The Best Banana Cake!

Ingredients

• 3 ripe bananas (mashed)
• 2 cup all-purpose flour
• 0.5 cup granulated sugar
• 0.5 cup light brown sugar (packed)
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter (melted)
• 2 eggs (large)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 8 oz cream cheese (softened, for frosting)
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter (softened, for frosting)
• 2 cup powdered sugar (for frosting)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x13 inch sheet pan with parchment paper or grease it thoroughly.

2. 2

   In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth.

3. 3

   Add the melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar to the bananas. Whisk or stir until well combined and the brown sugar is dissolved.

4. 4

   Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the banana mixture and stir until incorporated.

5. 5

   In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

6. 6

   Gently stir the dry ingredients into the wet banana mixture until just combined; do not overmix.

7. 7

   Transfer the batter into the prepared sheet pan and use a spatula to smooth it into an even layer.

8. 8

   Bake in the preheated oven until the cake is puffed, golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, approximately 25-30 minutes.

9. 9

   While the cake cools, prepare the frosting by beating together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar and a splash of vanilla (optional) until light and fluffy.

10. 10

    Once the cake has cooled completely, scoop the cream cheese frosting onto the top and swirl it over the surface with a spatula.

11. 11

    Cut into squares and serve.

Notes

For the best flavor, use bananas that are heavily spotted or even black. The brown sugar is essential for the caramel richness mentioned by the author. Ensure the cake is fully cooled before frosting to prevent the cream cheese from melting.

Nutrition per serving

• dessert
• cake
• banana
• baking
• cream cheese frosting
• snack
• sweet