Cake Mix Banana Cake
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This easy Banana Cake is one of my favorite ways to use overripe bananas when I want something a little different from banana bread. This recipe uses a yellow cake mix as an easy shortcut base and adds a layer of cream cheese frosting that adds just the right balance to the sweet banana flavor.
Cake Mix Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frostin
My husband absolutely loves banana bread, but to be honest, I could take or leave it. I’ve always preferred a lighter-textured banana cake instead. My mom made banana cake all the time when I was growing up and usually topped it with a simple chocolate icing, but now I prefer it with cream cheese frosting. I used the same cream cheese frosting from my Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies here because it pairs so well with the banana flavor.
This cake is one of my favorite ways to use up extra bananas before they go bad on the counter. I wanted to keep the recipe simple, so I used a yellow cake mix as the base, similar to what I did in my Peach Bundt Cake. It gives the cake a soft texture while letting the fresh banana flavor stand out.
Ingredients
Cake
- Overripe bananas – Add natural sweetness and plenty of banana flavor while keeping the cake moist.
- Vegetable or canola oil – Helps give the cake a soft texture and keeps it tender.
- Eggs – Add structure and help the batter bake evenly.
- Yellow cake mix – Creates an easy base for the cake and adds a light texture (I used Duncan Hines)
- Whole milk – Adds moisture and helps smooth out the batter.
- Ground cinnamon – Gives the cake a subtle, warm flavor that pairs well with banana.
Frosting
- Cream cheese – Adds a tangy flavor and smooth texture to the frosting.
- Unsalted butter – Helps make the frosting creamy and easy to spread.
- Powdered sugar – Sweetens the frosting and gives it structure.
- Vanilla extract – Adds a simple vanilla flavor to the frosting.
- Sea salt – Balances the sweetness and rounds out the flavor.
Making the Easy Banana Cake
- Prep – Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper.
- Mix the wet ingredients – Add the bananas, oil, and eggs to a large mixing bowl and beat until combined and mostly smooth.
- Finish the batter – Add the yellow cake mix, milk, and cinnamon. Beat on medium speed for 90 seconds until well combined and no dry streaks remain.
- Bake the cake – Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool the cake – Let the cake cool completely before adding the frosting.
- Make the frosting – Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and sea salt, then continue
- Frost and serve – Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cake, then slice and serve.
Variations and Substitutions
- Add nuts – Stir chopped walnuts or pecans into the batter for extra texture.
- Mix in chocolate chips – Add mini chocolate chips for a chocolate and banana flavor combination.
- Use spice cake mix – Swap the yellow cake mix for spice cake mix for a stronger cinnamon flavor.
- Try chocolate frosting – Replace the cream cheese frosting with chocolate frosting for a flavor similar to the banana cakes I grew up eating. If you need a chocolate frosting recipe, the frosting from my Dirt Worm Brownies works well here too.
Tips for Success
- Use very ripe bananas – Bananas with plenty of brown spots will give the cake the best flavor and texture.
- Beat the batter as directed – Traditional banana cakes are usually mixed just until combined, but cake mixes are designed to be beaten at medium speed. Mixing for the full 90 seconds helps create the right texture.
- Add the milk with the cake mix – Wait to add the milk until you add the dry cake mix ingredients. Adding it too early can cause the milk and oil to separate and slosh around in the bowl instead of mixing smoothly.
- Let the cake cool completely – Frosting a warm cake will cause the cream cheese frosting to melt and slide.
- Use block-style cream cheese – Brick cream cheese gives the frosting a thicker texture than spreadable cream cheese.
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Easy Banana Desserts
If you’re a banana fan, one of these easy recipes might just be your new favorite!
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Cake Mix Banana Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Cake
- 3 medium overripe bananas about 1 1/2 cups
- 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix I used Duncan Hines
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
Frosting
- 8 ounces brick-style cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper.
- Add the bananas, oil, and eggs to a large mixing bowl and beat until combined and mostly smooth.
- Add the yellow cake mix, milk, and cinnamon. Beat on medium speed for 90 seconds until well combined and no dry streaks remain.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting.
- Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and sea salt. Mix until creamy and smooth.
- Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cake, then slice and serve.
Notes
- Store the frosted banana cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For the best texture, let the cake sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving.
- You can also freeze the unfrosted cake for up to 3 months. Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and foil before freezing, then thaw in the refrigerator before frosting and serving.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutrition information is estimated based on automated calculations and should be considered as an approximation. These estimates are provided as a courtesy. Please use your own brand’s nutritional values to verify accuracy.