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.
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours
You know I very rarely make banana cake as all my bananas make their way into the freezer for smoothies.
I love this recipe and that glaze! Time to make banana cake.
Chef G
I have used frozen bananas for this cake…they work too!!
Renee@Renee's Kitchen Adventures
I just so happen to have some ripe bananas I need to use up today. I’m so glad I found this recipe!
Chef G
Well I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Platter Talk
Amazing and so simple! Thanks for this yummy banana dessert, our kids will LOVE!
Chef G
My kids do….and they are adults!!
Mark, CompassandFork
Banana cake is an old favorite, that’s for sure. I like the use of the banan in the glaze as well.
Chef G
That is our favourite part too…and that was my fav as a kid!!
Sandhya
Banana cake is one of my favorites and yours looks scrumptious!
Chef G
Ours too….can’t keep it around long in this house.
Christie
I love that you have banana in the glaze too.
Chef G
YES that is the best part!!
Christine
That glaze!! is totally going on my next banana bread! 🙂
Chef G
Awesome…..enjoy!!
munchies and munchkins
Oh I love banana bread/cake. We make it a lot here.. I’ve been known to leave bananas go bad just to make some. Always on the hunt for new recipes and this looks great!
Chef G
Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Sherri @ Watch Learn Eat
Not only does the cake look delicious, but that icing sounds incredible! And the addition of the chocolate drizzle- oh, I think I’m drooling! 🙂
Chef G
The icing is the best part!!
Bella B (xoxoBella)
I love banana bread so I will have to try this one day. I really like how you decorated the top of it.
Chef G
Thanks!!
AiPing | Curious Nut
Ohhhhhhh yum! That looks like something I want to dig in right NOW! I’ll take a piece… or two please.
Chef G
If I could send it to you I would!!
Angela @thechewylife
Look at that deliciousness 🙂 I agree, the simple things are sometimes the most scrumptious!
Chef G
So true!!
Meaghan
Looks like we were both on the banana train this week 😉 This cake looks delicious. I don’t think I have ever had a banana cake before. I am definitely going to give this recipe I try. Thanks for sharing your recipe and memories G!
Chef G
Aw thanks Meaghan….hope you try it!!
Dee
I’ve never made a banana cake before, although we make banana bread all the time. This sounds delicious, so I’ll have to try it! 🙂
Chef G
Well if you like banana bread you should love the cake…the glaze is the best part.
Julia (@Imagelicious)
I love hoe the glaze has banana in it too, thus making the cake doubly delicious!!
Chef G
So true Julia!!