Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

If you’re on the hunt for a treat that effortlessly bridges cozy nostalgia with indulgent sweetness, this Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is everything your dessert dreams are made of. Imagine the classic charm of banana bread, but transformed into a sumptuous, tender cake crowned with silky cream cheese frosting. Every bite delivers a pleasing balance of moist banana-rich crumb and creamy tang, perfect for family gatherings, brunch, or satisfying your own sweet tooth. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or simply want to make an ordinary day feel extraordinary, this keyphrase takes humble bananas to celebration-worthy heights.

this Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe transforms everyday pantry staples into something truly special. Each ingredient in Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting not only enhances the flavor, but also guarantees that unmistakably soft, luscious texture and a creamy finish you’ll crave bite after bite.

• Ripe Bananas: The more speckled, the better—ripe bananas lend natural sweetness and unrivaled moisture.
• Unsalted Butter: Softened butter adds rich flavor and creates that tender, melt-in-your-mouth crumb.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps make it deliciously light.
• Large Eggs: Eggs provide structure and stability to the cake.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the banana flavor and adds a comforting aroma.
• Sour Cream: Brings extra richness and ensures the cake stays moist for days.
• All-Purpose Flour: The classic base that gives the cake its form and substance.
• Baking Soda: Allows the cake to rise beautifully and keeps it fluffy.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and deepens the flavors.
• Cream Cheese (softened): The major player in a luxurious, tangy-sweet frosting.
• More Unsalted Butter (softened): Makes the frosting ultra-smooth and spreadable.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting without any grittiness.
• Vanilla Extract (for frosting): Infuses the frosting with classic warmth and a dreamy scent.
• Milk: Just a splash brings the frosting to the perfect, creamy consistency for spreading.

How to Make Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Oven

Get your 9×13-inch baking dish ready with a light greasing, and set your oven to preheat at 350°F (175°C). This ensures even baking and a cake that releases with ease when you’re ready to serve.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture looks pale and fluffy—this is secret to the cake’s light texture.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Flavorings

Crack in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract, then invite the mashed ripe bananas and sour cream to the party, melding everything into a heavenly, creamy batter.

Step 4: Combine the Dry Ingredients

Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Slowly add the dry ingredients to your wet mixture, gently stirring just until you no longer see streaks of flour—overmixing is the enemy of a tender crumb!

Step 5: Bake the Cake

Pour the completed batter into your prepared pan and smooth the top. Slide it into the oven and bake for 30–35 minutes. Your house will smell like a bakery! Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.

Step 6: Cool Completely

Patience, friend! Let your cake cool entirely in the pan. This is especially important since the cream cheese frosting only spreads beautifully over a cool surface.

Step 7: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

While the cake cools, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until creamy. If it’s too thick, gradually mix in milk just until you reach a luscious, spreadable consistency.

Step 8: Frost and Serve

Slather the cooled cake with a generous layer of cream cheese frosting. Slice, serve, and revel in your homemade Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting—it’s all love on a plate.

How to Serve Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Garnishes

Dress up your Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting by scattering a handful of toasted walnuts or pecans on top, or add a dusting of cinnamon for warm color and cozy flavor. For a pretty finish, a few banana slices or a sprinkle of lemon zest work wonders, too!

Side Dishes

This cake is fabulous with a hot cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk. If you’re feeling fancy, a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a swirl of whipped cream will turn a simple slice into a full-on dessert experience.

Creative Ways to Present

You can serve Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting in squares on a rustic platter for a casual brunch. For special occasions, try cutting the cake into rounds or bar shapes, or layer pieces with frosting in individual jars for a charming, portable dessert.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Cover leftover Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting tightly and store in the refrigerator—it will stay moist and delicious for up to four days. The flavors even deepen after a night in the fridge, making day-two cake arguably the best treat of all.

Freezing

For longer storage, wrap individual, unfrosted cake slices in plastic wrap and pop them in a zip-top bag. Freeze for up to three months. Simply thaw at room temperature, then frost just before serving for the freshest taste and texture.

Reheating

To recapture that freshly-baked warmth, pop a slice (without frosting) in the microwave for about 10–15 seconds. Add frosting afterward and you’ll have that just-out-of-the-oven taste all over again.

FAQs

Can I use frozen bananas for the cake?

Absolutely! Thaw and drain any excess juice from the bananas before mashing. The added moisture might make the cake a touch softer, but the flavor remains outstanding for Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Can this recipe be made gluten-free?

Yes, substitute your favorite 1:1 gluten-free baking flour for the all-purpose flour. The texture may be slightly different, but the cake will retain its lovely banana essence and rich frosting.

What can I add to the batter for texture?

If you love a bit of crunch, fold in 1/2 cup of chopped toasted walnuts or pecans right into the batter just before baking, just as you would with classic banana bread.

Can I use a different pan size?

While a 9×13-inch pan is ideal for sheet cake style, you could bake this in two 8-inch cake rounds for a layered effect, or make cupcakes (adjust the baking time accordingly).

Is the frosting pipeable for decorations?

It sure is! If you want to decorate the Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting with swirls or rosettes, beat in a little extra powdered sugar to stiffen the frosting before loading up your piping bag.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve never tried Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, you’re in for a heartwarming treat that’s equal parts nostalgic and celebration-worthy. It’s the kind of recipe that’s sure to be requested again and again, so gather your ripe bananas and give it a go—you’ll be so glad you did!

Print