Chunky Monkey Cake

This Chunky Monkey Cake takes the classic ice cream flavor to cake form! Moist banana cake loaded with chocolate chips and toasted walnuts, finished with a drizzle of silky chocolate ganache.

Easy Chunky Monkey Cake Recipe

If you love the classic ice cream flavor combo from Ben and Jerry’s, this Chunky Monkey Cake is about to steal your heart. It’s loaded with sweet ripe bananas, pockets of melty milk chocolate, and crunchy nuts baked right into a soft, moist cake that tastes like pure comfort. Every slice is packed with that banana-chocolate goodness you can’t get enough of, making it perfect for potlucks, birthdays, or just because you’ve got bananas on the counter calling your name. Basically? It’s the cake version of your favorite indulgent scoop of ice cream and nobody ever stops at one slice.

Key ingredients to Chunky Monkey Cake: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Flour – All purpose flour plus cake flour forms the tender crumb for the cake batter.
• Leavening – Baking powder, baking soda and salt give rise to the cake while baking.
• Sugar – Granulated sugar for sweetness.
• Banana – Fresh bananas give this cake its signature flavor.
• Instant Pudding Mix – Instant banana cream pudding mix amps up the banana flavor.
• Liquid – Buttermilk for moisture.
• Butter – Salted butter or unsalted butter adds a rich flavor.
• Whole Eggs – Large eggs stabilizes the cake batter.
• Chocolate – Milk chocolate baking chips for the cake and the glaze.
• Heavy Cream – Cream and vanilla for making the chocolate glaze.
• Nuts – Walnuts add crunch.

How to Make the Best Chunky Monkey Cake

• Toast Walnuts – Spread the walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast just until fragrant.
• Sift Dry Ingredients – Use a whisk to sift together the both flours, pudding mix, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Set aside.
• Creamed Ingredients – Cream together the softened butter, sugar and vanilla until pale yellow and fluffy. Around 3 minutes.
• Add Eggs – Add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
• Combine – Add the sifted dry ingredients to the creamed mixture alternately with the buttermilk.
• Mix-ins – By hand, mix in milk chocolate chips, toasted walnuts and cubed banana into the batter.
• Transfer Cake Batter to Prepared Pan – Pour batter into the pan.
• Oven – Bake per the baking time in the recipe until a tester inserted into the center comes back clean. Cool on a wire rack.
• Make Chocolate Glaze – Melt together chocolate chips and heavy cream in a microwave safe bowl until completely smooth.
• Drizzle – Spoon glaze over cake, sprinkle the top with reserved toasted walnuts.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Chunky Monkey Cake

• Stand mixer or a hand mixer.
• Large bowl, medium bowl and small microwave safe bowl.
• Balloon whisk.
• Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
• Bundt pan or tube cake pan.
• Rubber spatula and wire rack.
• Nut chopper or knife and chopping board.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Flour – I like the tender crumb when using a combination of all purpose flour and cake flour in this cake. You can use ONLY one or the other, if you prefer. Cake flour adds to the tender crumb, but rest assured this cake will be delicious when made with all purpose flour alone. No other adjustments are needed.
• Chocolate – You can use semi-sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate for the glaze.
• Nuts – You could use pecans in place of walnuts.
• Use a Whisk for Sifting – I’ve used a whisk for sifting together dry ingredients for cakes, biscuits, cookies, breading mixes and beyond for years. It works like a charm. No need for a sifter.
• Toasting the Nuts for Depth of Flavor – It’s well worth the small amount of effort that it takes to toast the walnuts prior to adding to the cake batter. How do you roast walnuts? Spread then in a single layer on a sheet pan then place into a 350°F oven for 6-8 minutes. Roast until lightly golden and fragrant then cool completely before adding to the batter.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers – Store baked Chunky Monkey Cake in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap chilled in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Freezer – You can freeze this cake for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and enjoy.

More Banana Desserts to Make

Over ripe bananas are a gift just begging to be turned into something delicious. Just like the ice cream this cake that will have you smiling from the inside out! More banana desserts you may also like to try:

• Cool down with this Frozen Banana Pudding Bombe.
• Banana Fosters Crisp is simply delicious served warm topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
• Two Southern desserts collide in this Banana Pudding Cream Cheese Pound Cake.
• Chocolate Banana Bread is a think out side of the box variation on classic banana bread.
• Best Ever Banana Cake frosted with cream cheese icing.
• Treat the family to this decadent Banana Pudding Lush for dessert.
• Strawberry Banana Crumble from Noble Pig.

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Helpful Kitchen Items: 

• Bundt Pan
• Stand Mixer
• Mixing Bowls
• Silicone Spatulas