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.
It makes a great celebration cake that doesn’t take a lot of time. Sometimes you really need to impress your guests, and this chocolate toffee cake is sure to please.
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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.
Tara
This looks delicious. We made both our kids’ banana cake for their first birthdays. Now they are teens and they still ask for that cake! I’m going to try this one and see how it compares to mine. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Chef G
My kids love it too!! And they are adults!!
Kam Kay
This looks super delicious. Banana cake is my go to dessert, but never tried with banana frosting. Will have to try next time 🙂
Chef G
WE love it.
Felesha
I’ve never tried banana cake but it sounds so yummy! Thanks for sharing!
Chef G
Give it a try…I’m sure you will like it.
Matt @ Plating Pixels
I love banana cake, and considering this is the best banana cake ever! I’ll have try try it. Thanks!
Chef G
Well we think it is anyway…hope you do too.
Rachel Lloyd
Wow! This looks amazing. I need to try this asap!
Chef G
Hope you enjoy it as much as we do. It’s hard for me to even get some for myself when I make it.
Ana De- Jesus
This literally looks like the best banana cake ever I love the icing what a great touch x
Chef G
The icing is the BEST part!!
Shadi
I am sooooo making this! It’s easy and tasty! And I love love love banana cakes!
Chef G
HAHAH…well from the looks of your site…I have a hard time competing….I know you will love it!!
Carol Cassara
This looks incredibly delicious. It’s the kind of cake my hubby just loves. I’ll try it!
Chef G
Hope you enjoy it!!
Lauren
This looks amazing! I pinned for later! 🙂
Chef G
It’s so easy….and so good…enjoy!!
Tisha
I love banana cakes and this recipe sounds easy to make.Thank you so much for sharing!
Chef G
It is easy….and sooooo good!!
Heather @ The Nerdy Fox
Banana glaze too! Yum!
Chef G
That’s the best part!!
Anna Prokofieva
Found all ingredients in the cupboard! Will make it today for sure) Will go well with my craving for carbs today! Thanks for the recipe!
Chef G
You’re welcome….ENJOY!!
Erin @ Thanks for Cookin'!
I love that the frosting is banana, too! Yum!
Chef G
Yes…I think it is the BEST part!!
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat.
This banana cake looks fantastic! You can’t go wrong with bananas and chocolate! And desserts from childhood are always the best right?!
Chef G
Thanks. We really like it … and yes childhood desserts are great!!
Old Fat Guy
Th is looks like a great cake and it is nice it brings back memories.
Th Fat Old Guy
Chef G
Yes the cake is really good. Sometimes the simple the better. It’s nice to remember someone in such a special way.