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Banana Cake With Brown Sugar Icing

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This banana cake is so easy to make and moist as can be. The baking directions will surprise you and the brown sugar icing takes it to the next level. You’ll just have to make it to believe it! 

Square piece of banana cake topped with brown sugar icing and a couple of banana slices, ready to eat.

This super moist banana cake is sure to become a instant favorite.  The baking directions may surprise you, but it really works!

The results are soft and moist and oh so delicious. We love it it caramel frosting or cream cheese icing (or any frosting!)

Ingredients including ripe bananas, flour, sugar, butter, vanilla, eggs, soured milk, and baking powder ready to be made into a cake.

So, yesterday my coworker Di was telling me she has been on a baking streak lately.  Then she got onto a story about how she had to move everything around in her freezer so she could take this banana cake out of the oven and put it straight in the freezer.

Wait, what?!  I’ve never heard of such a thing.  Yes, you take it out of the oven and put it in the freezer for 45 minutes.  Plus it bakes at 275F.  This is just plain crazy!

Little Dude used to be on a two banana a day limit.  He would have eaten an entire bunch a day if we would have let him.  But lately, he has slowed down.

He is more interested in apples and raisins, so I have some bananas that are getting a little old.  The last thing I needed was to bake more treats, but it was meant to be!

I altered Di’s recipe a bit to fit what we had on hand.  Plus, I left the nuts out as my husband won’t eat them.  Then I slathered the cake with her yummy penuche frosting recipe!

Mmmmm.  Who needs dinner?  Let’s skip to dessert!

You should smell this bake.  Oh my word!  If you are not in the mood for butterscotch icing, this is also great with whipped cream cheese frosting or even chocolate cream cheese frosting.

The banana flavor goes well with either, to load the top of the cake with whatever strikes your fancy. Better yet, try one this time and the other next time.

The end result is going to be so good, I just know you will want to make it again. We think it is one of the best banana cake we have ever tried.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

  • it’s a great way to use overripe bananas
  • It’s easy to put together
  • the cake is delicious and moist with big banana flavor
  • the brown sugar butterscotch icing comes together quick and easily and spreads easily
  • It uses simple ingredients that are likely already in your pantry
Piece of moist banana cake topped with penuche icing, ready to eat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add cinnamon?

Yes. We like the pure banana flavor of this cake, but you can add a teaspoon of cinnamon and a little bit of nutmeg if you want a little bit of spice in you cake.

Cinnamon works really well with banana and will give the cake more of a banana bread flavor.

Why do you add vinegar to the milk?

Adding a little bit of vinegar or lemon juice to milk helps to replicate soured milk or buttermilk. The milk will curdle a bit, and that is normal.

The acidity is needed to react with the baking soda to help give the cake lift. If you have buttermilk, you can use that instead.

How do you store banana cake?

This cake can be stored at room temperature for up to 4 days. If you use a frosting that needs to be refrigerated, like cream cheese frosting, cover and chill the cake.

More Tasty Recipes to Try

For a fancier cake, try the towering star spangle banana layer cake is sure to fit the bill. But make this cake for an every day dessert.

Or try making a banana sheet cake if you are serving a crowd. It is made in a half sheet pan and topped with a cream cheese salted caramel frosting for the best big batch recipe.

Banana cake with brown sugar icing topped with fresh banana slices.

A loaf of zucchini bread or banana bread is always a good option to satisfy your sweet tooth as well.

If you tried this recipe, or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments. Hungry for more?  Be sure to stay in touch on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

Square piece of banana cake topped with brown sugar icing and a couple of banana slices, ready to eat.

Banana Cake With Brown Sugar Icing

Carlee
This delicious banana cake is the perfect from scratch recipe. It is easy to make, super moist and really tasty. They quick caramel icing uses brown sugar to get big caramel flavor with almost no effort.
4.93 from 13 ratings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Chill Time 45 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 Servings
Calories 464 kcal

Ingredients
 

Cake

  • cups milk
  • 2 Tablespoons vinegar
  • ¾ cup butter softened
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large ripe bananas
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • teaspoons baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoons salt
  • 3 cups all purpose flour

Brown Sugar Icing

  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 cup light brown sugar packed
  • ¼ cup whole milk
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
Makes: 9 x 13inch rectangle2inch height

Instructions
 

Banana Cake

  • Preheat oven to 275°F and grease a 9×13-inch pan.
  • In a small bowl, mix together milk and vinegar and set aside
    1½ cups milk, 2 Tablespoons vinegar
  • In a mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy
    ¾ cup butter, 2 cups granulated sugar
  • Add bananas and mix until smooth
    2 large ripe bananas
  • Stir in eggs and vanilla
    3 large eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • In a medium mixing bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt
    1½ teaspoons baking soda, 3 cups all purpose flour, ¼ teaspoons salt
  • Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk mixture. Stirring on low speed until just combined.
  • Pour cake batter into prepared pan and bake for an hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
  • Remove from oven and place directly into the freezer for 45 minutes.
  • Frost with caramel frosting after cake is removed from freezer.

Brown Sugar Icing

  • In a small saucepan, melt butter.
    ½ cup butter
  • Add brown sugar, salt, and milk. Cook over medium low heat until the sugar is fully dissolved, about two minutes.
    1 cup light brown sugar, ¼ cup whole milk, ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Remove from heat and add vanilla.
    1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • Transfer to your mixer bowl. Beat on medium speed, adding a little powdered sugar at a time. Adjust by adding more sugar or milk until you reach your desired consistency. Remember it will set up some as it cools.
    2 cups powdered sugar
  • Spread over cooled cake.

Notes

For the best results, make sure all ingredients are room temperature before making the cake batter.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1pieceCalories: 464kcalCarbohydrates: 76gProtein: 5gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 316mgPotassium: 155mgFiber: 1gSugar: 56gVitamin A: 540IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 58mgIron: 1mg
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Recipe Rating




Unknown

Thursday 22nd of March 2018

I love banana cake but I've never made a caramel frosting for it! YUM!

Carlee

Sunday 25th of March 2018

It is so good on there! <3

Andrea Nine

Friday 16th of March 2018

Another banana recipe to devour. Looks scrumptious!! Have an amazing weekend sweet friend!

Carlee

Wednesday 21st of March 2018

It's one of our favorites, for sure! You too xoxo

The Old Fat Guy

Friday 12th of August 2016

Oh my. I do love banana cake and haven't had it in eons! Thanks for the recipe.

Carlee

Saturday 13th of August 2016

This is a good one that is for sure. Thanks!

Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies

Thursday 11th of August 2016

Back in the day, when I lived in the twin cities, I had a coworker like your Di, well several of them! I soooo miss our food conversations and lunches checking out new places! The cake sounds so good!

Carlee

Thursday 11th of August 2016

It is fun to have somebody to talk to about this stuff with. It's not always good for the waste line though! I have not been disappointed in a recipe she has shared yet though, so I think I'll keep her around!

Frugal Hausfrau

Friday 19th of February 2016

I heard years ago about someone doing this with poundcake! I am going to have to try this recipe. It looks scrumptious! Happy Throwback Thursday!

Carlee

Friday 19th of February 2016

I haven't tried it with any other cakes yet, but I just love the way this turns out so I really should! Thanks, Mollie!