Bananas getting a little too ripe on your counter? Don’t toss them! Let’s turn those spotty beauties into something delicious – Banana Bread’s tastier cousin, Banana Cake! This recipe is super easy and perfect for using up overripe bananas. But be warned, it’s incredibly moist, flavorful, and addictive – so get ready to share (or maybe not ).
Here’s what makes this banana cake so amazing:
- Moist and Delicious: Overripe bananas add incredible moisture and natural sweetness, making this cake incredibly tender and flavorful.
- Warm Spices: A hint of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves adds a warm, inviting touch that perfectly complements the banana flavor.
- Optional Fun: Feel free to get creative with mix-ins like chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or even swirls of peanut butter!
Ready to bake some banana magic? Grab your ingredients and let’s get started!
Ingredients:
- For the Cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
- 1 ½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup buttermilk (or sour cream thinned with milk)
- For the Topping (Optional):
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- ¼ cup chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Prep Your Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together your flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves (if using). Set that aside for a moment.
- Cream Together the Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer if you’re lucky enough to have one!), cream together your softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This will take a few minutes with an electric mixer, or some good old-fashioned arm workout with a hand mixer.
- Beat in the Eggs One by One: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add the Mashed Bananas and Vanilla: Now, stir in that delicious mashed banana and pure vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
- Alternating Act: Here comes the fun part of mixing wet and dry ingredients! Add the dry ingredients (flour mixture) to the wet ingredients (creamed butter and sugars) in three batches, alternating with the buttermilk (or sour cream mixture). Mix until just combined after each addition. Don’t overmix!
- Optional Fun Time! If you’re feeling like adding some mix-ins, now’s the time! Gently fold in your chopped nuts or chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.
- Bake It Happen! Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a loaf pan (a 9×5 inch loaf pan is perfect). Pour your batter into the prepared pan and smooth out the top.
- Baking Bliss: Bake your banana cake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips:
- Ripe is the key! The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your cake will be.
- Don’t overmix! Overmixing can lead to a tough cake. Mix until just combined, then stop.
- Want to add an extra layer of flavor? Brush the top of your cake with melted butter and sprinkle it with a little bit of cinnamon sugar before baking.
So there you have it, the perfect banana cake recipe! This cake is moist, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make. It’s the perfect way to use up ripe bananas and enjoy a delicious homemade treat. Enjoy!