Banana Bread Cake (Printer-Friendly)
Tender banana bread cake with cinnamon and vanilla; fold in nuts or chocolate for a cozy breakfast or dessert.
# What You'll Need:
→ Wet Ingredients
01 - 3 ripe bananas, mashed
02 - 2 large eggs
03 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
04 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
05 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar
06 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ Dry Ingredients
07 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
08 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
09 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Optional Add-ins
12 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
13 - 1/2 cup chocolate chips
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9-inch square or round cake pan.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mashed bananas, eggs, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently with a spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain a tender cake texture.
05 - Fold in chopped walnuts or pecans and chocolate chips, if desired.
06 - Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Smooth the top evenly. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean.
07 - Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Cool completely before serving warm or at room temperature.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It’s the softest banana bread you’ll ever bite into, with a cake-like crumb that feels almost indulgent.
- With only a handful of bowls and some very basic steps, cleanup is never a drag and the reward is all flavor.
02 -
- Overmixing the batter even a little can take your cake from fluffy to dense — I’ve learned to stop with streaks still visible.
- Letting the cake cool before slicing ensures the crumb holds together — impatience has resulted in more than a few beautiful messes!
03 -
- Measuring flour lightly (or even weighing it) saves you from a dry, heavy cake every time.
- Sprinkling extra chocolate chips or nuts on top before baking makes for the prettiest, most tempting slice.