Looking for the best banana cake recipe you will ever have? Look no further - this is the one! It's moist, sweet, loaded with bananas and topped with a whipped cream cheese icing that is to die for!

My family is crazy for all things banana! It's a fruit that you'll always find on my counter - ripe for the eating. We all love them! Except my son! I don't think I've ever seen him grab one to eat, but he sure does love them in baked goods.

Our favorites are the best most perfect banana bread you will eat and then to take that up a notch you add a little chocolate to the mix and get chocolate chip banana bread - OH MY!

But then there's this magical banana sheet cake. Well actually let's just say the best banana cake all around.

Banana sheet cake slice on a white enamel cake pan with blue trim.

I love how versatile this cake is! It bakes well in just about any size pan from a jelly roll pan to a 9 x 13 or a round layer cake!

And don't get me started on the whipped cream cream cheese icing. Now that is a mouth full, a really delicious mouth full. Honesty this icing is so good, you'll be lucky if have any to put on this amazingly moist banana cake.

Picture me and whoever walks in the kitchen with fingers in bowl (I know that may just not be the most polite thing in the world). But you will see!

Ingredients for Banana Cake. Ripe bananas, eggs, butter, flour mixture in a red bowl and a measuring cup of buttermilk.

How to make a moist banana cake

The recipe is all about sweet overripe bananas! You want nice spotty bananas like pictured above. Now if you have bananas that are more on the green side, don't fear here's directions on How to Ripen Bananas Quickly so you don't have to wait! But sweet bananas are key to the cake!

Mash Bananas - I usually just use my stand mixer. Give it a whirl a time or two and they are just the right consistency. You can also use a hand mixer or mash with a fork. If they are nice and ripe, they mash up so easily.
Start Creaming the butter - Make sure to start with room temperature butter. You will get a nice creamy and perfect texture.
Add in Sugars - I love the combination of brown and granulated white sugar. Brown sugar just compliments bananas with its rich caramel flavors and the white sugar adds the right amount of sweetness.
Batter - the batter is simple with flour, baking soda and powder. I pour them all in my sifter and run them through to combine and get any lumps out for a nice smooth batter.
Buttermilk - this is magical stuff! The acidity and moisture it adds to the mix puts the cake over the top! A banana cake recipe with buttermilk is the only kind you will ever want to make. And I usually keep buttermilk on hand, but if you don't have it just add a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to a measuring cup and then pour whole milk in up to the 1 and 1/2 cup line. Give a stir and let it sit for 5 minutes and you have the sour milk you need.
Frosting - Let's get back to this whipped cream cheese frosting. The addition of heavy whipping cream add a lightness and another magical quality to this cake. Its creamy and tangy from the cream cheese. All around amazingness.

Add ins for the cake

If you like cinnamon pour in 1/2 teaspoon (or a little more if you really love it) into the batter. It does not overpower the cake and pairs well with the brown sugar and bananas.
You can also add nuts into the batter maybe 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts, pecans, or even macadamia nuts would be a nice addition. If you love macadamia nuts try this White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pound Cake!
Add a splash of rum or rum extract would be nice in the batter and/or in the icing! Go a little wild and give it that bananas foster vibe! YUM!

How to store cake

Cover tightly with plastic wrap or an airtight lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
If you want to make ahead and freeze, banana cakes are perfect for freezing! In fact it will help it maintain its moisture. I recommend making the cake, freeze it wrapped in plastic wrap and foil, and make and icing the cake after thawing, if possible.
If you want to freeze leftovers it will work. The icing won't quite be the same texture, but it is worth saving it for another time and is still very delicious. Wrap with plastic wrap and then wrap with a freezer wrap, foil or place in freezer ziplock bag and freeze.
The banana sheet cake freezes well for up to 3 months.

Slice of banana cake topped with bananas and walnuts

This cake has just the perfect ingredient combination to make the most moist banana cake recipe with buttermilk from scratch! Once you try it you will be a believer!

I love to serve with sliced bananas dipped in lemon juice (to keep them from browning) and some chopped walnuts.

I hope you enjoy this as much as my family does! It's a keeper!

More cake recipes to try

Banana Cake infographic image describing the cake as moist & delicious and the icing as amazingly fluffy.

Yield: 20

Best Banana Cake Recipe

Ingredients

Banana Cake

3 large bananas, very ripe (about 1 1/2 cups)
3 cups all purpose flour, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk, room temperature
3/4 cups butter, softened (1 1/2 sticks)
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract

Whipped Cream Cheese Icing

1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Banana Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or butter a 10 x 15 inch jelly roll pan.
In a bowl mash bananas and set aside. This can be done with mixer or by hand.
In a bowl sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside.
Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed until light and creamy (about 1 minute). Add both sugars and beat on high speed for 2 minutes until creamed together. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula as needed. Add the eggs and the vanilla. Beat on medium-high speed until combined. Then beat in the mashed bananas. Scrape down the bowl as needed.
With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in three additions alternating with the buttermilk and mixing each addition just until incorporated. Do not overmix. The batter is slightly lumpy and thick. This is okay!
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread out evenly. Bake for 18 to 25 minutes. Baking times vary, so keep an eye on yours. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If you find the top of the cake is browning too quickly in the oven, loosely cover it with aluminum foil.
Remove cake from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack. (After it is mostly cooled you can put in refrigerator or freezer to speed up process).

Whipped Cream Cheese Icing

In the bowl of a stand mixer (or hand-held mixer), beat very cold whipping cream on medium-high until stiff peaks form; about 2-3 minutes.
In clean stand mixer bowl (or using a hand-held mixer) whip cream cheese until light and smooth. Add in sugar, salt, and vanilla and beat until fully incorporated.
Remove bowl from stand mixer and gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.

Serve with sliced bananas dipped in lemon juice and garnished with chopped walnuts if desired.

Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

Make ahead directions:

Prepare cake and cover the cake tightly and refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze up to 3 months. Thaw to room temperature and then prepare frosting.

Frosted cake also freezes well, up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, bring to room temperature or serve cold.

Additional Cake or Cupcake Size Instructions

Oven Cook Times Vary So Keep an Eye Out the first time baking!

9 X 13 Cake: Bake for about 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees.

Layer Cake: If you want to make a layer cake, divide batter between 2 or 3 greased 9-inch cake pans, and bake at 350°F for 2 cakes 25-30 minutes; or 3 layers 22-26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Ovens vary so keep an eye after 20 minutes.

Cupcakes: For about 2 dozen cupcakes, fill the cupcake liners halfway and bake for about 19 - 22 minutes at 350 degrees.

Comments

Jennifer Stewart says

September 18, 2020 at 9:32 am

I devoured half this cake myself!!

Erin says

September 15, 2020 at 10:00 pm

The cinnamon and buttermilk with these bananas just makes this cake over-the-top delicious! My family members ADORED this!

- Nikki Lee says
  
  September 19, 2020 at 9:01 am
  
  Thank you Erin! It is a delicious combo for sure! I am so happy that your family enjoyed it! <3
  
Kathleen says

September 14, 2020 at 3:45 pm

We were going to polish this off way too quickly, so I tucked the rest away and froze it for another day! Tender and delicious!

Sandra Shaffer says

September 13, 2020 at 11:44 am

I decided to make cupcakes (thanks for that option). Added the cinnamon. Holy yum and sprinkled walnuts on top of the icing. Delicious!

- Nikki Lee says
  
  September 14, 2020 at 12:05 pm
  
  Now that's a wonderful way to enjoy them! Just a hint of cinnamon ! YUM!
  
Debi says

September 12, 2020 at 8:38 am

I love cream cheese frosting, and this did not disappoint! The cake was moist and easy to make. The whole thing was a hit with my family!

- Nikki Lee says
  
  September 14, 2020 at 12:06 pm
  
  You are one after my own heart! Cream cheese icing is just the best! I am so glad the family enjoyed it! That's what I love to hear!

Best Banana Cake Recipe

How to make a moist banana cake

Add ins for the cake

How to store cake