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.
Linda Paluso
Please let me know what icing sugar is.
Thanks!
Linda
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Well…depending on what country you are in…it make also be called POWDERED SUGAR.
Trish Bozeman
This does look like the best banana cake ever! I just happen to have 3 very ripe bananas sitting right next to me on my counter as I type. Coincidence? I think NOT! I’m a sucker for banana and chocolate together. So this is a must make!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
You are in for a treat. Believe me, that cake will not last long…your family will devour it. ENJOY!
Tina
We always seem to have ripe bananas around the house, but you can only eat banana bread so many times before you start needing something different. I like the drizzle of the frosting, and this is fancy enough to take to my next office potluck. I’m betting everyone will be impressed.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I can eat this all day long. Hope you give this a try…it is a nice change from basic banana bread.
Jo
Seriously got to love a moist and soft banana cake, just like this one. Oh that glaze on top is so tempting me to try this cake recipe. Yummy
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give this recipe a try. You won’t be disappointed.
Linda
This cake and that chocolate drizzle make a perfect duet! No wonder it’s called the best banana cake ever.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Yes I totally agree. It is perfectly delicious.
Julie
I love a good banana cake, although saving enough bananas from the rest of my family is generally a challenge. Like banana bread but even better!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Well if I were you, I would buy extra bananas just to make this cake. Give it a try and see for yourself.
lauren
Oh how I wish I had a big slice of this and a glass of milk right now! This looks positively comforting and just the right sweet treat to end the weekend. I love that you switched it up and used a springform pan to elevate the recipe just a touch. Can’t wait to try this one.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Yes it does make the presentation much prettier for sure.
Anna
I always have some bananas reserved in my kitchen for banana bread, but after seeing this gorgeous and totally delicious banana cake, I think I’m gonna be using them for that instead! Great recipe, thank you for sharing!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
This cake NEVER lasts long in our house.
Amanda
The texture of this banana cake looks absolutely perfect! What a fantastic way to use ripe bananas (which we always seem to have in the kitchen!). I love those chocolate drizzles–chocolate and banana go together so well. Such a great switch from banana bread!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
It sure is an easy and delicious dessert that is welcomed by all.
Pearl Rodrigues
Oh Gloria .. Your recipes are always a treat. Love how you make simple recipes look so delicious and easy. This cake has the best texture and looks simple to make. Thanks for sharing !!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
You are very welcome. Sure hope you give this a try. It is super delicious.
Denise
This cake looks so moist and delicious! It is a versatile flavor as well, that all would love!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
It is a winner in our house for sure. Hope you give it a try.
Charity
Very pretty cake! It’s ama zing what a simple drizzle will do. I like that you made this cake in a Springform pan. So easy to pop out, I must admit that glass pans aren’t my favorite for cakes. They will do in a pinch but they can make cakes too brown. A good metal pan will provide a nice even heat.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Yes this is so simple and so delicious. It sure does not last long around here.
Sean
This looks AWESOME! I love banana breads and cakes, but they definitely need to hit that spot between cakey crumb and strong banana flavour. Looks like you’ve hit the nail on the head here. I’m also intrigued by this because I’ve personally always made banana bread without buttermilk, and I’m wondering how my family’s stand-by recipe will compare to this. I can imagine the impact this must have had on you when you first tried it for this to have become your one-and-only go-to – and I’m so glad you were able to get and share the recipe! Cheers.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Well I hope you give it a try and compare it to your recipe. NO buttermilk here either. The cake is moist and delicious.
Tracty
Yup. I want to put that glaze on EVERYTHING. I love love love banana cake and your recipe and that you put banana in the glaze! So smart! I can’t wait to make this for my banana loving family!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
The glaze is the BEST part…it is full of banana flavour.
Amanda
I just love how moist this banana cake is, and the chocolate drizzles adds the perfect finishing touch. I’ll be making this again and again. Thanks for sharing!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
You are welcome…so glad you enjoyed it.