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Banana Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

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Ultra moist dense banana cake with a delicious cream cheese frosting. It’s a dessert that will have your family swooning and asking for more.

I don’t buy banana’s to eat them. I buy them to allow them to rest in my fruit bowl, and turn a lovely shade of brown with age spots!

banana cake with cream cheese frosting

Then I whip out my wand (also known as my whisk) and turn them into magically wonderful desserts removing any hint of healthiness! 

And that is why I am Officially known as “Goddess Divine”! The End! (I live in my own special world where unicorns prance in fields of cheesecake, and chocolate runs like water through the countryside!) 

Back to reality… with this stunning, and might I add…easy, fluffy moist Banana Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting! Completely made from scratch! Topped off with a silky smooth cream cheese frosting. It’s an amazing combination! 

I found the original recipe on Allrecipes.com (don’t want to take credit where credit isn’t due…unless it’s good things about my kids…then that was ALL me! Lol) and was intrigued because cools in the freezer for 45 minutes! I’ve made a couple of changes, just to add my own touch!

Slice of Cake

How To Make Banana Cake From Scratch

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Yup…this cake bakes at a very low temperature. 

Grease and flour a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.

TIP: I like to use Pam baking spray rather than greasing and flouring a pan. It’s easier. I used to use Baker’s Joy…but I hated how the nozzle always clogged. Haven’t had that issue with the Pam baking spray.

In a small bowl, Mash 2 large ripe “rescue” bananas and add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice to keep the bananas from turning brown. Mix well and set aside. (I’d keep an eye on it…you could have a banana murderer at your Nest too!)

bowl with mashed bananas

In a medium bowl add 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. 

Flour mixture in bowl

Use a wire whisk to mix together.

I’ve mentioned this in previous posts, but if you’re new to my Nest, welcome, and the reason to use a whisk… it replaces “sifting” the dry ingredients. Which removes any lumps in the flour and combines all the ingredients.

blending dry ingredients

In the bowl of your mixer, cream together 3/4 cup Buttah…got love butt-ah! (That’s where it goes…right to you Butt…AH!) and 2 1/8 cups of sugar until light and fluffy. 

creaming sugar and butter

Beat in the eggs one at a time. (It’s like a ride at Disneyland…we have to make sure every egg is safely on the ride!) You’ll notice my eggs did not heed the instructions and all jumped in at once! It was like eggs gone wild!

creamed sugar with eggs

Add in 2 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla. Beat in flour mixture… alternating with the buttermilk. Switching back and forth helps incorporate all the different ingredients.

Mixing flour into cake batter

Why Use Buttermilk in a Cake Recipe?

The short answer is it creates a moister cake! The long answer…it’s science. A slightly acidic batter, which buttermilk creates, helps keep baked goods moist and tender by breaking down long tough strands of gluten…(that gluten…just messing up lives since 2015! Sorry… I couldn’t resist!)  It also keeps fruit from turning color. 

adding buttermilk to cake batter

Stir the banana mixture into the cake batter. I only did two bananas because I wanted a more subtle banana flavor.  You could do three if you want a stronger banana flavor.

Adding bananas in cake batter

Pour batter into the prepared 9 x 13 baking pan.

Banana Cake in baking pan

Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

TIP: I will warn you there are special “senior” tips for making this cake.

Example…if you’re over 50, and you’ve put the cake in the oven…DO NOT FORGET you are baking a cake and go to town with your husband! If you are stupid silly enough to do that…cough…cough…be sure your college age son is at home to hear the timer go off so that he can text you to remind you that you’re an idiot and that you’ve left the house with a cake baking! This will solidify your suspicions of looking into an assisted living facility for those with early on-set dementia! 

removed cake from oven

Remove the cake from the oven and place directly into the freezer for 45 minutes! This will make the cake very moist!

It works too! In fact, it worked so well…that I tried it on my face…that didn’t work as well!

Cake cooking in freezer

While that cake is gaining extra moisture in the freezer…make your frosting! 

How To Make Silky Smooth Cream Cheese Frosting

In the bowl of your mixer, or a large bowl, cream 1/2 cup of softened butter with 8 ounces of softened cream cheese.

Cream cheese frosting

Mix until smooth. Add Confectioners sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.

mixing in sugar and vanilla into frosting

FROSTING TIP: For extra smooth and creamy frosting every time, use a wire whisk or sifter to sift your confectioners sugar BEFORE adding it to your creamed ingredients. It will remove any little nuggets of powder sugar and create a smooth fine powder.

whisking powder sugar

Beat on low-speed until well combined, then on high until frosting is smooth. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl, making sure all ingredients are incorporated.

cream cheese frosting

Spread frosting on cooled cake. Be sure cake is completely cool. If not leave in freezer a little longer.

frosting the cake

I love that you can just leave this cake in the baking dish. It doesn’t need to be super fancy with all kinds of layers and a cake plate! Makes taking it to gatherings or potlucks a breeze.

Spread the frosting creating a pattern across the top. Isn’t that pretty! 

frosting on cake

When ready to serve, cut cake into 12 even squares. Garnish with a banana you’ve hidden from the convicts!

slice of banana cake with cream cheese frosting

This cake is so moist it melts in your mouth! You can see how moist it is. It’s all thanks to the triple threat…banana’s, buttermilk, and cooling the cake in the freezer to lock in the steam that would normally escape as a cake cools.

The combination of the banana with the cream cheese frosting is spectacular!!! 

banana cake with cream cheese frosting

I can’t tell you how good this cake is. (I mean I should…it’s my job!) You’re just going to have to make your own incredible “rescue” Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and find out for yourself!

This is a great cake for a family gathering, reunions, potlucks, or a baby shower! It is firm and dense and holds up really well. It will keep for 5–6 days in the refrigerator or 2–3 days on the counter covered.

You may also like these other delicious cake recipes

I hope y’all enjoy this Banana Cake as much as we did!

Happy Nesting!

Photo of Norine and her signature.
Yield: 16 servings

Banana Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

Slice of Cake

A fluffy, ultra moist, scrumptious, made from scratch banana cake with a silky smooth cream cheese frosting.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Additional Time 45 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup soften butter
  • 2 1/8 cup white sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 2 - 3 large ripe bananas (use 3 for stronger banana flavor)

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 (8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
  • 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 x 13 inch pan. In a small bowl, mix mashed banana with lemon juice, set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.
  2. In the bowl of mixer, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 1/8 cups of sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Stir in banana mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan.
  3. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place directly into freezer for 45-60 minutes or until cake is cool. This will make the cake very moist.
  4. For the frosting: In bowl of mixer, cream 1/2 cup of butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add confectioners sugar that has been sifted, or whisked, to remove lumps. Add vanilla. Beat on low until combined. Then on high until frosting is smooth. Spread on cooled cake.

Notes

This cake cooks at a low temperature and cools in the freezer to create the ultimate moist banana cake.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1 slice

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 483Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 76mgSodium: 330mgCarbohydrates: 81gFiber: 2gSugar: 57gProtein: 5g

Norine’s Nest in no way provides any warranty, express or implied, towards the content of recipes in this website. It is the reader’s responsibility to determine the value and quality of any recipe or instructions provided for food preparation and to determine the nutritional value, if any, and safety of the preparation instructions

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Kathleen Roberto

Wednesday 18th of August 2021

Hi, Can this be baked in 8 or 9 inch round cake pans? I'd like to make it a layer cake. Thank you, Kathleen

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Thursday 19th of August 2021

Hi Kathleen! Yes! It can be made into a layered cake, just watch your bake times. Enjoy. I'm thinking of making this cake this weekend. I have lots of banana's begging to be made into this cake. lol Enjoy! Norine

Cindy

Saturday 21st of December 2019

I'm about to try this cake is it necessary to bake at 275? Don't see how it will be done on time usually takes an hour at 350 when I make banana cake why so low? Just checking never baked anything that low please let me know if I can bake at 350

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Saturday 21st of December 2019

Hi Cindy! I know it seems strange to bake this cake at a lower temp but the reason for doing this is that you are going to place that cake immediately in the Freezer. Higher temps going directly into a freezer can break the baking dish and cause issues with this recipe. You can certainly bake it at 350 and see how it turns out. I've always only made this cake exactly per the directions. Sometimes I have had to increase the bake times because of our altitude but it turns out so moist every single time. Freezing is key to this cake turning out head and shoulders above other banana cakes. I know some have told me at the lower temp it has take 90 minutes to bake. I've only ever had to go over by 10-15 minutes and only on rare occasions. Hope this helps. Have a Wonderful Christmas. Thanks so much for stopping by. Norine

TERESA

Sunday 10th of November 2019

I'm going 2 make this cake 4 our Thanksgiving 2019. My mouth is watering right now! I would love Yor carrot cake recipe & do you have a good date bar icebox recipe? Thank you

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Sunday 10th of November 2019

Hi Teresa! This is such a yummy cake and would be great for your Holiday meal! The link for the carrot cake is https://www.norinesnest.com/worlds-best-carrot-cake/ it's had hundreds of reviews and thousands of pins and is a favorite of my friends here at Norine's Nest. I hope you'll give it a try too. I do not have a good recipe for date bar icebox cake. I'm so sorry. You may want to go onto Facebook and ask in my recipe sharing group page "The Best of Your Nest". I'll be one of the many amazing cooks over there may have a recipe for you. Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting with me. I hope you love this cake as much as we do. Happy Holiday Season to you and your Nest! Happy Nesting! Norine

Sandy Braun

Wednesday 18th of September 2019

Took an hour and half to bake the cake. After putting the cake in the freezer it shrank down. I’m disappointed in how the cake turned out.

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Tuesday 24th of September 2019

Hi Sandy! I'm SO sorry this cake didn't turn out for you the way you expected it too. I'm a little baffled why it took so long to bake and why it shrank? Mine has never taken that long to bake and it never shrinks. I've made this cake a lot and never had any of those issues. It turns out perfect every time. So I feel really bad that it didn't work out for you. Thanks for stopping by and sharing with me though. Hope you have a good week. Norine

Ruth

Thursday 5th of September 2019

Is it Absolutely necessary to put the cake In the freezer right after baking ?

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Friday 6th of September 2019

Hi Ruth! It's not absolutely necessary...but I HIGHLY recommend it. This one step helps seal a ton of moisture into the cake and is one of the reasons this cake is so delicious. I've never skipped this step and find that I can whip up the frosting while the cake is cooling in the freezer. Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope you have a great weekend. ~Norine

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