This Banana Cake is a delightful treat that combines the comforting flavors of ripe bananas with the sweetness of a classic cake. The result is a moist, tender, and irresistibly delicious dessert that’s perfect for any occasion.
Whether you’re hosting a party, looking for a sweet snack, or simply craving a homemade dessert, this Banana Cake is sure to satisfy. Its simplicity is its charm, making it a great recipe for both novice and experienced bakers. Serve it as is, or dress it up with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra special touch.
Table of contents
Best Banana Cake Recipe
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 ½ cups of milk
- 2 ½ tablespoons of lemon juice, divided
- 1 ⅓ cups of mashed bananas
- ⅔ cup of softened butter
- ½ cup of brown sugar
- 1 cup of white sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 3 cups of flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons of baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
For the Frosting:
- 8 ounces of cream cheese
- ⅓ cup of softened butter
- 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons of lemon zest (from about 1 lemon)
- 3 to 3 ½ cups of powdered sugar
Baking Instructions:
- Preparation: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
- Lemon Milk Mixture: In a measuring cup, combine 1 ½ tablespoons of lemon juice with milk to make 1 ½ cups. Set this aside.
- Banana Mixture: In a separate bowl, mix the mashed bananas with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Set this aside as well.
- Creaming Butter and Sugars: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Beat on high until the mixture is light and fluffy, resembling the texture of frosting.
- Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Combining Mixtures: Alternately add the flour mixture and the milk mixture to the egg mixture, stirring just until combined. Remember, overmixing is a no-no. Gently fold in the banana mixture.
- Baking the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Place it in the oven, then immediately reduce the heat to 300°F (150°C). Bake for 60 to 70 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. Be careful not to overbake.
- Moisture Lock: After baking, place the cake in the freezer for 45 minutes. This trick helps to lock in moisture. Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting.
For the Frosting:
- Creating the Frosting: In a bowl, cream together the butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Add in the lemon zest and juice.
- Final Touch: Gradually add powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency. Spread this luscious frosting over the cooled cake.
The Best Banana Cake FAQS
Jamie Oliver’s approach to banana cake often emphasizes simplicity and the use of ripe bananas for natural sweetness. While I don’t have his specific recipe, a typical Jamie Oliver-style banana cake would involve mashing ripe bananas and mixing them with wet ingredients like melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Dry ingredients like flour, sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt are then combined and mixed into the wet mixture. The batter is poured into a prepared cake tin and baked until golden and cooked through. Jamie often advocates for using wholesome ingredients and might suggest whole wheat flour or natural sweeteners as variations.
Nigella Lawson’s banana cake recipes are known for their rich flavor and moist texture. Her method usually involves creaming butter and sugar until fluffy before adding eggs and mashed bananas. Flour, baking soda, and sometimes a pinch of cinnamon are sifted and folded into the mixture. Nigella might also include unique ingredients like sour cream or buttermilk to enhance the cake’s moisture. The batter is then baked in a preheated oven until risen and golden. She often includes a decadent frosting or glaze to complement the cake.
Banana cake can be good for you for several reasons:Nutrient-Rich Bananas: Bananas are a great source of essential nutrients like potassium, vitamin C, and dietary fiber.
Energy Boosting: The natural sugars in bananas provide a quick energy boost.
Customizable: You can make banana cake healthier by reducing sugar, using whole grain flours, and incorporating nuts or seeds for added nutrients.
Lower Fat Options: Banana’s natural moisture allows for less butter or oil to be used in the recipe, reducing the overall fat content.
A banana cake might turn out less moist due to several factors:Underripe Bananas: Using bananas that aren’t ripe enough can result in less moisture and sweetness.
Overbaking: Baking the cake for too long can dry it out.
Incorrect Measurements: Not using enough wet ingredients (like bananas, butter, or eggs) can affect the cake’s moisture.
Mixing Method: Overmixing the batter can develop the gluten too much, leading to a denser, drier texture.
The Best Banana Cake
This Banana Cake is the ultimate comfort food dessert. Soft, moist, and packed with banana flavor – it’s a must-try! ????????
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 ½ cups of milk
- 2 ½ tablespoons of lemon juice, divided
- 1 ⅓ cups of mashed bananas
- ⅔ cup of softened butter
- ½ cup of brown sugar
- 1 cup of white sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 3 cups of flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons of baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
For the Frosting:
- 8 ounces of cream cheese
- ⅓ cup of softened butter
- 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons of lemon zest (from about 1 lemon)
- 3 to 3 ½ cups of powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preparation: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
- Lemon Milk Mixture: In a measuring cup, combine 1 ½ tablespoons of lemon juice with milk to make 1 ½ cups. Set this aside.
- Banana Mixture: In a separate bowl, mix the mashed bananas with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Set this aside as well.
- Creaming Butter and Sugars: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Beat on high until the mixture is light and fluffy, resembling the texture of frosting.
- Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Combining Mixtures: Alternately add the flour mixture and the milk mixture to the egg mixture, stirring just until combined. Remember, overmixing is a no-no. Gently fold in the banana mixture.
- Baking the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Place it in the oven, then immediately reduce the heat to 300°F (150°C). Bake for 60 to 70 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. Be careful not to overbake.
- Moisture Lock: After baking, place the cake in the freezer for 45 minutes. This trick helps to lock in moisture. Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting.
For the Frosting:
- Creating the Frosting: In a bowl, cream together the butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Add in the lemon zest and juice.
- Final Touch: Gradually add powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency. Spread this luscious frosting over the cooled cake.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: 330 kcal