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๐Ÿ Home ยป Recipes ยป Dessert Recipes

Banana Cake with Walnuts

Updated: Oct 30, 2023 ยท Published: Dec 19, 2022 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan ยท 8 Comments

Jump to Recipe
Time: 55 minutes mins

Delicious Banana Cake is moist and tender, bursting with the flavor of bananas and the crunch of walnuts. Take it up a level with the simple cream cheese frosting. It's easy to make in less than an hour with these step-by-step photo instructions.

๐ŸŒIngredients

  • Bananasโ€”Three, as ripe as possible
  • Flourโ€”Use all-purpose (AP) flour. Optionalโ€”Sifted or run through a large fine mesh strainer.
  • Buttermilkโ€”Fresh or dry buttermilk will work. Substitute with โ…” cup of milk and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice or vinegarโ€”set for 5-10 minutes before use.
  • Baking Powderโ€”Use aluminum-free
  • Walnutsโ€”chopped. Skip or other nuts like pecans or almonds may be used.
  • Other Pantry Ingredientsโ€”Salt, eggs, baking soda, white sugar, and powdered sugar.
  • Butterโ€”Room temperature for frosting
  • Cream Cheeseโ€”Room temperature
  • Vanilla Extractโ€”Try to use real not imitation, vanilla extract
banana nut cake on fork.
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Jump To (scroll for more)
  • ๐ŸŒIngredients
  • ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to Make Banana Cake
  • โฌ‡๏ธHow to make this a "for two" friendly recipe
  • โ„๏ธStorage
  • โ“FAQs
  • Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
  • ๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions

Featured comment from Patty C:
"Made this tonightโ€ฆI have to rate this one a solid 5! Thanks Dr D!"

Banana nut cake is super moist, tender, and delicious. An easy-to-make recipe in less than an hour without special ingredients. It is an excellent solution to the "what to do with overripe banana" issue.

The perfect cake for when you need to "take a dish" or the family is coming for dinner. Or adjust to a "for two" half size or make a layer cake. Add the easy optional cream cheese frosting for a touch of decadent goodness.

This is a family recipe from a family friend (thanks, Janet). I have learned to accept gifts of this type.

Check out some other recipes for those leftover bananas. Start with a classic Betty Crocker Banana Bread, but don't miss the Banana Pancake, Banana Nut Cookies, or some great Banana Nut Muffins.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to Make Banana Cake

  1. With a stand or hand mixer, cream butter, and sugar, then blend in eggs.
  2. Combine flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and mash 3 over-ripe bananas.
  3. Combine half the flour mixture, some buttermilk, and the mashed bananas into the creamed butter mixture. After mixing, add the remainder of the ingredients and combine thoroughly.
  4. Fold in the chopped walnuts.
  5. Pour the batter into a prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for about 40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cream Cheese Frosting (optional)

  1. Rest the cream cheese and butter at room temperature to soften.
  2. With a mixer, combine cream cheese, butter, and vanilla.
  3. Slowly add powdered sugar while continuing to beat.
  4. Frost the cake when cooled. Sprinkle some nuts on top.

This is a summary of the steps and ingredients. See the recipe card or the step-by-step photo instructions below for complete instructions.

โฌ‡๏ธHow to make this a "for two" friendly recipe

This is a recipe for a regular 9X13-inch cake pan. And it won't disappoint.

But this is "cooking for two," and this is an easy recipe to cut in half. You will need to use a 9-inch round or 8-inch square cake pan. The baking time will decrease to about 30 minutes, but use the toothpick test.

It also makes an excellent layer cake with two round 9-inch pans and the optional cream cheese frosting.

โ„๏ธStorage

Without the frosting, this can be stored at room temperature for 3-4 days, tightly covered. With the frosting, it should be refrigerated.

It will also freeze well for several months with or without the frosting.

โ“FAQs

What does sifting flour do?

When we sift flour, it breaks down any clumps and provides a fluffier result. It also helps mix other ingredients throughout the flour. It will improve the texture a bit. If you don't have an old-school flour sifter, you can get about the same effect using a large fine-mesh strainer.

Can you freeze bananas?

If you donโ€™t have time for over-ripe bananas now, peel and freeze for a few months until you are ready to bake bread, cake, or muffins.

Why do bananas turn brown?

As bananas ripen, enzymes convert some of the starch to sugar. This makes for great sweet banana bread, muffins, or even cakes.

Do cakes with cream cheese frosting need to be refrigerated?

Yes, due to the cream cheese.

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Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

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bananas and cake ingredients.

Preheat oven to 350ยฐ.

flour shifter over bowl.

In a large bowl, mix 2 ยฝ cups AP flour with 1 teaspoon salt, 1 ยฝ teaspoon baking powder, and 1 ยฝ teaspoon baking soda. Optional: Sift together, or you can use a large strainer or skip the sifting and just mix the dry ingredients. Set aside.

mashing 3 bananas in white bowl.

Mash 3 bananas (riper is better). Set aside.

butter and sugar in stand mixer.

Combine โ…” cup butter and 1 โ…“ cup sugarโ€”cream with a stand mixer or hand mixer.

adding banana to mixer.

With the mixer continuing to run, add two eggs. Add ยฝ of the flour mixture. โ…“ cup buttermilk. And the mashed bananas. Continue to beat until incorporated.

Add the remainder of the flour mixture and โ…“ cup more buttermilk. Add ยพ cup chopped walnuts and fold in well.

coating pan with flour.

Prep a 9 by 13 baking pan with a thin coat of butter and a light flour coat.

adding batter to pan.

Pour the batter into the pan and spread evenly.

toothpick coming out clean.

Bake for about 40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

banana nut cake on plate.

Optional Cream Cheese Frosting

beating cream cheese with sugar in a glass bowl with an electric mixer.

The cream cheese and the butter should rest at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes to soften.

Mix 8 oz of cream cheese, 8 tablespoons of butter (one stick), and 2 teaspoons of vanilla with a mixer. Slowly add 3 cups of powdered sugar while continuing to beat. You may need more powdered sugar or 1-2 teaspoons of milk to get your desired texture.

๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions

banana nut cake on fork

Banana Cake with Walnuts

4.34 from 21 votes
From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Delicious banana cake is moist and tender, bursting with the flavor of bananas and the crunch of walnuts. Take it up a level with the simple cream cheese frosting. It's easy to make in less than an hour with these step-by-step photo instructions.
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
Servings #/Adjustable :12 servings
Print | Pin | Email share | Like and save for later Saved!

Ingredients

US Customary - Convert to Metric
  • 2 ยฝ cup AP flour
  • 1 ยฝ teaspoon baking powder - aluminum-free
  • 1 ยฝ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • โ…” cup butter
  • 1 โ…“ cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • โ…” cup buttermilk
  • 3 over-ripe bananas - mashed
  • ยพ cup chopped walnuts

Optional Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 8 tablespoon butter - one stick
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • a bit more powder sugar or some milk - to get the right texture

Step-by-Step Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350ยฐ.
    bananas with eggs and other ingredients for banana cake
  • In a large bowl, mix 2 ยฝ cups AP flour with 1 teaspoon salt, 1 ยฝ teaspoon baking powder, and 1 ยฝ teaspoon baking soda. Optional: Sift together, or you can use a large strainer or skip the sifting and just mix the dry ingredients together. Set aside.
    flour in a sifter over a bowl
  • Mash 3 bananas (riper is better). Set aside.
    mashing bananas with a fork in a white bowl
  • Combine โ…” cup butter and 1 โ…“ cup sugarโ€”cream with a stand mixer or hand mixer.
    butter and sugar in stand mixer bowl
  • With the mixer continuing to run: Add two eggs. Add ยฝ of the flour mixture. โ…“ cup buttermilk. And the mashed bananas. Continue to beat until incorporated.
    Add the remainder of the flour mixture and โ…“ cup more buttermilk.ย  Add ยพ cup chopped walnuts and fold in well.
    adding mashed bananas to batter in mixer
  • Prep a 9 by 13 baking pan with a thin coat of butter and a light flour coat.
    coating cake pan with flour
  • Pour the batter into the pan and spread evenly.
    pouring batter into cake pan
  • Bake for about 40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
    toothpick coming out clean

Optional Cream Cheese Frosting

  • The cream cheese and the butter should rest at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes to soften.
    Mix 8 oz of cream cheese, 8 tablespoons of butter (one stick), and 2 teaspoons of vanilla with a mixer. Slowly add 3 cups of powdered sugar while continuing to beat. You may need more powdered sugar or 1-2 teaspoons of milk to get your desired texture.
    mixing cream cheese filling with mixer
  • Frost cake when cooled. Sprinkle some nuts on top.

Recipe Notes

Pro Tips

  1. This is a 9X13 cake pan recipe.
  2. It is easily cut in half for a 9-inch round or 8-inch square pan. It will take about 30 minutes to bake but use the toothpick test.
  3. Sifting the flour is optional but suggested.
  4. You can make a substitute for buttermilk with โ…” cups of milk and 2 teaspoons of vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit for 5 minutes before proceeding.
  5. The cream cheese frosting is optional but recommended.
  6. Without the frosting, this can be stored at room temperature for 3-4 days, tightly covered. With the frosting, it should be refrigerated for up to 4 days. It will also freeze well for several months.
  7. The serving size is 1/12 of a 9X13 pan - about 3X3 size (a big piece.)
  8. Nutrition includes optional cream cheese frosting.

Your Own Private Notes

Click here to save your own private notes only you will see. These will print and be saved for your next visit.

To adjust the recipe size:

You can adjust the number of servings above; however, only the amount in the ingredient list is adjusted, not the instructions.

Nutrition Estimate (may vary)

Calories : 631 kcal (32%)Carbohydrates : 87 g (29%)Protein : 7 g (14%)Fat : 30 g (46%)Saturated Fat : 16 g (80%)Cholesterol : 97 mg (32%)Sodium : 575 mg (24%)Potassium : 270 mg (8%)Fiber : 2 g (8%)Sugar : 62 g (69%)Vitamin A : 883 IU (18%)Vitamin C : 3 mg (4%)Calcium : 77 mg (8%)Iron : 2 mg (11%)

Originally Published, June 7, 2013. Updated with expanded options and discussion along with refreshed photos and table of contents.

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  1. Nan says

    July 12, 2023 at 1:37 pm

    I would like to use the buttermilk substitution using vinegar and almond milk as I have a friend who can not have milk. Has anyone tried it or do you think it would work?

    Reply
    • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says

      July 12, 2023 at 2:56 pm

      Hi Nan,

      Welcome to the blog.

      Substitute milk, like unsweetened and unflavored soy or almond, treated with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar per cup will work fine. Mix them and wait for 5 minutes before using.

      DrDan

  2. Claudi0 says

    January 05, 2021 at 2:38 pm

    5 stars
    In the ingredients you listed 2/3 cup chopped walnuts, but in the instructions you listed 3/4 cup. Either one works, just thought I'd let you know. I meant to bring this to your attention when I made it before and told you about the typo on the sugar amount back on 2-15-20.

    Reply
    • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says

      January 05, 2021 at 7:03 pm

      Thanks for the note/proofread. Fixed. My bad as they say.
      Dan

  3. Patty C says

    February 16, 2020 at 7:34 pm

    5 stars
    Made this tonight with some very ripe bananas I had laying on the counter. Very easy to make (I added the cream cheese as a bonus). I have to rate this one a solid 5! Thanks Dr D!

    Reply
  4. Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says

    February 15, 2020 at 7:53 pm

    Transcribed wrong...it is 1 1/3 cup. Fixed. Thanks for the proofread.
    Dan

    Reply
  5. Cyndy Simpkins Hugghins says

    June 27, 2017 at 5:26 pm

    Can a Bundt pan be used?

    Reply
    • DrDan says

      June 27, 2017 at 6:35 pm

      I don't have a bundt pan so I have never done it. I'm sure it's possible. Some bundt pans are huge and need about double this amount of cake. Also cooking time may be increased some. So the answer is I don't know.
      Dan

DrDan imageHi, I'm DrDan.
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