Sometimes childhood memories are so strong, and this recipe for the BEST Banana Cake Ever is one food memory that keeps us returning for more.
Moist cake with lots of banana flavour, topped with a banana glaze, then drizzled with chocolate. Dig in! This recipe for the best coffee cake is right up there too.
So simple and so delicious. You have to admit, grandma has the best old-fashioned banana cake recipe. A true delight in every bite.
I had a friend and her mom made this incredible homemade banana cake. I asked her for the recipe, and she gladly gave it to me.
I have put my own spin on it, and now my grandkids say grandma makes the best banana cake hands down!
Ripe bananas are always on hand. Turn them into something delicious instead of throwing them out. There are endless banana recipes to choose from.
Banana muffins are always a hit at breakfast. How about banana bread? Simple Banana Bread and Rocky Road Banana Bread are delicious options.
Old-Fashioned Banana Cake Ingredients
This easy recipe for banana cake uses simple everyday ingredients:
- ripe bananas
- flour
- white sugar
- brown sugar
- butter
- milk
- egg
- vanilla
- salt
- baking powder
- baking soda
Banana Cake From Scratch
This is a simple, one layer cake recipe.
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF
- Prepare your baking pan (round, square, whatever you like).
- Mash the bananas and add the baking soda and mix (*do not skip this step)
- Cream butter, sugar, add egg, vanilla milk.
- Add the flour and baking powder, then then mashed bananas.
- Scrape into pan and bake.
My childhood memory is of this caked baked in a 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Do you remember those? I decided to make this a little more “fancy” and use a *(affiliate) springform pan instead.
Best Cake Topping
I used a simple banana glaze made with bananas and icing sugar. It has such an intense banana flavour.
If you prefer more of a classic icing, some of these would be delicious for sure:
- vanilla icing
- pecan frosting
- chocolate icing
- cinnamon frosting
- cream cheese frosting
I like to place my cake on a wire rack over a baking sheet when I put on the glaze. Makes for easier clean-up. You want the glaze to drip off the edge of the cake.
Of course, I need to incorporate chocolate into this delicious banana dessert. There is nothing easier than melting some chocolate chips to make a drizzle. Any kind of chocolate will work. Milk, dark or a combination of both.
For this, I used the microwave. Then put the melted chocolate in a *(affiliate) small piping bag with a *(affiliate)round decorating tip attached. *HINT* you can also use a small plastic freezer/sandwich bag and cut a very small hole in the corner.
Drizzle away. Make it look however you like. I like to make lots of wavy lines. This is my playtime.
I happened to have some dried banana chips in the house, so they made their way onto this cake.
This cake is always a hit. Whether I make it just for the family, or as a dessert to a dinner or potluck, it is devoured down to the last crumb.
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Looking for more delicious recipes using bananas? Here are a few:
- Do you enjoy dessert for breakfast? With this Healthy Banana Split, you certainly can. No guilt!
- For a pudding that is chocolaty and delicious, give Banana Chocolate Roundup a try. Avocados make it so creamy.
- Skip the store-bought frozen treats, and make these Healthy Banana Popsicles instead. A sure hit on a hot summer day.
Best Ever Banana Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ cups ripe bananas (mashed)
- Pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
For the Glaze:
- 1 banana (pureed)
- 2 cups icing sugar
For the Chocolate Drizzle:
- ¼ cup chocolate chips (melted)
Instructions
For the Cake:
- Preheat Oven to 325°F
- Prepare a springform pan (or your baking pan of choice) and set aside. This recipe works well in a 9 x 13 pan as well.
- (Imporant Step) Mash bananas and add baking soda to banana mixture
- Cream butter and sugars.
- Add egg, vanilla and milk.
- Add flour, baking powder and salt.
- Add banana mixture to batter.
- Scrape batter into greased baking dish.
- Bake for approximately 25 – 30 minutes (until done). Check with a cake tester.
- Cool and glaze.
For the Glaze:
- Puree banana (I used a mini food processor).
- Add icing sugar a bit at a time, to reach your desired consistency of glaze.
- Place cake on a wire rack (that is on top of a baking sheet to collect the drips).
- Pour glaze over the cake, be sure to use an offset spatula and push the glaze over the edge.
- Let the glaze set.
For the Chocolate Drizzle:
- Melt the chocolate chips (I used the microwave).
- Place melted chocolate into a small piping bag with a narrow decorating tip inserted. You can also just place in a plastic bag and cut a SMALL hole in the corner.
- Drizzle chocolate over cake.
- Allow chocolate to set slightly before moving the cake to a serving platter.
Nelly Vivianne
I made this recipe after several attempts from other places but this is the perfect and most delicious recipe 👌. Thank you for sharing this with us.
I’ll be making it for my family often since we love it.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I am so happy you love this banana cake….it is the only one my family asks for.
Juyali
I loved the banana icing. It added even more flavor. The cake was moist and tender, and it was a hit in our home. The kind of recipe you bake again and again. Thank you. 🙂
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I love the banana glaze too. It really does add another level of yumminess.
Ramona
This is such a simple but beautiful recipe. I didn’t end up adding icing but it was just as good!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
The beauty is that you can enjoy this how ever you like.
Moop Brown
From banana pudding to banana bread, I’ve always been a big fan of banana desserts. This cake looks very tasty and like the addition of the chocolate.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Our family favourite for decades. Hope you give it a try.
Hayley Dhanecha
I love the addition of drizzle on the banana cake, it took it to a whole new level! Love this recipe!!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I agree, that little extra step makes a wonderful addition to this banana cake recipe.
Molly Kumar
WoW, this looks so yummy and fluffy too. I love fresh homemade cakes and this would be loved by everyone at home. Also, a great idea to use over-ripe bananas, saving to make soon.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
This one level rustic cake is a hit every time I make it.
Jamie
I love how much banana flavor this cake has! The banana glaze is such a great touch too. My family loved it, thank you!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I agree, the glaze on this cake is so delicious.
Jordan
So I’ll be honest. I had never tried banana cake before. But my boyfriend requested it so I gave this a shot. I’m not the biggest banana fan, but this surprised me! It turned out soooo good. And the drizzle glaze situation is a home run.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I am so glad you decided to give this recipe a try. Banana cake at it’s best!
amy liu dong
I have never had a banana cake for a long time and seeing this cake reminds me of my grandmother who always made a banana cake for everyone. I love everything about this recipe, it is so beautiful and looks delicious! I am so excited to make this for everyone this weekend I hope it will turn out as good as yours.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I agree, this rustic cake is a crowd pleaser for sure. Super easy to make is a bonus.
Alexandra
Banana cake is my favorite, and this recipe is delicious. The glaze and chocolate drizzle is the perfect finishing touch – and it looks beautiful!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Sometimes the old-fashioned recipes are still the best.