Here it is! Some sweet mamas have been asking me how to turn my naturally-sweetened into a cake for their little ones’ birthdays. It took me several tries to get it just right, but today, I’m introducing you to Bold statement? Let me back it up.
This banana cake is fluffy, moist, tender and infused with banana flavor. It’s absolutely delicious on its own (it was adapted from banana bread, after all), but I couldn’t resist topping it with . I love this cake so much that it knocked my favorite local bakery’s chocolate cake down to second place.
I made this cake as a single layer for a zero-fuss, foolproof cake. It’s truly so easy to make. I whisked together the batter by hand, and whipped up the frosting with my hand mixer once the cake had cooled.
You can make this cake in a square baker if you’re serving up to nine people, or double it for a party. It also makes a great layer cake or cupcakes. See the final recipe notes for details.
No one will guess, but this cake is actually naturally sweetened with honey or maple syrup, and made entirely with whole grain flour. So, it’s more nutritiously redeeming than your average banana cake, although I’m not sure anything qualifies as “healthy” once it’s topped with cream cheese frosting.
My thoughts here? Special occasions call for special treats, and I love homemade cream cheese frosting. It’s definitely better than store-bought tubs of frosting, which are full of processed ingredients and preservatives. Did you know that you can out of organic cane sugar? That’s what I did for this cake.
If you’re interested in naturally-sweetened cream cheese frosting, you’re in luck, because I have a . You could also check out the coconut and pecan frosting on the German chocolate cake in (page 212). Or, spread slices of cake with almond butter and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. If you’re interested, for the cake without frosting.
To make this whole-grain cake fluffy and tender, I switched from whole wheat flour (too dense) to a mix of white whole wheat flour and whole wheat pastry flour (both are 100% whole wheat but made with white wheat berries, so they’re lighter in flavor and texture).
Look for those flours at a well-stocked grocery store, either in the bakery or health section. Trader Joe’s sells white whole wheat flour.
You can substitute all-purpose flour for the pastry flour if you can’t find it. Actually, you could make this cake entirely with all-purpose flour, if that’s all you have on hand.
For best results, it’s important to measure your flour properly. Here’s how to measure flour in cups using the “spoon and swoop” method:
Gently stir your flour with a large spoon to loosen it up.Spoon the flour into your measuring cup (don’t scoop it in!).
Overripe bananas make the best banana cake. If your bananas are underripe, you can actually speed-ripen them in the oven!
Here’s how: Preheat the oven 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up. Separate the bananas and bake them, unpeeled, on a baking sheet for 15 to 30 minutes, until they’re black on the outside and very tender inside. Let them cool before handling.
I can’t wait to hear how this cake turns out for you! I hope it’s a big hit at your next celebration. Please let me know how it turns out in the comments, and share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #cookieandkate.
Craving more banana-flavored baked goods? Check out my , , , and . View all of my .
★★★★★
4.9 from 107 reviews
This banana cake recipe is the best! It’s fluffy and moist, infused with banana flavor, and so easy to make. Topped with luscious cream cheese frosting, this banana cake will become your family’s favorite. Recipe yields one 9″ square or round cake; see final recipe note on how to double this recipe for a large 9×13″ cake or layer cake.
*Oil options: I love coconut oil here. I used unrefined coconut oil and can hardly taste it in the final product. Olive oil might lend an herbal note to the cake, if you’re into that (I tested with California Olive Ranch’s “Everyday” variety and couldn’t even taste it). Vegetable oil has a neutral flavor, but the average vegetable canola oil is highly processed, so I recommend using cold-pressed sunflower oil or grapeseed oil if possible.
Make it vegan: Use maple syrup instead of honey, replace the eggs with and choose non-dairy milk (I used almond milk) or water. Substitute vegan products in the frosting or use your favorite vegan frosting recipe.
Make it dairy free: Choose non-dairy milk (I used almond milk) or water. Substitute dairy-free products in the frosting or use your favorite dairy-free frosting recipe.
Make it egg free: Replace the eggs with .
Make it gluten free: Bob’s Red Mill’s gluten-free blend works well here. Do not substitute coconut flour (it’s never a suitable substitute for other flours).
Recommended equipment: I love and (those are affiliate links).
How to make a layer cake: This recipe as written makes one 9″ round cake, no timing adjustments needed. Double the recipe and divide the batter between two 9″ round cake pans (butter or oil and flour the pans first) for a two-tiered layer cake. Double the frosting, too.
How to make cupcakes: Divide the batter between 12 muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the cupcakes are golden on top and a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. See photo below.
How to make a large 9×13″ cake: Simply double the banana cake and frosting ingredients.
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our
See final recipe notes for instructions.
