cookitrealgood.com
cookitrealgood.com
  1. Recipes
  2. Easy Banana Cake

Easy Banana Cake

WRITER BYCassie
POSTEDJuly 23, 2019
JUMP TO RECIPE

This easy banana cake is light, moist and full of flavour.  It's perfect for sharing for afternoon tea and is a great way to use up overripe bananas.  Top your cake with banana slices and cinnamon sugar before baking for a delicious caramelised banana topping. 

banana cake on a wooden board with a small bowl of honey.

If you've got some spotty bananas sitting on the counter it's time to make Easy Banana Cake!  This cake is simple baking at it's best, using classic everyday ingredients - butter, brown sugar and flour.

The result is a light and moist banana cake that is filled with flavour.  Top your cake with banana slices and some cinnamon sugar before baking to create a delicious caramelised banana topper.

Why you'll love this recipe...

  • Light and moist cake
  • Simple to prepare
  • Made with easy everyday ingredients
  • Freezes well - save some for later! 

Got a bunch of spotty bananas?  Try these 12 Ripe Banana Recipes to Use Up Your Bunch.

Or if you're worried you won't have time to use them up follow this guide on How to Freeze Bananas.

a slice of banana cake on a white plate with the rest of the cake on a wooden board behind.

What is the difference between Banana Cake and Banana Bread?

Banana cake is essentially butter cake with mashed banana added in for flavour.  It's typically lighter and more moist than banana bread.

Banana bread is firmer and more dense, and is perfect for toasting and slathering with butter.  Both are delicious and perfect ways to use up spotty bananas.

INGREDIENTS

I think there's nothing worse than going to bake something that requires a bunch of strange ingredients.  This Banana Cake is made from all everyday ingredients that you probably already have on hand!  Here's what you'll need (full measurements listed in the recipe card below)....

  • Unsalted Butter
  • Brown Sugar
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Egg
  • Ripe Bananas
  • Self Raising Flour
  • Milk - use any milk you have on hand.
  • Cinnamon 
  • Cinnamon Sugar - I make this myself by mixing 3 tbsps granulated sugar with 1 & ½ teaspoons of cinnamon.

INSTRUCTIONS

Step by step photo instructions on how to make easy banana cake.

Preheat the oven to 160C /320F and grease a round cake pan.

Melt butter and sugar in a small saucepan on low heat, stirring regularly.  Remove from heat and add vanilla extract.  Set aside.

Mash bananas in a large mixing bowl, then add the egg and mix well (photo 1).  Add the melted butter and mix well (photo 2).

Add flour and milk to the mixing bowl and fold to combine, being careful not to overmix (photos 3 & 4).

Pour cake mixture into the greased cake pan.  Arrange banana slices is a decorative pattern on top and sprinkle over cinnamon sugar (photo 5).

Bake for 40 minutes or until golden and a skewer comes out clean (photo 6).  Allow to cool in the baking pan for 10 minutes, then move to a wire rack to completely cool.

banana cake on a wire rack.

How long will banana cake keep?

Banana cake will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days depending on how hot your kitchen is, or in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Can banana cake be frozen?

Absolutely - this banana cake freezes really well.  Just individually wrap slices in cling film, then place in an airtight container or in a ziplock bag in the freezer for up to 2 months.

a slice of banana cake on a white plate with the rest of the cake on a wooden board behind.

TOP TIPS

  • If you don't have self raising flour on hand simply use 1 & ½ cup of all purpose flour and 3 teaspoons of baking powder.
  • Use 2 large bananas or 3 small (lady finger size) for mixing into the cake, and one extra banana for the topping. Make sure your bananas are ripe - the darker, spottier and uglier, the better.
  • Make your own cinnamon sugar by mixing 3 tbsps granulated sugar with 1 & ½ teaspoons of cinnamon.  You only need 1 tablespoon for this recipe but you can store the rest in an airtight jar.  Sprinkle over pancakes, hot buttered toast, fruit crumbles, muffins before baking - there's so many ways to use it!
  • Be careful not to overmix your batter once you've added the flour in.  Overmixing causes your cake to be dense.  Fold the flour in until just combined.
  • Feel free to make without the banana slice topping if you don't have any more bananas on hand.
a slice of banana cake on a white plate with the rest of the cake on a wooden board behind.

MORE DELICIOUS DESSERTS

  • Protein Pancakes
  • Easy Apple Cake
  • Honey Joys (Honey Crackles)
  • Flourless Orange and Almond Cakes
  • Buttermilk Banana Bread
  • BEST ever Chocolate Slice
  • Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Snickers Nice Cream
  • Mini Apple Crisps
  • Air Fryer Brownies
  • Lemon Brownies
  • OR see all Dessert Recipes

If you’ve tried this Easy Banana Cake I’d love to hear how you enjoyed it! Pop a comment and a star rating below!

You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to keep up to date with more delicious recipes.

cookitrealgood.com
Privacy PolicyWork with meContact

Never Miss A Recipe!

Copyright © 2024 Cook It Real Good.
PinterestPinterestInstagramInstagramFacebookFacebook

RECIPE

Easy Banana Cake

Easy Banana Cake

Prep Time

5 minutes

Cook Time

40 minutes

Total Time

45 minutes

This easy banana cake is light, moist and full of flavour.  It’s perfect for sharing for afternoon tea and is a great way to use up overripe bananas. 

4.8 Stars (40 Reviews)

servings

8

Scale

Ingredients

Instructions

1

Preheat the oven to 160C / 320F and grease a round cake pan.  

2

Melt butter and sugar in a small saucepan on low heat, stirring regularly.  Remove from heat and add vanilla extract.  Set aside. 

3

Mash bananas in a large mixing bowl, then add the egg and mix well.  Add the melted butter and mix well. 

4

Add flour and milk to the mixing bowl and fold to combine, being careful not to overmix.  

5

Pour cake mixture into the greased cake pan.  Arrange banana slices is a decorative pattern on top and sprinkle over cinnamon sugar.

6

Bake for 40 minutes or until golden and a skewer comes out clean.  Allow to cool in the baking pan for 10 minutes, then move to a wire rack to completely cool.  

Notes

1. Bananas - Use 2 large bananas or 3 small. Make sure your bananas are ripe - the darker, spottier and uglier, the better.

2. Flour - If you don't have self raising flour on hand simply use 1 & 1/2 cup of all purpose flour and 3 teaspoons of baking powder.

3. Cinnamon Sugar - Make your own cinnamon sugar by mixing 3 tbsps granulated sugar with 1 & 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon.  You only need 1 tbsp for this recipe but you can store the rest in an airtight jar.  Sprinkle over pancakes, hot buttered toast, fruit crumbles, muffins before baking - there's so many ways to use it!

4. Mixing - Be careful not to overmix your batter once you've added the flour in.  Overmixing causes your cake to be dense.  Fold the flour in until just combined.  

5. Topping - Feel free to make without the banana slice topping if you don't have any more bananas on hand. 

6. Storing - store at room temperature for 1-2 days, in the fridge for 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Did you make this? Tell us about it!

Nutrition Facts

Servings:8
Serving Size:1

Amount Per Serving:

calories

293kcal

carbohydrates

42g

protein

3g

fat

13g

saturated fat

8g

polyunsaturated fat

4g

cholesterol

34mg

sodium

289mg

fiber

2g

sugar

18g

About Cook It Real Good

Cook It Real Good focuses on making the most of simple ingredients. Learn to cook fast, easy meals that don't sacrifice taste. Oh and the less washing up, the better!

Learn More

Recent Recipes

See more

garlic parmesan sauce recipe
Garlic Parmesan Sauce Recipe
Air Fryer Meatballs
Air Fryer Meatballs
Oatmeal Smoothie
Oatmeal Smoothie
Watermelon Salad with Feta
Watermelon Salad with Feta
Chicken Florentine
Chicken Florentine

Trending

Strawberry Mango Popsicles
Strawberry Mango Popsicles
healthy banana pancakes stacked on a pattered plate with butter and maple syrup on top
Healthy Banana Pancakes
close up image of greek salad topped with lemon slice
Easy Greek Salad
pumpkin, haloumi and avocado salad
Pumpkin, Halloumi and Avocado Salad
roast pumpkin and chickpea salad
Roast Pumpkin and Chickpea Salad

Air Fryer

See more

3 corn on the cob on a white plate.
Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
sausages on a white plate topped with onions and gravy.
Air Fryer Sausages
pinwheels on a white plate drizzled with chocolate.
Nutella Puff Pastry Pinwheels {Oven or Air Fryer}
Air Fryer Tempeh with Mango Marinade
Air Fryer Tempeh with Mango Marinade
crispy chickpeas in a white bowl.
Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas

Peanut Butter Eggs Recipe 🥜🥚🍫 : https://www.cookitrealgood.com/peanut-butter-eggs/

OR comment with "Peanut" and I'll DM you the link!

For me, this Peanut Butter Eggs recipe is a holiday staple—not just for Easter. It’s my ultimate comfort treat that shows up during every festive season, including the run-up to Christmas. I hope that’s not weird 😆😁.

They've got that nostalgic chocolate-peanut butter combo everyone loves, but with a homemade twist that makes them even better. Plus, you can dip and drizzle them in any chocolate you like—dark, white, milk—and decorate them to look just like colourful eggs.

#peanutbuttereggs #peanutbutterrecipe #appetizerrecipes #sweetTooth #chocolatepeanut #cookitrealgood #peanutandchocolate
Cook Real. Eat Good.

https://www.cookitrealgood.com/  is your go-to spot for simple, reliable recipes that actually work in real kitchens. We focus on approachable comfort food, tested tips, and no-fuss cooking you can feel confident about. Whether it’s a holiday dish or an everyday meal, we’re here to make cooking easier and more fun.

#cookitrealgood #easymeals #quickrecipes #airfryerrecipes #appetizersideas #EasyLunchRecipe #dinner
Nutella Brownies

Honestly, I first tried making these on a whim. A friend and I were having a lazy weekend baking session, and we had a jar of chocolate hazelnut spread lying around. We decided to see what happened if we added it to our brownie batter.

Ingredients:

125g unsalted butter
100g brown sugar
50g granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
200g Nutella
¼ teaspoon salt
150g all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
100g dark chocolate chips

OR comment with "NUTELLA" and I'll DM you the full recipe 🖐

#nutellabrownies #nutellarecipes #browniesrecipe #brownies #cookitrealgood #chocolatelover #chocolatebrownies
Roasted Brussels Sprouts Recipe 🥬🍴: https://www.cookitrealgood.com/roasted-brussels-sprouts/

Still recovering from the nightmare of being force-fed stinky and bitter boiled brussels sprouts as a child?  Never fear - these Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon will turn even the most adamant brussels sprouts hater around.

Brussels sprouts really shine when oven roasted - crisp and caramelised on the outside and tender on the inside.  Not to mention how simple it is - throw everything on a tray in the oven for 25 minutes and voila!

#brusselssprouts #brusselssproutsrecipe #RoastedVeggies #veggiesrecipe #cookitrealgood #healthylifestyle #healthyrecipes
Chicken Florentine

If you're craving a comforting, creamy dish, Chicken Florentine is the answer. Imagine golden-fried chicken smothered in a rich, garlic spinach cream sauce. The sauce is silky smooth, with just the right amount of tang from the Parmesan cheese and a burst of flavor from the fresh baby spinach.

Ingredients: 

For the chicken:

2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons olive oil

For the sauce:

3 tablespoons butter
1 large shallot, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups fresh baby spinach

OR comment with "FLORENTINE" and I'll DM you the full recipe. 

#chickenflorentine #creamychicken #chickenrecipes #cookitrealgood #CreamyGoodness #italianfood #ItalianCuisine #ItalianChicken
Glazed Carrots full recipe 🥕🍵: https://www.cookitrealgood.com/#sidedishrecipes 

OR comment with "CARROT" and I'll DM you the link! 🖐🍴

Maybe it’s because of the cute color—my kids really love carrots. Especially when they’re roasted with potatoes, the kids go wild for it… well, their dad too, haha. But I’m worried they’ll get bored, so I try to look for different recipe variations where carrots are the main ingredient. 

#glazedcarrots #carrotrecipes #vegetarianrecipes #cookitrealgood #veggies #sidedishes #sidedishrecipes
The long-awaited holiday season is finally here. 
Gathering with family on this joyful Christmas day 🎄✨. 

Celebrate the holidays deliciously with cookitrealgood.com!

20 Christmas Main Dishes: https://www.cookitrealgood.com/christmas-main-dishes/
30 Christmas Side Dishes: https://www.cookitrealgood.com/30-christmas-side-dishes/

OR comment with "XMAS" and I'll DM you the link 🤗

#ChristmasMenu2025 #christmasmaindishes #ChristmasSideDish #christmasfoodideas #cookitrealgood #holidayseason #christmas2025
Mexican Chicken Salad Full Recipe 🌯🥗: https://www.cookitrealgood.com/mexican-chicken-salad/

OR comment with "MEXICAN" and I'll DM you the link! 🖐

I love Mexican food, so it's no surprise that one of my favourite salads is Mexican inspired.  This Mexican Chicken Salad is full of good-for-you ingredients and is filling enough to be a complete meal on its own.  The chicken is juicy and bursting with flavour.

It's on the table in 15 minutes.  Yes, you heard right - 15 minutes!  This does require a little multi-tasking, like chopping salad ingredients while waiting for the chicken breast to cook.  But totally doable.

#mexicanchickensalad #mexicansalad #mexicanrecipe #saladrecipe #cookitrealgood #mexicancuisine #healthyeating
Gigi Hadid Pasta 🫕🍴

Maybe this is the closest I’ll ever get to Gigi Hadid, hahaha. This Gigi Hadid Pasta is actually just a version of the classic Italian-American dish, penne alla vodka. But back during the Covid era, Gigi Hadid shared the recipe on her social media, and ever since then, everyone’s been calling it Gigi Hadid Pasta.

Plus, it's super simple to make with minimum prep time, so even if you're not a pro in the kitchen, you've got this.

Here's what you'll need to make this recipe:

8 ounces or 225 grams of pasta (like penne)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 small shallot, chopped (or red onion)
¼ cup tomato paste
2 tablespoons vodka (optional)
½ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon chilli flakes (or add red pepper flakes)
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1 tablespoon butter
A handful of fresh basil for garnish

OR comment with "GIGI" and I'll DM you the full recipe 😁🤗

#gigihadidpasta #gigihadid #pastarecipe #vodkapasta #pennepasta #cookitrealgood  #easypastarecipe #easyrecipe
Follow On Instagram @cookitrealgood

You May Also Like

garlic parmesan sauce recipe
Quick and Easy
Garlic Parmesan Sauce Recipe
Breakfast
Oatmeal Smoothie
Quick and Easy
Watermelon Salad with Feta
Dinner
Chicken Florentine

4.8

8 comments & reviews

Lizzy

Lizzy

April 8, 2020

Perfect banana recipe for all my bananas that are starting to get soft. I love a piece a cake with a cup of coffee anytime of day!

Cassie

Cassie

April 9, 2020

Me too!!

Valeria

Valeria

April 28, 2020

Dear Cassie,
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, I followed it completely except for the sliced bananas & cinnamon sugar topping part, and it turned out just perfect, soft and not too sweet, delicious with coffee! Must admit, I mixed in a handful of chopped walnuts and homemade candied orange peels, they add a nice touch 🙂 Warm regards from Moscow, Russia

Cassie

Cassie

April 29, 2020

Thank you Valeria! Made my day waking up to this. I love those additions and your homemade candied orange peels sound so good. How do you make them?

Valeria

Valeria

April 29, 2020

Happy to hear that Cassie! I use 6 medium oranges to make a batch. I cut them in halves, juice them, then peel them from the inside out so the fruit pulp is gone, then cut the peels in stripes less than a quarter of an inch wide and weigh them (this tells me the weight of sugar I'm going to need for the syrup later on). Then I cook them twice in salty water (pour enough cold water to cover them and add about a tablespoonful of salt, bring to boil and simmer for 10 minutes, drain, rinse with cold running water, drain, and repeat). Repeat the cooking routine one more time without adding salt, drain and set aside. Now prepare the syrup by mixing equal parts in weight sugar and water (the weight of each is the same or slightly less than the weight of the peels before cooking), slowly bring to boil, stir till the sugar dissolves, then add the peels and press onto them lightly making sure they're all covered in syrup. Now simmer them with the lid closed (this part takes kind of long, and my original recipe said cook them with the lid open cause the point is getting the water to evaporate. With the lid closed, this still happens, but slower, and the peels get nicely saturated with the syrup). Check on them and stir them carefully not to break them up too much but to keep them evenly covered by the syrup. When there's little water left, finish the cooking with the lid open, watching for the moment before all of the water is gone and they start sticking to the bottom. Remove and spread them out onto a non-stick dish/rack (I use my glass cookware for this) and leave for a few hours to dry, tasting now and then to stop drying when they reach your preferred chewiness). Store in an airtight container. Sorry about this turning out as such a long description but I thought details matter to get it right, and I hope you enjoy this as I enjoyed your great recipe))

Cassie

Cassie

April 29, 2020

Thank you so much Valeria! I really appreciate you passing this on as I'd really like to try it. Looking forward to it 🙂 Thanks again

Irene Reddacliff

Irene Reddacliff

January 12, 2021

I tried it. It's not too sweet. Iove. it

Cassie

Cassie

January 12, 2021

That's great Irene! So glad you enjoyed this one 🙂

Jane

Jane

April 14, 2021

I am so happy I found you I am new to air frying love the way you present your recipes very prociseand easy to follow which is what I need

Maria

Maria

April 17, 2022

Love this Banana cake recipe very soft and not too sweet and easy to make. Thankyou.

Sandra

Sandra

January 24, 2023

I just found this recipe today when doing a search for using up 2 bananas that were getting very ripe. I normally make banana bread but wanted to try something a bit different. I didn't have an extra banana to slice onto the top, but I did sprinkle some sliced almonds before baking. This is delicious and a nice change from the heavier banana bread I normally make. Thank you also for the directions that include how to make with when one is lacking the self-rising flour. I am in the USA, and it is not a common thing to use self-rising flour here.

Keith Pocock

Keith Pocock

February 7, 2023

Hi, could someone please tell me what size cake tin I need for this?

Carole B

Carole B

February 27, 2025

The most easiest of banana cakes to make

Leave a Comment