The Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is a cozy, crowd-pleasing dessert that combines the homestyle charm of banana bread with the tender crumb of a cake. The rich and creamy frosting on top adds a decadent twist that’s hard to resist, making every bite a perfect blend of sweet, tangy, and soft.
This dessert is especially perfect for using up ripe bananas, transforming them into something truly special. Whether you’re serving it at a family gathering, holiday party, or just indulging in a little treat at home, it’s simple to make and even easier to fall in love with. One slice is never enough!
Full Recipe:
Ingredients:
For the Banana Bread Cake
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1 ½ cups granulated sugar
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1 cup sour cream
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½ cup unsalted butter, softened
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2 eggs
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3 ripe bananas, mashed
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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2 cups all-purpose flour
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1 teaspoon baking soda
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¾ teaspoon salt
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
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½ cup unsalted butter, softened
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1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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3 cups powdered sugar
Directions:
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
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In a large mixing bowl, beat together the sugar, sour cream, and softened butter until light and fluffy.
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Add in eggs, mashed bananas, and vanilla extract; mix well.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
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Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir just until combined.
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Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
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Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cake cool completely.
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For the frosting, beat together the softened butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
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Add in vanilla and powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
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Spread frosting evenly over the cooled banana cake. Slice and enjoy!
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 45 minutes
Kcal: 420 kcal | Servings: 15 servings
The Ultimate Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting: A Comfort Classic Reinvented
Few desserts capture the spirit of homestyle baking quite like banana bread. It’s the go-to for using up overripe bananas, the warm companion to a cup of coffee, and a nostalgic treat found at countless family tables and bake sales. But what if we told you that the humble banana bread could level up into a show-stopping cake moist, fluffy, and topped with a rich, tangy cream cheese frosting? Enter the Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, a luscious dessert that merges the best of both worlds.
This banana bread cake is more than just a twist on tradition. It’s a celebration of comfort food and a clever upgrade that transforms a classic into an indulgent treat worthy of special occasions, yet simple enough for weekday baking.
Why This Banana Cake Is So Special
At first glance, this cake might appear like your standard banana dessert. But look closer or better yet, take a bite and you’ll notice the texture is lighter, airier than your typical dense banana bread. That’s thanks to a well-balanced batter that includes sour cream, which enhances moisture while also lending a subtle tang that balances the sweetness of ripe bananas.
What really seals the deal, however, is the cream cheese frosting. Silky smooth with a hint of vanilla, it’s generously layered across the top, giving each slice the perfect blend of sweet and tangy. This addition elevates the cake from a simple snack to a decadent dessert fit for celebrations, potlucks, brunches, or just as a well-earned treat after a long day.
The Role of Ingredients: Simple But Impactful
Although we won’t dive into the full list of ingredients here, it’s important to highlight how this cake achieves its signature flavor and texture. The bananas, of course, are the star of the show. The riper they are, the better they add natural sweetness and a depth of flavor that’s impossible to replicate with artificial flavorings.
Sour cream is a subtle game-changer. It keeps the crumb soft and moist, ensuring the cake stays tender even a day or two after baking. Combined with butter and just the right amount of sugar, the result is a perfectly sweet, slightly tangy, rich cake base that feels more indulgent than your everyday banana bread.
And then there’s the cream cheese frosting. It’s a classic choice for a reason thick, creamy, and just tangy enough to contrast the banana’s sweetness without overwhelming it. When whipped to perfection, it creates an irresistible topping that could honestly be a dessert all on its own.
Tips for Success
This banana bread cake is quite forgiving, but a few tips can help ensure your results are as delicious as intended:
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Use very ripe bananas – They should have lots of brown spots on the skin and feel soft when squeezed. These bananas are sweeter and mash more easily into the batter.
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Don’t overmix the batter – Overmixing can lead to a dense cake. Mix just until the dry ingredients are incorporated.
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Let it cool before frosting – It may be tempting to spread the cream cheese frosting on while the cake is warm, but patience pays off. A cool cake ensures the frosting spreads evenly and doesn’t melt.
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Chill before slicing for clean cuts – If presentation matters, a short chill in the fridge can help the frosting set and give you cleaner, bakery-style slices.
Make It Your Own
One of the best things about this recipe is its flexibility. With a few small tweaks, you can make it truly your own:
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Add-ins: Fold in some chopped walnuts or pecans for extra crunch. Chocolate chips are another popular addition that pair beautifully with banana and cream cheese.
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Spices: A dash of cinnamon or nutmeg in the batter can add warm, comforting notes, especially during fall and winter months.
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Layered version: Want to make it even more special? Bake the cake in two round pans and sandwich extra cream cheese frosting between the layers for a bakery-worthy presentation.
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Healthier options: You can easily swap some or all of the butter with coconut oil, or use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream for a protein boost.
When to Serve This Banana Bread Cake
Because of its familiar flavor profile and approachable preparation, this cake is appropriate for nearly any occasion. It’s equally at home as:
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A birthday cake for someone who prefers classic flavors over flashy fondant and buttercream creations.
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A brunch centerpiece, paired with fresh berries and coffee.
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A holiday dessert—especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas where comfort and tradition are top priorities.
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A weeknight treat, since it comes together quickly and uses common pantry staples.
If you’re someone who loves the flavors of banana bread but craves something a little more elegant or dessert-worthy, this cake checks every box.
Storage & Leftovers
This cake stores beautifully. Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. In fact, some say it tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had a chance to meld. If you’re prepping for an event, you can also bake the cake a day ahead and frost it just before serving.
It also freezes well just wrap individual slices or the entire (unfrosted) cake tightly in plastic wrap and store in a freezer-safe bag. When ready to enjoy, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then frost and serve.
A Dessert That Never Goes Out of Style
Trends in baking come and go remember the brief reign of mug cakes, rainbow bagels, or cloud bread? But banana-based desserts have always held strong. They’re nostalgic, naturally sweet, and lend themselves well to endless variations. This banana bread cake with cream cheese frosting is the perfect example of how you can reinvent a timeless classic without losing the essence of what made it so beloved in the first place.
Whether you’re a novice baker or a seasoned pro, this cake will quickly become a staple in your dessert rotation. It’s easy, it’s comforting, and it never fails to impress.
Conclusion:
The Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is a true fusion of simplicity and decadence. It starts with familiar flavors ripe bananas, sugar, flour and turns them into something a little more special, without adding unnecessary complexity. It’s the kind of recipe that feels like a warm hug from your kitchen, perfect for when you want to share something homemade and heartfelt.
What sets it apart is its balance: not overly sweet, not too dense, and with just enough tang from the cream cheese to cut through the richness. It’s versatile, easy to customize, and guaranteed to bring smiles to everyone who tries it.
Whether you’re baking for a family dinner, contributing to a potluck, or simply treating yourself to a cozy afternoon bake, this banana cake is the answer. Bookmark it, print it, share it it’s one you’ll return to again and again.