Banana Cake with Walnuts from 101 Cooking for Two

Name: Banana Cake with Walnuts
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 2 1/2 cup AP flour; 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (aluminum-free); 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 2/3 cup butter; 1 1/3 cup sugar; 2 eggs; 2/3 cup buttermilk; 3 over-ripe bananas (mashed ); 3/4 cup chopped walnuts; 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)

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.

Jump To:

😊Why you will love this cake.
👨‍🍳How to make this recipe
🍌Ingredients
👨‍🍳Recipe Size
❓FAQs
❄️Storage
📖Banana Recipes
🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
📝Recipe

Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

😊Why you will love this cake.

It is super moist, tender, and delicious.
It is easy to make in less than an hour without special ingredients.
Solves the "what to do with overripe banana" issue.
Easy to adjust to half size or make a layer cake with the cream cheese frosting.
The perfect cake for when you need to "take a dish" or the family is coming for dinner.
It has an optional cream cheese frosting that is easy to make and adds 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.

👨‍🍳How to make this recipe

Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Sift if you have time.
Mash 3 over-ripe bananas.
With a stand or hand mixer, cream butter, and sugar, then blend in eggs.
Incorporate half the flour mixture, some buttermilk, and the mashed bananas.
Then add the remainder of the flour mixture and the remainder of the buttermilk.
Fold in the chopped walnuts.
Prep a 9 by 13 baking pan with a thin coat of butter and a light flour coat.
Pour the batter into the pan and spread evenly. And bake for about 40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cream Cheese Frosting (optional)

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

🍌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

👨‍🍳Recipe Size

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 in them 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.

📖Banana Recipes

Banana Nut Bread

Oven Baked Banana Pancake

Banana Nut Cookies

Really Good Banana Nut Muffins

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

Dessert Recipes

🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°.

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.

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

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

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

Pour the batter into the pan and spread evenly.

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

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.