Name: Banana Cake with Brown Butter Rum Frosting – Sweet Easy Recipes Cake
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 3 large ripe bananas, mashed; 3/4 cup buttermilk; 3 large eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted; 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar; 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 cup unsalted butter; 8 oz cream cheese, softened; 4 cups powdered sugar; 1 tablespoon dark rum (or milk); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; Pinch of salt

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I don’t want to sound dramatic, but this banana cake might be the reason I still believe in miracles. We’ve all been there—staring at a sad bunch of speckled bananas, wondering if we should toss them or turn them into something legendary. This cake is that something. Rich, tender, and slightly nostalgic. It’s what banana bread dreams of becoming when it grows up. And the frosting? Oh, you’re in for it. Brown butter and dark rum swirl into a creamy dream that’ll have you licking the spatula with zero shame. I’ve made this for birthdays, breakups, and random Tuesdays—it never fails. Whether you’re baking to impress or just to sneak bites straight from the fridge, this one earns its place in your go-to dessert lineup. So grab those bananas. Let’s make something that smells like heaven, tastes like comfort, and disappears way too fast.

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Banana Cake with Brown Butter Rum Frosting Recipe
3) Ingredients for Banana Cake with Brown Butter Rum Frosting
4) How to Make Banana Cake with Brown Butter Rum Frosting
5) Tips for Making Banana Cake with Brown Butter Rum Frosting
6) Making Banana Cake with Brown Butter Rum Frosting Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Banana Cake with Brown Butter Rum Frosting
8) Try these Desserts next!
9) Banana Cake with Brown Butter Rum Frosting
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

This banana cake is soft, fluffy, and full of real banana flavor
The browned butter rum frosting is rich, slightly nutty, and adds a grown-up twist
You can make this cake ahead and it stores well without drying out
Works great for family gatherings, holidays, or just… Tuesdays

2) Easy Banana Cake with Brown Butter Rum Frosting Recipe

Let me say this up front. I’ve eaten more banana cake than I probably should admit. This recipe, though, is one I’ll always stand behind. We all have those bananas we ignore until they look like a science experiment. That’s when the real magic begins. That’s when this sweet easy recipes cake shines.

The frosting? That’s where things go from good to ridiculously great. Brown butter isn’t just a step. It’s a moment. Add a splash of rum and cream cheese, and suddenly you’re frosting a cake, but it feels like frosting a celebration. We use simple pantry ingredients and familiar steps, but the result tastes like you tried way harder than you did.

Whether you’re baking to impress a dinner crowd, treat yourself on a Wednesday, or just because your bananas got too bold for oatmeal, this one is worth your attention. And yes, the sweet easy recipes desserts vibe really comes through.

3) Ingredients for Banana Cake with Brown Butter Rum Frosting

Ripe Bananas: You want them speckled and soft. The darker they look, the sweeter the cake turns out. Bananas this ripe are what bring that natural, mellow sweetness.

Buttermilk: It makes the cake incredibly tender and gives it a subtle tang that balances out the sugar and frosting richness.

Eggs: They pull the batter together and help the cake bake up fluffy instead of dense.

Vanilla Extract: Just a splash to bring all the cozy, familiar flavor notes together.

Butter: Melted and mixed right in. Keeps the crumb soft without making it greasy.

All-Purpose Flour: The base of our cake. Use the scoop-and-level method so it doesn’t get packed down.

Granulated Sugar & Brown Sugar: A mix of both gives a better depth of sweetness and flavor.

Baking Soda & Baking Powder: These keep things rising like they should. No one wants a sad flat cake.

Salt: Just enough to make everything else taste better. It’s the quiet hero.

Butter for Frosting: This gets browned, and that nutty smell will make you weak. Trust the process.

Cream Cheese: Softened so it blends well. Adds that tangy balance that keeps frosting from feeling heavy.

Powdered Sugar: The frosting base. Sift it if it’s clumpy for a smoother result.

Dark Rum: Optional but recommended. It deepens the flavor in a way that vanilla just can’t.

Vanilla Extract & Salt (again): Because frosting deserves good flavor too.

4) How to Make Banana Cake with Brown Butter Rum Frosting

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.

Step 2: In a large bowl, mash your bananas until mostly smooth. Stir in buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, and melted butter.

Step 3: In another bowl, mix together flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Step 4: Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Stir just until the batter comes together. Some lumps are fine, promise.

Step 5: Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Smooth it out and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 6: Let the cake cool completely before frosting it. No shortcuts. Warm cake plus soft frosting equals a sliding mess.

Step 7: For the frosting, brown the butter in a saucepan over medium heat until golden and nutty smelling. Let it cool a few minutes.

Step 8: Beat the brown butter with cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar, rum, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Beat until fluffy and glorious.

Step 9: Slather frosting generously over your cooled cake. Lick the spatula only after you’re done. Or don’t wait. I won’t tell.

5) Tips for Making Banana Cake with Brown Butter Rum Frosting

Use bananas that look borderline scary. That’s where the flavor lives. Fresh yellow bananas just won’t cut it here.

If your frosting looks too thick, add a spoonful of milk to thin it out. Don’t dump it in though—go slow. We want it spreadable, not runny.

You don’t have to use the rum. But if you have it, use it. Just a splash brings something special to the party. The kind of special that makes people ask for the recipe.

One more: sift your powdered sugar if it’s clumpy. You’ll thank yourself when you’re not battling little sugar lumps later.

This sweet easy recipes cake is friendly and flexible. Just treat the batter gently and let the ingredients shine.

6) Making Banana Cake with Brown Butter Rum Frosting Ahead of Time

This cake is a strong candidate for making ahead. Bake it the night before, let it cool completely, and wrap it up tight. Pop it in the fridge, then frost it the next day. Done.

If you’re prepping for a party, frost it early and refrigerate. Let it sit out for 15 minutes before slicing so the frosting softens slightly. It cuts cleaner and tastes better that way.

You can even freeze it. Wrap slices individually and pull them out when a sweet moment hits. It’s that good. That’s the beauty of sweet easy recipes desserts—ready when you need them.

7) Storing Leftover Banana Cake with Brown Butter Rum Frosting

Keep the leftover cake in an airtight container in the fridge. It stays soft and flavorful for several days. The frosting firms up, but a quick sit at room temp brings it back to spreadable perfection.

Got lots of leftovers? Wrap slices and freeze them. When you’re ready, just thaw and eat. It tastes fresh, even days later.

Trust me, this is one of those air fryer desserts easy recipes that doesn’t even need an air fryer. It’s easy to keep, easy to share, and still feels a bit like a small celebration in a pan.

8) Try these Desserts next!

9) Banana Cake with Brown Butter Rum Frosting