holds its own but loves some friendly company. Serve slices alongside a creamy vanilla latte, rich hot chocolate, or even a scoop of vanilla bean or coffee ice cream if you’re leaning dessert-forward. A dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream or a few fresh berries also makes for a delightful, well-rounded treat.
Creative Ways to Present
Transform this classic into a show-stopper by cutting the cake into neat squares and serving on a tiered cake stand, or layer individual portions into parfait glasses with extra whipped topping and a sprinkle of nuts. For celebrations, pipe little rosettes of frosting over each slice, or stack two thinner layers with frosting in between for a more decadent Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting centerpiece.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, cover the cake well and keep it in the refrigerator. The frosting stays perfect, and the flavors meld even more richly overnight. In fact, Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting often tastes even better on day two!
Freezing
To freeze, wrap slices or the entire cake tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to two months. For best results, consider freezing the cake unfrosted and adding the cream cheese frosting after thawing. Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
Reheating
Enjoy slices chilled right from the fridge or let them come to room temperature for a softer bite. If you prefer them warm, pop individual unfrosted pieces into the microwave for 10–15 seconds, then frost and savor—the banana aroma comes right back to life!
FAQs
Can I make Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting gluten free?
Absolutely! Substitute your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour. The flavor and texture may change slightly, but you’ll still end up with a delicious, moist cake and the same dreamy frosting.
How do I know if my bananas are ripe enough?
The riper, the better! Look for bananas that are deeply spotted or almost black—they’ll be very sweet and mash easily, which gives your Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting the fullest banana flavor.
Can I omit the walnuts?
Yes, the walnuts are completely optional. If you’re not a fan of nuts or need a nut-free version, simply leave them out—the cake will still be moist and flavorful.
Does this cake need to be refrigerated?
Because the cream cheese frosting is perishable, it’s best to store Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting in the refrigerator. Just bring slices to room temperature before serving if you prefer a softer bite.
Can I bake this recipe as cupcakes instead?
Definitely! Divide the batter among lined muffin tins and bake at 350°F for about 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Top each mini cake with a swirl of cream cheese frosting for perfect, portable treats.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been searching for the perfect way to enjoy ripe bananas, look no further than this Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. It’s an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert that wraps up all the cozy notes of banana bread in a cake you’ll want to share again and again. Don’t wait until your next special occasion—give it a try and make today a little sweeter!
