Easy Banana Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting is our favorite banana cake recipe. It starts with a box cake mix but you would not know it because it tastes better than scratch cake.
Banana cake is my family’s favorite desserts. In fact it is our favorite way to eat bananas. This Easy Banana Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting is a take off from my late mother-in-law’s banana cake. My mother-in-law was a no nonsense kind of cook. She was one of nine children brought up during the depression and she was also the mother of six children. Betty would cook all of the family meals on a budget and she learned quickly what worked and what did not. Her banana cake became a family favorite and tradition.
It is a cheater cake but it tastes better than any banana cake I have ever had or made from scratch. So you ask what is a cheater cake. I call cakes that use a box mix with add ins cheater cakes. Let me tell you that there really is a place for these kind of cakes. They are quick to come together, amazingly dependable and are absolutely delicious.
Again I repeat myself, I have tried baking many banana cakes from scratch without even coming close to the deliciousness in this Easy Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. I have even proposed taste tests for family and friends and hands down every time this cake comes out the winner. This delicious beauty can be prepped and in the oven in about ten to fifteen minutes. The icing only takes about five minutes to whip up and tastes heavenly.
How to make Easy Banana Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting
Whisk together the dry ingredients; cake mix, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Add water, oil and eggs as directed on box. Stir in mashed bananas. Bake in greased pan. For the frosting cream butter and cream cheese. Beat in vanilla extract and powdered sugar. Ice cake when completely cooled. If desired top with chopped pecans. It is just that simple.
Tips for making this Easy Banana Cake!
- Always preheat your oven and bake the cake in the center of the oven.
- Grease and flour your baking dish well. I love Baker’s Joy which is a non stick baking spray with flour.
- Use over-ripe bananas. Brown mushy bananas make a more flavorful moist cake.
- If you really love cinnamon go hog wild and use a whole teaspoon.
- Experiment with different cake mixes like butter pecan and spice.
- Do not over-bake the cake. Start testing with the toothpick at 35 minutes.
- The frosting can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Other delicious banana recipes you will love!
Easy Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Banana Cake
- 1 box yellow cake mix I used Betty Crocker
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- Pinch of cloves
- Water oil and eggs (that are listed on the box)
- 3 large over-ripe bananas mashed about 1 1/2 cups
Cream Cheese Icing
- 1 box 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 6 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- Optional: 1/3 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9 x 13 pan.
- In large bowl whisk together dry box mix, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Add water, oil and eggs as directed on box. With mixer on medium speed or beat vigorously by hand for 2 minutes. Stir in mashed bananas.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
- In medium bowl using mixer cream butter and cream cheese. Beat in vanilla extract. Beat in powdered sugar about 1/2 cup at a time. Spread over cooled cake. If using top with chopped pecans.
- Store cake in refrigerator.
Video
Notes
- Always preheat your oven and bake the cake in the center of the oven.
- Grease and flour your baking dish well. I love Baker’s Joy which is a no stick baking spray with flour.
- Use over-ripe bananas. Brown mushy bananas make a more flavorful moist cake.
- If you really love cinnamon go hog wild and use a whole teaspoon.
- Experiment with different cake mixes like butter pecan and spice.
- Do not over-bake the cake. Start testing with the toothpick at 30 minutes.
- The frosting can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge.
Nutrition
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https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Dorothy
A box of cake mix once contained 18.5 oz . Then amount in box was changed to 15.25 oz. Today, I saw a box in the store that contained only 13.25 oz. For which size box is this recipe written, please?
Beth Pierce
You can use any of them. This recipe has some wiggle room to it.
Shane
Easy to make and a treat to eat! Made this twice now after my mom made this for dinner and she passed your recipe on to me. As the old school man of the house that bakes and cooks. This made me look like a pro in the kitchen to my wife!
Beth Pierce
That is great Shane! Glad I could help make you look like a pro! Keep it up!
barbara baskin
Made your cake today but added banana cream pudding mix and walnuts to the cake. It came out so moist and delicious.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Barbara! Thanks for the tips on the pudding mix.
Rebecca Whiting
I have made this several times for our Community Center’s lunches. It is always a hit. I use spice cake mixes and don’t change anything else about the recipe! Delicious!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much, Rebecca! I am so glad that you like the banana cake!
Joan
For high altitude read the box instructions at the bottom for high altitude
Cherise Lane
Hi there!
I live at a high altitude and have a heck of time baking things, they rarely come out moist and fluffy. Any idea if any tweaks are needed for this recipe for someone at high altitude? Thanks in advance!
Beth Pierce
Not sure since I do not live at high altitude. Let’s hope the readers have some good ideas.
Annette
Hi there I live in a high altitude area, I followed the recipe exactly and it was PERFECT!!
Beth Pierce
Glad it worked out for you, Annette!
Rudi Hill
This is the absolute best banana cake EVER!!!
The End.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Rudi! Best comment ever!
Eddie
Agreed! I’ve made many times & Husband and I love it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Eddie! I am glad that you and your husband like it!
Laura
Holy Cow!! This is one of the best cake recipes I have ever made. Full of flavor and beyond moist. Thank you so much for sharing. This will forever be my go to from now on!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Laura! So glad that you liked it! We love it too!!
Dena Daisa
Hi. We are just days away from Thanksgiving 2021! Was wondering how long I can store this recipe in the fridge before Thanksgiving day…? TIA and Happy Holidays!
Beth Pierce
Happy Thanksgiving to you! Make the cake portion up to two days in advance. Then I would make the frosting and frost the cake no more than a day in advance. Store both steps in the fridge.
Julie
This is the best banana cake EVER!! It really does live up to its name…EASY Banana Cake! I do add 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans to the batter and I toast all the pecans for both the cake and topping. Also, I double the spices just because I like them. I made this cake 3 times in one month for a variety of occasions. It’s been a hit and I’ve been asked for the recipe more than once!! Thank you!
Beth Pierce
That is awesome! Thanks so much Julie! So glad that you liked it! 😉
Vee
What do you suggest “bakers” do to get great results since the cake mixes on the grocery shelves are now packaged in 15.25 oz. size and no longer 16.25 oz.?
Beth Pierce
Honestly I think it will be just fine. That is such a small difference when it comes to a cake.
Michelle Flory
Can I make this as a 2 or 3 layer birthday cake? As it needs to be on the lighter side should I use just 2 bananas?
Beth Pierce
Yes you can make this into a layer cake. You might need to 1 1/2 times the frosting. I am not sure what you mean by it needs to be on the lighter side?
Madeline A Ferdinardo
Can I use white cake mix
Beth Pierce
Yes you can.
Shashi
Yum – such a tasty and well flavored banana cake – cannot wait to try a slice with a hot cup of tea.
Maria
Banana cakes are one of my absolute favorites! This recipe is a great way to level it up!
Jen
Yum! We love bananas here and I can’t wait to make this! My family is going to love this recipe! So excited!
Toni
This is SO good!! Always a hit at my house!