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Ultimate Banana Cake

Featured in Sweet Treats and Baked Favorites.

This moist banana cake brings ripe bananas and applesauce together for softness, crowned by creamy buttercream frosting. Walnuts add optional crunch for a great treat.

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Aisha
Updated on Thu, 20 Mar 2025 20:34:55 GMT
A teal plate holding a banana cake slice with frosting and banana slices, with a blurred banana visible in the background. Pin it
A teal plate holding a banana cake slice with frosting and banana slices, with a blurred banana visible in the background. | cookingflavor.com

Turn those spotty bananas into something magical with this show-stopping banana cake. It's packed with juicy fruit flavor, studded with crunchy walnuts, and slathered in velvety buttercream. The result? A super moist, spice-infused treat that'll have friends begging for your secret. This homemade delight works for birthdays, potlucks, or just because it's Tuesday!

What Makes This So Good

This cake hits all the right notes - it's incredibly moist, bursting with banana goodness, and doesn't need fancy techniques. The warm cinnamon and nutmeg create that cozy feeling with each bite, while the smooth buttercream takes it to another level. You don't need to be a pro baker to nail this one. Even first-timers get amazing results! And it's so flexible - you can turn the batter into cute cupcakes or a party-sized sheet cake when you've got more mouths to feed.

What You'll Need

  • All-Purpose Flour: Gives your cake that soft, delicate texture.
  • Baking Soda and Baking Powder: The dynamic duo that makes your cake light and airy.
  • Salt: Wakes up all the other flavors in your cake.
  • Cinnamon and Nutmeg: Bring that cozy, warm kick to complement the bananas.
  • Granulated Sugar: Balances the banana flavor with just-right sweetness.
  • Oil: The secret to a cake that stays moist for days.
  • Unsweetened Applesauce: Sneaky little add-in that boosts moisture without extra fat.
  • Eggs: Work as the glue that holds everything together nicely.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds that background magic to both cake and frosting.
  • Overripe Bananas: The browner the better - they'll mash up for maximum flavor punch.
  • Butter, Powdered Sugar, and Heavy Cream: Come together for that dreamy topping you can't resist.
  • Chopped Walnuts: Throw these on top if you want that extra bit of crunch.

Putting The Cake Together

Get Your Oven Ready
Start by warming your oven to 325°F (165°C) and get your 8x8-inch pan ready with a spray of non-stick or a paper liner.
Handle The Dry Stuff
Grab a big bowl and mix your flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg together. Push it aside for now.
Work On The Wet Mix
In another bowl, beat together sugar, oil, and applesauce. Drop in your eggs, vanilla, and mashed bananas, mixing just enough to bring everything together.
Finish And Bake
Gently add the dry bowl to the wet bowl, stirring until barely mixed. Pour everything into your pan and bake around 25-30 minutes. Check it with a toothpick - when it comes out clean, you're good! Let it cool completely before you add any frosting.

Whipping Up Your Frosting

Melt Your Butter
Grab a small pot and melt your butter over medium heat. Want extra flavor? Keep cooking until it turns golden and smells nutty. Then let it cool down to room temp.
Create The Topping
Get your mixer going and beat the cooled butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream together. Keep going until it's smooth and fluffy. Too thick? Add a splash more cream. Too thin? Toss in some extra powdered sugar.
A slice of banana cake topped with banana slices and creamy frosting sits on a plate, with additional bananas blurred in the background. Pin it
A slice of banana cake topped with banana slices and creamy frosting sits on a plate, with additional bananas blurred in the background. | cookingflavor.com

Adding The Final Touches

Once your cake has cooled down, spread that luscious buttercream all over the top. Scatter some chopped walnuts across the surface for a bit of crunch and fancy look. Cut it into squares when you're ready to serve. This beauty doesn't just taste amazing - it looks gorgeous on the table and will definitely be the star of any get-together.

Keeping It Fresh

Got leftovers? Keep them in a sealed container at room temp and they'll stay good for about 3 days. Want to save some for later? Wrap single pieces in plastic and pop them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Planning ahead? You can bake the cake early, wrap it tight, and stick it in the fridge. Just wait to add the frosting until right before you serve it so everything tastes super fresh.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What kind of bananas work best?

Use bananas that are overripe, with lots of brown spots. They’re sweeter and mash up easily, which makes for a moist, flavorful cake.

→ Can I leave out the applesauce?

Applesauce locks in the moisture and reduces oil. If needed, sub the same amount with oil, but expect a slight texture change.

→ What’s the best way to store it?

Keep the frosted cake in a sealed container at room temp for 2 to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate it and enjoy within a week.

→ Is it okay to prep this in advance?

You can bake the cake a day early. Just hold off on frosting until right before serving—it’ll taste fresher.

→ Why mix dry and wet ingredients apart?

Dry components mix evenly this way, and combining them with wet ingredients step by step keeps the batter smooth and prevents overworking.

Banana Cake Buttercream

Fluffy banana cake made with applesauce and ripe bananas, finished with buttery frosting and optional walnuts for texture.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
30 Minutes
Total Time
45 Minutes
By: Aicha

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 9 Servings (1 8-inch square cake)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 1 large cup plus another half of flour.
02 A pinch under a teaspoon of baking soda.
03 A quarter teaspoon of baking powder.
04 About 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
05 A dash of cinnamon—about 1/4 teaspoon.
06 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg for a mild spicy kick.
07 1 cup plain white sugar.
08 1/4 cup avocado or vegetable oil (whichever you've got).
09 1/4 cup unflavored applesauce for moisture.
10 2 whole eggs.
11 Two teaspoons of vanilla for that sweet aroma.
12 2 bananas, mashed smooth.
13 1/4 cup of butter.
14 A small splash of vanilla—half a teaspoon.
15 1 cup powdered sugar (for frosting).
16 1 tablespoon rich heavy cream.
17 1/4 cup of optional walnut bits for crunch.

Instructions

Step 01

Turn on your oven to 325° F. Spray an 8x8 pan generously with nonstick spray, then set aside out of the way.

Step 02

In a big bowl, toss together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir until well blended. Put it aside.

Step 03

Grab another bowl and start mixing sugar, oil, and applesauce using a hand or stand mixer. Add your eggs, vanilla, and bananas, then mix gently until just combined.

Step 04

Gradually mix the dry stuff into the wet, stirring just enough until blended. Pour into your prepared pan and bake for 25–30 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick; it should come out clean. Let it cool entirely.

Step 05

Melt butter in a small pot over medium heat. Once melted, take it off the heat quickly and transfer it into a different dish. Let it cool down fully.

Step 06

In a small bowl, whip together the cooled melted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream until smooth and fluffy. Use a hand or stand mixer for this.

Step 07

Spread that frosting over your completely cooled cake. Top with walnut pieces if you like. Slice into squares and dig in!

Notes

  1. Keep in an airtight container until you're ready to eat it.

Tools You'll Need

  • 8x8 square pan.
  • Hand or stand mixer.
  • Small pot.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Eggs.
  • Dairy.
  • Wheat.
  • Tree nuts—walnuts, if used.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 388
  • Total Fat: 15 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 59 g
  • Protein: 4 g