Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is light and fluffy with just the right amount of silky smooth frosting on top. If you have overripe bananas, this is the way to use them!

If you love this banana cake, here are a few more recipes you’ll have to make afterwards: banana bread bars, banana oatmeal cookies, or chocolate banana bread for something a little different (but still so delicious!)

Banana Cake Recipe

So I am pretty much the worst at judging how many bananas to buy. (And how many we’ll end up eating!) Either we run out too soon or have way too many that all seem to ripen at the same time. You can only eat so many bananas in a day and by the next day they’re too ripe… so I guess all that’s left to do is to make some yummy banana cake with cream cheese frosting!

This recipe is everything that makes banana bread great, but in sheet cake form! Super easy to make for a crowd, and always a hit. So grab those overripe bananas and get ready to make this easy cake that you won’t be able to stop eating!

Everything You’ll Need

Cake Ingredients

• Unsalted Butter: Adds richness, flavor, and moisture to the cake. (Plus, it gets browned to make it even more delicious!)
• Granulated Sugar & Brown Sugar: Both work to sweeten the banana cake.
• Eggs: Bind all the ingredients together!
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor of the cake.
• Sour Cream: Adds moisture and tanginess to the cake, and also helps to tenderize the crumb. Don’t skip it!
• Mashed Bananas: For sweetness, moisture, and banana flavor. Ripe and overripe bananas work best here!
• All-Purpose Flour: The main dry ingredient that provides structure to the banana cake.
• Baking Soda: Leavening agent that helps the banana cake rise.
• Salt: Just a little bit helps to balance all of the flavors.

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

• Unsalted Butter & Cream Cheese: These two make the base of the frosting, adding richness, creaminess, and structure.
• Vanilla Bean Paste: Flavors the frosting. You can also use pure vanilla extract as a substitute!
• Milk: Thins the frosting to a spreadable consistency.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the frosting and also makes it nice and smooth.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness of the frosting.

How to Make Banana Cake (and Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting!)

For the Cake:

1. Preheat Oven, Prepare Pan: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9×13 inch metal baking pan with pan spray, a spray with flour is best.
2. Brown the Butter: Add the butter to a small saucepan and melt over medium heat for 5-8 minutes until brown and fragrant. Remove from the heat and then let the butter cool to room temperature.
3. Banana Mixture: Add the browned butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar to a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until combined. Mix in the eggs and vanilla, followed by the sour cream and mashed bananas. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure everything is thoroughly combined. 
4. Combine With Dry Ingredients, Bake: Add the flour, baking soda, and salt and mix until combined. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 33-35 minutes, until the toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle of the cake.
5. Cool and Frost: Let the cake cool completely before frosting.

For the Frosting:

1. Cream Cheese Mixture: Beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth.
2. Mix in Remaining Ingredients: Add the vanilla bean paste, milk, powdered sugar, and salt and mix until combined and smooth.
3. Frost: Spread over the top of the cooled cake. Then top with sliced fresh bananas if desired and serve.