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Incredibly easy, incredibly good Banana Cake Recipe with a few fall twists. The addition of thick, creamy salted caramel frosting and amazing cookie topping will blow your friends and family away!
One thing I love more than a delicious dessert is a beautiful dessert – that is easy to make. Years ago while in college, I worked for a catering company whose philosophy was that food should look as good as it tastes.
It’s that job that led me on the journey to both my business and how I entertain today! Through the years I’ve embraced that philosophy without any formal training. It’s the little things!
Madeleines are the prettiest French inspired shell shaped cookie that take this Banana Cake over the top, both in looks and texture!
Love everything banana? Don’t miss my incredible Banana Bread and Bananas Foster.
Table of Contents
To Make This Banana Cake Recipe You Will Need:
- Butter
- Bananas
- Lemon juice
- Flour
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Buttermilk
- Powdered Sugar
- Caramel Sauce
How To Make Banana Cake
- Prep – Preheat oven to 275 degrees and grease baking dish.
- Brown Butter – In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat until it becomes nutty in flavor, brown in color and slightly foams. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Mash Banana – Meanwhile, combine mashed banana and lemon juice in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Combine Dry Ingredients – In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar – Combine butter, sugar, and vanilla in a mixing bow or mixer and beat in eggs one at a time.
- Add Dry to Wet – Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk, stir in banana mixture.
- Bake – Pour into greased cake pan reserving excess for an additional smaller cake or discarding. Bake 1 hour 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Freeze – Remove from oven and place cake in freezer for 45 minutes.
- Make Frosting – Meanwhile, in a mixer or mixing bowl, whip butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar. Blend in salted caramel sauce.
- Decorate the banana cake.
How To Decorate Your Cake
- Place your cooled cake onto a cake pedestal.
- Using an icing spatula and fresh salted caramel buttercream, smooth frosting onto cooled cake.
- In the center of your cake, drop a cup of bananas that have been sliced and tossed in lemon juice.
- Edge the cake with optional madeleines.
It’s Easy To Make Banana Cake From Scratch!
It’s so easy to make Banana Cake from scratch and it takes just 30 minutes hands-on time! Just like my Mandarin Orange Cake, you won’t regret the little extra effort.
This easy Banana Cake Recipe uses staple ingredients and buttermilk, which you can easily make if you don’t have any on hand with this easy trick! Buttermilk gives cake a soft texture with added body which makes this cake so thick and moist!
Banana Cake With Browned Butter
This Banana Cake Recipe is so amazing! It’s rich in flavor with a fun twist: the addition of browned butter. This gives it a more intense flavor and when topped with thick, creamy salted caramel frosting and madeleines, this cake stands out from the rest!
How to Store Banana Cake
If it’s not being served in the first 24 hours, refrigerate in an airtight container. Banana Cake can be frozen, however, fresh is always best!
How do you keep bananas from browning?
Dip or brush the banana slices in lemon, lime or pineapple juice to prevent browning.
Tips
- 1 1/2 c of bananas mashed is the equivalent to 3-4 bananas.
- If you can, use real vanilla extract rather than imitation – it’s so much better!
- Be sure to freeze the cake before decorating it.
- As always, grease your cake pan and bake in a pre-heated oven for the best results.
If you try this banana cake recipe, please come back to share using my 5 star rating in the comments below! Not only do I appreciate it, but I know readers do, too! For more easy recipes and simple living ideas, subscribe to my newsletter!
More Cake Recipes You’ll Love
- Donut Cake
- Strawberry Shortcake
- Apple Pound Cake
- Mandarin Orange Cake
- Pink Champagne Cupcakes
- Butterscotch Sheet Cake
Did you make this? Rate the recipe and tag me on social @julieblanner!
Banana Cake
Incredibly easy, incredibly good Banana Cake Recipe with a few fall twists – with thick, creamy salted caramel frosting.
Yield
Ingredients
- ¾ cup butter
- 1 ½ cups bananas mashed
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ¼ teaspoons salt
- 2 ⅛ cups white granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 3 eggs
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk
Salted Caramel Frosting
- 1 cup butter softened
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- ⅓ cup salted caramel sauce
Topping
- 1 cup bananas sliced, coated in lemon juice
- Donsuemor Madeleines
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
- In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat until it becomes nutty in flavor, brown in color and slightly foams. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Meanwhile, combine mashed banana and lemon juice in a small bowl. Set aside.
- In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- Combine butter, sugar, and vanilla in a mixing bow or mixer and beat in eggs one at a time.
- Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk, stir in banana mixture.
- Pour into greased cake pan {reserving excess for an additional smaller cake or discarding}.
- Bake 1 hour 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and place cake in freezer for 45 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a mixer or mixing bowl, whip butter until smooth.
- Gradually add powdered sugar. Blend in salted caramel sauce.
- Remove cake from freezer and flip cake pan onto a cake platter. Frost cake. Place bananas in the middle and line the outside edge with Donsuemor Madeleines.
Tips
1 1/2 c of bananas mashed is the equivalent to 3-4 bananas
If it’s not being served in the first 24 hours, refrigerate in an airtight container. Banana Cake can be frozen, however, fresh is always best!
If you can, use real vanilla extract rather than imitation – it’s so much better!
Be sure to freeze the cake before decorating it.
As always, grease your cake pan and bake in a pre-heated oven for the best results.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 620kcal (31%), Carbohydrates: 100g (33%), Protein: 5g (10%), Fat: 23g (35%), Saturated Fat: 14g (70%), Cholesterol: 92mg (31%), Sodium: 423mg (18%), Potassium: 174mg (5%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 72g (80%), Vitamin A: 773IU (15%), Vitamin C: 2mg (2%), Calcium: 48mg (5%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
Liz says
This cake sounds so good! And it’s beautiful too!
Cheryl says
This is absolutely my new favorite cake! It was incredibly moist! I took it to work and everyone raved about it! The salted caramel icing was creamy and paired well with the banana! Sharing this recipe with friends!
Jaide says
Your cake looks amazing!
Mallory Lanz says
Banana cake is one of my favorites. It’s so pretty too!
Erin v says
Wow! Julie you are the queen of elevating vintage desserts to a new (gorgeous!) level. This looks delicious!!! ?