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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Marcia
On my. I have white cake mix on hand. Do you think it will be good made with white mix? Thank you.
Beth Pierce
I am not sure. I have not tried it. Let us know if you do and how it turns out.
Mary
I made this using a gluten free yellow cake mix. I let the batter sit for 30 minutes before baking, as I usually do with a gluten free mix, and it turned out wonderful! Best GF banana cake ever! This will be my go to recipe from now on.
Beth Pierce
Awesome Mary! So glad that you liked it and that you were able to adapt it to your needs!!
Elizabeth V
My Mom just asked for a special cake request for her birthday next week. She wants banana cake with chocolate frosting. I would absolutely love to make it with the cream cheese frosting but I can’t say no to mom! How do you think this combo would turn out with your cake recipe?
Beth Pierce
I think it would taste great. I love the idea!
Liz
Can I bake this cake in a Bundt pan?
Beth Pierce
Yes you can as long as it is a standard bundt pan.
Megan
I’m planning on using your recipe to make banana cake for my son’s birthday. Any idea how many cups of batter this makes? Thanks!
Beth Pierce
I am not 100% sure however a 9×13 inch pan holds about 15 cups.
Megan
Made the cake today and it was delicious. The recipe made about 5 cups of batter, in case that helps anyone in the future. It made a two layer 8” round cake (with about 2” layers) for me. Thanks for the great recipe!
Jennifer k stepanek
This cake was perfection! I only had 2 very ripe bananas on hand, and no nutmeg. I used 1 tsp of cinnamon, and those were the only changes. My family loved it!
Beth Pierce
So glad that you and your family enjoyed it! We love it too!
Bonee
Have you ever added walnuts & chocolate chips to the recipe.
Beth Pierce
No but that sounds delicious. I would spray the chocolate chip with a little pam (nonstick baking spray) and coat with a little flour so they stay suspended and don’t sink.
Nancy
Anyone ever try it with a spice cake mix?
Nancy
My name is also Nancy and have a spice cake mix that was I wondering if it would go great. This comment make me do a double take?
Nancy
It worked great. I added a little extra banana as it seemed to need it (3 1/2 large or 4 medium). Yeah. I’m bad and tasted it before cooking. I’m a rebel. 🙂
Beth Pierce
LOL! What a rebel you are!
Rose
I made this banana cake for my family today and they absolutely loved it !! Thanks for the awesome recipe!!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome Rose. So glad that they liked it!!
Yaya
Made this last night, your recipe calls for 40 minutes of bake time. Mine was overcooked at 30 minutes. Any suggestions?
Beth Pierce
Sorry about the delayed response. I wonder if it could have something to do with the size of the bananas or the cake mix. I am going to add a note to the recipe.
Kaitelynn
I really liked this recipe! My dad requested a banana cake for his birthday this year and after reading through lots of recipes and comments I decided this was the best reviewed. The cake was a hit! Very moist and had a wonderful flavor! My only critique was it was more dense than I would prefer for cake. Any tips on how to make it less dense?
Thanks for sharing this great recipe.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome! Glad that you liked it and happy birthday to your Dad! Is it possible that it was over-mixed?