Easy Banana Cake with Brown Butter Maple Cream Cheese Frosting – just the recipe you were looking for to use up those ripe bananas! I hate throwing out extra ripe bananas and am always looking for ways to use them in baking. This cake is one of our favorites! Make sure to try these Chocolate Chip Banana Cookies and Double Chocolate Banana Applesauce Muffins the next time you have a few extra bananas lying around.
Banana Cake
Last Saturday we all walked through the front door after a grueling day at the pool. The boys had their first official swim meet of the season and we arrived at the pool at 6:45 a.m. and didn’t leave until after 3 p.m. Also…it was HOT.
I think we all felt completely wiped out after the long day and all I wanted to do was drink insane amounts of ice water. Both of the boys did exceptionally well at the meet and Reece’s relay team set a new record. That race was honestly the most exciting 1.13 minutes of my year.
Ripe Bananas Should NEVER Get Thrown Out… Repeat After Me
I walked in and a bunch of really ripe bananas were siting on the counter staring at me. Accusingly. Use us Trish, eat us.
I wasn’t feeling the idea of banana bread (for the first time in my life) and so took the night to think on it. We love baking with bananas. Whether it’s Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies or Chocolate Banana Applesauce Cake – bananas add a natural sweetness and moistness to all manner of baked goods. Not to mention the vitamins!
So what did we come up with?
Banana Cake y’all. Easy Banana Cake. With Brown Butter Maple Cream Cheese Frosting. Yes. That’s what needed to happen with those bananas.
How Many Bananas Do I Need?
Three! I started with my favorite banana bread recipe and started playing around with it to transform the “bread” into a “cake”.
It was a little bit tricky but I’m happy to say – I nailed it! Light and rich with banana flavor, this cake is incredibly moist due to the three bananas and brown sugar in the recipe.
Truth time. This cake you are looking at is three days old already. I waited to frost it the day that I photographed it but the cake is seriously three days old. And utterly amazing.
That wasn’t the plan, of course. It’s just been a busy, busy week as the boys finish up the school year: field trips, class parties, picnics, etc. And I like to be there for every.single.minute. Hence, cakes sit on the counter and wait. And wait. And are then promptly devoured.
Brown Butter Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
So let’s get to the best part about this cake…the frosting. Last week I made Brown Butter White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies and I’m still dreaming about them every night.
I seriously want to #brownbutterallthetthings.
This frosting is pretty much the greatest thing on earth. I made my Nana’s cream cheese frosting that I use on her carrot cake recipe but browned the butter first. And then added maple to that. My Nana would be so proud 🙂
Life changing. Promise.
Sweet and smooth and the perfect complement to this easy banana cake recipe.
How To Make Banana Cake At Home
This easy banana cake recipe is so easy to make and is a regular staple in our house. My recipe is for banana cake without buttermilk. It can even be enjoyed without the frosting!
- Preheat your oven and lightly spray the baking dish or line with parchment.
- Beat the bananas and butter together.
- Add in sugar and cream together.
- Mix in the vanilla and eggs until completely combined.
- Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl and gradually add the wet mixture stirring just until combined.
- Fold in optional chopped nuts.
- Bake for 23 to 27 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool completely.
More Cake Recipes To Try
- Orange Creamsicle Cake
- Cookies and Cream Oreo Cake
- Carrot Cake
- Texas Sheet Cake
- Chocolate Chip No Bake Cheesecake
How To Make Banana Cake
Easy Banana Snack Cake with Brown Butter Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Banana Cake
- 3 bananas
- 8 tbsp butter softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¾ cup chopped nuts optional
Brown Butter Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 tbsp butter
- 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
- 1 tsp maple extract
- 2½ cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup chopped nuts optional
Instructions
Banana Cake
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Lightly spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray or line with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Beat bananas and butter together in a large mixing bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Add the sugars and cream together with the butter and banana mixture.
- Mix in the vanilla and eggs, one at a time, mixing until completely combined.
- Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl and gradually add the wet mixture stirring just until combined.
- Fold in optional chopped nuts.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 23 to 27 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely.
Brown Butter Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
- Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally. The butter will start to foam and then start browning. You will be able to smell a nutty aroma when it's ready. Remove from heat and allow to cool for at least 30 minutes.
- Beat browned butter and cream cheese together until completely blended, light, and fluffy.
- Beat in the maple extract and powdered sugar, a half a cup at a time.
- Spread frosting onto cooled cake and sprinkle on chopped nuts if desired.
Nutrition
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chip a walden says
#4 says add sugars and cream, but the recipe has no cream listed.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
“Cream” is a process where two ingredients – usually butter and sugar – are mixed until “creamy”. In this case, it’s bananas, butter and sugar. Hope that helps!
Eve S. says
This is the BEST banana cake ever! The frosting is soooo amazing!!!!! A winner!!!
Christine says
Thank you, Trish, for this recipe. I made it today, and used a simple butter frosting. It was delicious an after dinner treat tonight. .
Thank you.
Michelle says
Absolutely a hit at my house!!
I love it!
Thank you for sharing!!