This delicious two-layer banana layer cake is moist and flavorful with ripe banana flavor. It is perfectly complemented with a scrumptious cream cheese frosting that is irresistible and sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
If you love cake that’s super moist and tender, and you can’t get enough frosting, then you’ve come to the right place. My banana layer cake is made with sour cream, so it’s super tender and ultra-moist, FOUR bananas for deep banana flavor, and a truckload of cream cheese frosting to complete the flavor. It’s an easy recipe perfect for parties or simply weeknight desserts.
Banana Layer Cake
This cake starts with a simple banana cake batter with tons of banana for concentrated banana flavor and sour cream to make the cake incredibly moist. I bake the batter in two round cake pans and let them cool. Then, I frost between the cakes and all over the outside with a generous amount of sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting. It’s a rich, tender cake full of sweetness and tang, and it’s ready fairly quickly. You can’t ask for more from a homemade cake recipe!
Why You’ll Love This Banana Cake
- It’s two layers of moist banana cake topped with an incredibly delicious cream cheese frosting.
- It has a naturally sweet and intense banana flavor and is super moist.
- The cream cheese frosting adds a delicious layer of flavor and richness, making this a truly decadent cake the whole family will enjoy.
Banana Cake Ingredients
Both the cake and the frosting use simple baking ingredients you can find in your kitchen or your local grocery store. There’s absolutely nothing in this recipe you have to shop for just to make it.
- Bananas: Bananas give this cake its signature flavor.
- Sour Cream: Sour cream adds a ton of moisture, and its acidity makes the cake extra tender.
- Cream Cheese and Butter: Cream cheese and butter make the rich, creamy base for the cream cheese frosting.
- Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar adds all the sweetness you love to the frosting and gives it body.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
How to Make Banana Layer Cake
Making this cake is incredibly easy, especially for a layer cake. It only takes a few minutes and a few simple steps. The bulk of the time is from baking and cooling the cakes.
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray two 8-inch cake pans with non-stick cooking spray. Then, lightly coat them with flour. Set aside.
Step 2: Combine the Wet Cake Ingredients
Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl until creamy. Then, add the eggs and beat until combined. Beat in the sour cream and vanilla.
Step 3: Add the Dry Ingredients
Add the flour, baking soda, and salt to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
Step 4: Add Bananas
Stir in the mashed bananas until well incorporated.
Step 5: Bake
Divide the batter evenly between the cake pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool completely.
Step 6: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting
When the cakes have cooled, beat the cream cheese and butter until combined. Then, add the banana and vanilla extract and beat again. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until smooth and creamy.
Step 7: Frost
Place one cake on a cake stand or plate and frost the top with the cream cheese frosting. Then, place the other cake layer on top and frost the top and outside with the remaining frosting. Add banana slices, if desired. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Your bananas should be super ripe for the best flavor. Let your bananas ripen until they’re dark brown or even black.
- Fully soften the cream cheese and butter for the frosting. This allows the to be whipped until they’re super creamy.
- Beat the cream cheese and butter until it’s light and fluffy before adding any other frosting ingredient to create a creamy frosting.
- Fully cool your cake rounds before frosting. If the cake is even a little warm, the frosting will melt and slide off the cake.
Variations
- You can use buttercream frosting for this recipe if you prefer.
- Try adding chopped walnuts or pecans to the cake batter.
- Chocolate chips are a delicious addition to the cake batter.
- If you don’t have sour cream, you can use full-fat Greek yogurt, instead.
What to Serve with Banana Cake
Serve this cake as a delicious, rustic dessert after classic meals like pork chops, hamburgers, hot dogs, meatloaf, or your other favorite comfort foods. It’s also delicious with a little fresh fruit on the side. Of course, a glass of milk or a cup of coffee or tea are also perfect with this cake.
Recipe FAQ
Chopped walnuts, pecans, or macadamia nuts are classic additions to banana cake.
No, they can’t. They can be rancid, but they can’t be too ripe. As long as the bananas don’t smell foul, have mold on the skin, or are oozing liquid, they’re good for baking. In fact, the darker the skin, the better.
Place bananas in a paper bag to ripen them quickly. Bananas release ethylene gas, which causes them to ripen. Placing them in a bag traps the gas and ripens them more quickly. For even faster ripening, add an apple, pear, apricot, or avocado. These also release ethylene gas.
Banana cake will last for up to a week in the refrigerator in a covered container.
Yes, you can. Banana cake will last for up to a month in the freezer when stored correctly.
How to Store Leftover Banana Cake
Refrigerate this cake for up to a week in an airtight container. For longer storage, wrap the cake in a double layer of plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil and freeze for up to a month. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and set out slices for an hour to come to room temperature before serving.
Try This Delicious Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Today
This banana cake recipe is super moist and tender with deep banana flavor and sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting infused with more banana flavor. It’s an easy recipe that anyone can make, and it’s perfect for both special occasions or weeknight desserts. Give this recipe a try, and I know you’ll fall in love with it.
More Delicious Banana Recipes You’ll Enjoy
These Banana Parfaits are an easy and delicious, no-bake, banana dessert recipe made with banana pudding, fresh bananas and strawberries, and homemade whipped cream, with a graham cracker base.
Banana Layer Cake
Ingredients
Banana Cake
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 ⅓ cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 medium overripe bananas, mashed (about 2 cups)
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon banana extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare (2) 8 inch cake pans by spraying with non stick cooking spray and lightly coating with flour.
Banana Cake
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until creamy.
- Add eggs and beat until combined then beat in sour cream and vanilla.
- Next, add flour, baking soda, and salt then beat until combined.
- Stir in mashed bananas and mix until well incorporated.
- Pour batter equally into prepared cake pans and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and butter together until combined, then add the banana and vanilla extracts.
- Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until smooth and creamy.
- Once the cake has cooled, frost and enjoy.
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If you love banana bread you’ll love this cake! So moist and delicious…one of my favorites now!