Best Banana Cake

Course Cake, Dessert

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword banana desserts, banana-cake, best-banana-cake

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 45

Cooling time 3

Total Time 4

Servings pieces

Calories 378kcal

Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish or cake pan with baking spray or butter and flour. Set aside.
In a large bowl use a whisk to sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
In a separate medium mixing bowl whisk together granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, sour cream, eggs and vanilla extract until sugar has dissolved. Whisk in mashed banana until well blended.
Add wet ingredients to the flour mixture whisking until fully combined. Pour cake batter into prepared pan.
Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center shows moist crumbs.
Cool completely on a wire rack or in the fridge.
Cream Cheese Frosting: In a medium size mixing bowl using an electric mixer beat together cream cheese, butter and vanilla extract. Gradually add powdered sugar. Add cream or half and half 1 Tbsp at a time to thin as needed.
Frost the cooled cake then sprinkle with toasted pecans or walnuts. Store chilled covered with plastic wrap.
Toasting Nuts: Spread pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast in a preheated 350°F oven for 6-8 minutes until lightly golden brown and fragrant. Set aside to cool.

Cinnamon - You can use pumpkin pie spice in place of the ground cinnamon called for in this cake. The pumpkin pie spice seasoning blend complements the thick banana batter extremely well.
Nuts - You can add 1 cup of toasted pecans or walnuts to the cake batter in addition to the garnish.
Flavorings - You can add use a variety of flavorings for this banana cake. For example, you could use rum extract or brandy extract for an enhancement to the flavor.
Cream Cheese Frosting - In place of the cream cheese frosting, you could top this cake with a vanila buttercream icing or serve it simply dusted with powdered sugar and a dollop of whipped cream, if preferred.
Fresh Banana Slices - If you choose to garnish the cake with fresh banana slices, toss them lightly in lemon juice and place on top of the cake just before serving to delay browning.
Pan Options - This cake batter can be transformed into an 8-inch three layer cake or 24 cupcakes. Bake in prepared cake pans for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes back clean, then cool and frost as desired.