A Super Moist Banana Cake is a delightful dessert that’s soft, flavorful, and perfect for any occasion! It’s great for using up overripe bananas and will quickly become a family favorite. Here’s a simple recipe that ensures your banana cake is light, moist, and full of banana flavor.
🍌 Super Moist Banana Cake
✅ Ingredients (For an 8-inch cake)
For the Cake:
- 2–3 ripe bananas (about 1½ cups mashed)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream (or plain yogurt for a tangy twist)
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 tsp cinnamon (optional, for extra flavor)
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or chocolate chips (optional)
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 2½–3 cups powdered sugar (adjust to your preferred sweetness)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp milk (or as needed to adjust consistency)
🔪 Instructions
1. Prepare the Cake Batter:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8-inch round cake pan (or line with parchment paper).
- In a medium bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until smooth, leaving a few small chunks for texture if desired. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon (if using).
- In another bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3–4 minutes.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually fold in the mashed bananas, sour cream, and milk, mixing until smooth.
- Fold in the dry ingredients from the first bowl into the wet mixture in batches. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the cake dense.
- If you’re using walnuts or chocolate chips, gently fold them in at this stage.
2. Bake the Cake:
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
3. Make the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- While the cake is cooling, beat together the cream cheese and butter in a bowl until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until fluffy and well combined. Add vanilla extract and milk, adjusting the milk as needed to get a smooth, spreadable consistency.
- Taste and adjust sweetness by adding more powdered sugar if desired.
4. Assemble the Cake:
- Once the cake has completely cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting generously on top.
- You can decorate with extra chopped walnuts, a few banana slices, or a drizzle of caramel if you like!
🍽️ Serving Suggestions:
- Serve the cake on its own or with a dollop of whipped cream on the side for extra decadence.
- For a fun twist, serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.
💡 Tips for Moist Banana Cake:
- Use very ripe bananas with brown spots, as they are sweeter and more flavorful.
- Sour cream or yogurt adds moisture and tanginess to the cake, making it extra soft.
- Don’t overmix the batter; folding in the dry ingredients gently ensures the cake stays light and airy.
- If you want a healthier option, you can substitute the butter with coconut oil or applesauce, and reduce the sugar slightly.