Name: Banana Dessert Recipes: Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2-3 bananas); 1/2 cup buttermilk; 8 ounces cream cheese, softened; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting); 4 cups confectioners’ sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)

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Bananas have a funny way of sneaking onto the counter, ripening faster than we expect. I always think I’ll eat them all in time, but then two or three sit there, brown-spotted and waiting. That’s when this cake comes in, like a rescue mission with butter, sugar, and a little love. It’s sweet but not too sweet, soft in the middle, and covered in a cream cheese frosting that feels like it could fix a bad day. I baked this banana cake one rainy Saturday when I was feeling restless. The smell filled the kitchen, and for a second, I forgot about the weather. Every bite brought back memories of family gatherings, where banana recipes were always a quiet favorite. A slice of this cake with a cup of coffee feels like the kind of comfort we all need now and then. This is more than dessert. It’s a way to make use of fruit you thought was too far gone, and it proves that simple ingredients can still surprise you. If you’ve ever wished for a banana cream cake recipe that’s easy, reliable, and made with heart, this one’s for you.

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

1) Key Takeaways

This banana cake turns ripe bananas into something wonderful.
The cream cheese frosting brings balance and tang.
It’s easy enough for weeknights yet special enough for gatherings.
A reliable recipe from Elena at Elena Cooks.

2) Easy Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

I’ve baked a lot of banana desserts, but this cake sits at the top. The texture stays soft, the flavor hits just right, and the frosting? Let’s just say no crumb is left behind. When you hear “banana dessert recipes,” this one deserves a place in the conversation, right alongside the classics.

On days when bananas ripen faster than I can eat them, this cake becomes my go-to. It’s the kind of recipe that takes everyday fruit and transforms it into comfort on a plate. I like to think of it as banana bread’s elegant cousin who shows up with cream cheese frosting as her signature accessory.

Elena Cooks was created for recipes like this. Simple, honest, and made to share. That’s why this banana cake isn’t just about taste. It’s about using what you have, baking with intention, and feeling proud when you serve it.

3) Ingredients for Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

All-purpose flour: Provides the structure and helps the cake hold together.

Baking soda: Gives the batter a lift so the cake feels light instead of heavy.

Salt: A small pinch makes the sweetness stand out more.

Butter: Softened butter blends smoothly and adds richness to every bite.

Sugar: Creates sweetness and helps with that lovely tender crumb.

Eggs: Bind the ingredients and make the cake rise evenly in the oven.

Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and ties the banana flavor together.

Ripe bananas: The stars here, mashed until smooth, adding flavor and moisture.

Buttermilk: Brings a slight tang and keeps the cake soft and balanced.

Cream cheese: Blends with butter for the frosting, tangy and smooth.

Confectioners’ sugar: Sweetens the frosting without grittiness.

Vanilla extract (frosting): A finishing touch that makes the frosting sing.

4) How to Make Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×13 pan with a light coat of butter and flour.

Step 2. In one bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt until combined.

Step 3. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until they turn light. Add the eggs one at a time and stir in vanilla.

Step 4. Mix in the mashed bananas until the batter looks smooth.

Step 5. Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour. Don’t overmix.

Step 6. Pour the batter into the pan, spread evenly, and bake 30 to 35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

Step 7. Cool the cake fully before you frost it.

Step 8. For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add sugar gradually, then stir in vanilla. Spread over cooled cake.

5) Tips for Making Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ripe bananas matter more than you think. The darker the peel, the stronger the flavor in the cake. If yours look too far gone, they’re perfect for this recipe.

Use room temperature butter and cream cheese. Cold ingredients don’t blend as well and leave lumps behind in your frosting. A little patience saves you a lot of trouble.

Check the cake early. Ovens differ, and pulling it out when it’s just baked keeps it soft. Dry cake has no place here, not in banana dessert recipes, not anywhere.

6) Making Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Ahead of Time

I’ve found this cake actually improves when it sits overnight. The flavors settle, the frosting firms up, and the slices cut cleaner the next day. If you’re planning a gathering, bake it the evening before and frost when it cools.

Wrap the cake tightly in foil or plastic to keep it fresh. I store the frosting separately if I need to travel with it, then frost before serving. It saves the cake from smudges and keeps the presentation neat.

Sometimes I even bake the layers as cupcakes. They’re easier to transport, and the same batter works perfectly. It proves banana dessert recipes can be flexible without losing charm.

7) Storing Leftover Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Leftovers rarely last long, but when they do, I keep them in the fridge. Cover the pan with foil or place slices in an airtight container. The cool air helps the frosting stay firm and the flavor stay fresh.

If you want that just-baked softness again, let a slice sit at room temperature for about twenty minutes. It takes the chill off without losing the frosting’s shape. It feels like bringing the cake back to life.

Stored properly, this banana cream cake recipe holds well for four to five days. After that, the texture shifts, and the frosting loses its edge. Not that it ever lasts that long here.

8) Try these Desserts next!

9) Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting