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    🏠Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes

    Banana Cake with Walnuts

    Dec 19, 2022 · Modified: May 12, 2023 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · 7 Comments

    Recipe Table of Contents    
    4.34 from 21 votes

    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.

    banana nut cake on fork
    Jump To:
    • 🍌Ingredients
    • 👨‍🍳How to Make Banana Cake
    • ⬇️How to make this a "for two" friendly recipe
    • ❓FAQs
    • ❄️Storage
    • 🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
    • Recipe
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    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 Banana Nut Bread but don't miss the Banana Pancake, Banana Nut Cookies, or some great Banana Nut Muffins.

    🍌Ingredients

    • Bananas—Three, as ripe as possible
    • Flour—Use all-purpose (AP) flour. Optional—Sifted or run through a large fine mesh strainer.
    • Buttermilk—Fresh or dry buttermilk will work. Substitute with ⅔ cup of milk and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice or vinegar—set for 5-10 minutes before use.
    • Baking Powder—Use aluminum-free
    • Walnuts—chopped. Skip, or other nuts like pecans or almonds may be used.
    • Other Pantry Ingredients—Salt, eggs, baking soda, white sugar, and powdered sugar.
    • Butter—Room temperature for frosting
    • Cream Cheese—Room temperature
    • Vanilla Extract—Try to use real not imitation, vanilla extract

    👨‍🍳How 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. And 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.

    ⬇️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.

    ❓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 though out 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 don’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.

    ❄️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.

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    This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

    Dessert Recipes
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    🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

    bananas and cake ingredients

    Preheat oven to 350°.

    flour shifter over bowl

    In a large bowl, mix 2 ½ cups AP flour with 1 teaspoon salt, 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder, and 1 ½ 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.

    mashing 3 bananas in white bowl

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

    butter and sugar in stand mixer

    Combine ⅔ cup butter and 1 ⅓ cup sugar—cream with a stand mixer or hand mixer.

    adding banana to mixer

    With the mixer continuing to run: Add two eggs. Add ½ of the flour mixture. ⅓ cup buttermilk. And the mashed bananas. Continue to beat until incorporated.

    Add the remainder of the flour mixture and ⅓ cup more buttermilk. Add ¾ 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.

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    Recipe

    banana nut cake on fork

    Banana Cake with Walnuts

    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.
    Tap to leave a Rating
    4.34 from 21 votes
    Print Email CollectionCollected
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
    Servings #/Adjust if desired 12 servings

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Convert to Metric
    • 2 ½ cup AP flour
    • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder - aluminum-free
    • 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ⅔ cup butter
    • 1 ⅓ cup sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • ⅔ cup buttermilk
    • 3 over-ripe bananas - mashed
    • ¾ 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
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°.
      bananas with eggs and other ingredients for banana cake
    • In a large bowl, mix 2 ½ cups AP flour with 1 teaspoon salt, 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder, and 1 ½ 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 ⅔ cup butter and 1 ⅓ cup sugar—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 ½ of the flour mixture. ⅓ cup buttermilk. And the mashed bananas. Continue to beat until incorporated.
      Add the remainder of the flour mixture and ⅓ cup more buttermilk.  Add ¾ 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.
    See the step-by-step photos in the post. Some recipes have an option to display the photos here with a switch above these instructions but the photos DO NOT print.

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    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 ⅔ 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.

    To adjust the recipe size:

    You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Nutrition Facts
    Banana Cake with Walnuts
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 631 Calories from Fat 270
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 30g46%
    Saturated Fat 16g80%
    Cholesterol 97mg32%
    Sodium 575mg24%
    Potassium 270mg8%
    Carbohydrates 87g29%
    Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 62g69%
    Protein 7g14%
    Vitamin A 883IU18%
    Vitamin C 3mg4%
    Calcium 77mg8%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Serving size is my estimate of a normal size unless stated otherwise. The number of servings per recipe is stated above. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
    Course : Dessert
    Cuisine : American

    © 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors. While we appreciate your sharing our recipes, please realize copying, pasting, or duplicating full recipes to any social media, website, or electronic/printed media is strictly prohibited and a violation of our copyrights.

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

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    1. Claudi0

      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

        January 05, 2021 at 7:03 pm

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

    2. Patty C

      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
    3. Claudia Matusiak

      February 15, 2020 at 7:45 pm

      In the cake ingredients you list 1 2/3 cup sugar. In the instructions you only mention using 1 1/3 cups sugar......what do we do with the remaining 1/3 cup of sugar?

      Reply
      • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

        February 15, 2020 at 7:53 pm

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

    4. Cyndy Simpkins Hugghins

      June 27, 2017 at 5:26 pm

      Can a Bundt pan be used?

      Reply
      • DrDan

        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

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