This spiced banana cake has a perfect blend of spices and is loaded with bananas. An irresistible cake that will leave everyone wanting more!
This banana spice cake recipe is so easy to make and great any time of the day. And since it's totally made from scratch, it's so much more flavorful than any banana cake made with cake mix!
A super moist snack cake with all the cozy flavors of fall - cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger all topped with a luscious, tangy cream cheese frosting!
Love easy cake recipes? Try my Easy Pear and Chocolate Cake, my Coconut and Jam Cake, or my amazing Chocolate Drip Cake.
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Why You'll Love This Spice Cake with Bananas
- Moist and Fluffy Texture - This banana cake is perfectly moist, thanks to the ripe bananas and the right balance of ingredients that results in a cake that’s light and fluffy.
- Simple Ingredients - Made with pantry staples, this cake is easy to whip up with ingredients you likely already have at home.
- Perfect for Overripe Bananas - This recipe is the perfect way to turn those spotty bananas into something super delicious!
- Warm Spices - Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and ginger give this cake a spicy flavor that's perfect with bananas.
- Versatile - Enjoy it plain, with a dusting of powdered sugar, or elevate it with cream cheese frosting or buttercream frosting.
What you need to make this recipe
Ingredients for spiced banana cake
- Ripe Bananas - The riper, the better! Not only do they provide flavor and sweetness, they also add moisture. If you're in a rush and your bananas aren't ripe, I'll show you how you can ripen them faster. Keep reading!
- Spices - You'll need ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. If you're not crazy about nutmeg or cloves, you could omit them altogether.
- Flour - I use all purpose flour.
- Sugar - I use a combination of regular granulated sugar and light brown sugar, which adds a deeper, caramel-like sweetness which is amazing with bananas and spices.
- Oil - Light vegetable oil really helps make the cake moist.
- Eggs - You'll need 2 medium eggs.
- Buttermilk - If you don't have buttermilk, you could also use sour milk, instead. I'll include instructions in the recipe card below.
- Leavening agents - I use both baking powder and baking soda.
- Vanilla - I use pure vanilla extract.
Ingredients for the cream cheese frosting
- Powdered sugar - Powdered sugar is the perfect choice for frosting because it creates a smooth, creamy texture.
- Cream cheese - I always use full-fat cream cheese.
- Butter- You'll need unsalted butter.
- Vanilla - I love pure vanilla extract in frosting.
- Milk (not pictured above) - You might need a few teaspoons of milk if the frosting is too thick.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for quantities.
Equipment you'll need
- mixing bowls
- hand mixer or stand mixer
- spatula
- an 8 inch (20cm) round cake pan
- whisk
How to Ripen Bananas Quickly
If I can't wait a few days for the bananas to ripen, I just put the underripe bananas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake them in a preheated oven at 350F/180C for 7- 10 minutes. They come out really soft and ready to use.
How to Make Spiced Banana Cake
Step-by-step Instructions
- Mash the bananas and set them aside.
2. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, leaveners, salt, and spices. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugars together until well-combined and fluffy.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix until thoroughly combined.
5. Then add the vanilla and the mashed bananas and combine.
6. Add half of the flour mixture and half of the buttermilk and mix. Then add the remaining flour and buttermilk and mix until just combined. Don't overmix the batter.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
8. Bake!
Let the cake cool. You can put the cake in the refrigerator to cool faster, if you like.
When the cake has cooled completely, make the cream cheese frosting.
- Beat the butter on high speed until it's creamy and fluffy.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar in 2 or 3 batches.
- Add the vanilla and cream cheese and mix until well-combined.
- I love the consistency of this frosting! It's smooth, spreadable, and not too thick or too thin.
Then, frost the cake.
Recipe Notes
Storage Tips & Freezing Instructions
Since this cake is frosted, I store it in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to about a week. Unfrosted, this cake can be stored at room temperature for about 2 days, but after that, it'll need to be refrigerated.
To freeze the cake, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. You can freeze it for up to about 3 months. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
Variations
- Add Nuts - Fold in some chopped walnuts or pecans for added crunch or sprinkle them over the frosting.
- Chocolate - Chocolate is amazing with bananas and spices! You could add a handful of chocolate chips to the batter.
- Salted Caramel Sauce - You could generously drizzle the cake with salted caramel sauce over the cream cheese frosting for a more indulgent dessert, or you could just skip the frosting and add it over the cake slices.
- Make Banana Spice Cupcakes - This recipe makes about 14 cupcakes.
- Make a larger cake - You can easily double the ingredients for a 9X13 inch (about 23x33cm) pan.
Tips for Success
- Use Ripe Bananas - The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful the cake.
- Don’t Overmix - You need to be gentle with this cake batter as overmixing can make the cake really dense.
- Baking Times - Keep an eye on it after about 30 minutes since every oven is different. If it looks like it's getting too dark on the top, you can tent it with some foil. You'll know it's done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Make sure to thaw and drain them first before mashing.
To me, the fastest and best way to ripen bananas is to bake them in the oven at 350°F/180C for 7-10 minutes. Quick and easy!
You can store it in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2 days without the frosting. Alternatively, store it in the refrigerator for up to a week.
More cake recipes to try
Happy Baking!
Did you make this recipe? If so, please let me know how it turned out and leave a rating and review below! I'd love to hear from you! ❤️
Recipe
Easy Spiced Banana Cake
Ingredients
For the cake
- 1 cup (250g) 8.8oz mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium bananas)
- 1 ½ (190g) cups AP flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- A pinch of ginger
- 6 tablespoons (85g) butter, at room temperature
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100g) light brown sugar, packed
- 2 medium eggs, at room temperature
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ¾ cup (190ml) buttermilk (or add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to ¾ cup milk and stir. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to curdle.)
For the cream cheese frosting
- 4 oz (113g) full fat cream cheese
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ cup (57g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1½ cups (180g) sifted powdered sugar, plus an extra ¼ cup if needed
- a few teaspoons of milk optional
Note:
For best results, please read through the full post before beginning the recipe.
Instructions
Make the cake
- Grease a 20cm / 8 inch pan and and lightly dust it with flour. Line the bottom with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Preheat oven to 350℉/180℃.
- Mash the bananas and weigh them or use a measuring cup. Set aside.1 cup (250g)
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. Set aside.1 ½ (190g) cups AP flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon salt, A pinch of ginger
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugars together until well-combined and fluffy.6 tablespoons (85g) butter, at room temperature, ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar, ½ cup (100g) light brown sugar, packed
- Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix well. Add the vanilla and scrape the bowl as needed to incorporate everything.2 medium eggs, at room temperature, ½ teaspoon vanilla
- Add the mashed bananas and mix to combine.
- On low speed, add half of the flour mixture and half of the buttermilk and mix until combined. Add the remaining flour and buttermilk and mix, but don’t overmix.¾ cup (190ml) buttermilk (or add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to ¾ cup milk and stir. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to curdle.)
- Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Every oven is different so please keep an eye on it after 30’.
- After baking, place the cake on a wire rack and let it cool completely before frosting. For quicker cooling, you can refrigerate the cake after about half an hour.
Make the cream cheese frosting
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter on high speed for about 5 minutes, until it's creamy and fluffy.¼ cup (57g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- Then gradually add the powdered sugar. I usually add it in 2 or 3 batches.1½ cups (180g) sifted powdered sugar, plus an extra ¼ cup if needed
- Add the vanilla and cream cheese and mix until everything is well combined.½ teaspoon vanilla, 4 oz (113g) full fat cream cheese
- If your frosting is too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar and place it in the refrigerator to thicken. If it's too thick, you can add a little milk, a teaspoon at a time, to thin it out.a few teaspoons of milk
- Frost the cooled cake.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Use really ripe bananas for a sweeter cake.
- Avoid overmixing, as it can make the cake dense.
- Monitor the cake closely after about 30 minutes in the oven. If it appears to be getting too dark on the top, use some foil to tent it.
- This recipe makes about 14 cupcakes. Bake the cupcakes at the same temperature, but for 20-30 minutes.
Steve
This banana cake is absolutely delicious and flavorful. It's unique taste and irresistible texture make it truly unforgettable. I highly recommend giving it a try!
Voula
Thank you so much for the lovely feedback! I'm thrilled you enjoyed it! I appreciate you giving it a try! ❤️