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A slice of banana cake with chocolate frosting on a small plate. Feature photo.

Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting

Lisa Flinn
Easy single layer Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting! Light and fluffy cinnamon scented banana cake is topped with a rich and dreamy chocolate cream cheese frosting. A swoon-worthy and crowd-pleasing dessert! 
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Cakes, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Yields 9 Servings

INGREDIENTS

Banana Cake

  • 1 ½ Cups (180g) All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 ¼ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • ¾ Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • ½ Teaspoon Baking Powder
  • ½ Teaspoon Fine Salt
  • 1 Cup (227g) Mashed Bananas, 2 large ripe bananas
  • ½ Cup (100g) Granulated White Sugar
  • ⅓ Cup (67g) 67g Light Brown Sugar packed
  • 2 Whole Large Eggs room temp
  • ¼ Cup (50g) Neutral Oil (like avocado, canola or vegetable oil)
  • 2 Tablespoons (28g) Unsalted Butter melted
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Paste or Extract
  • ½ Cup (113g) Lowfat Buttermilk (I used 2%) room temp

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 5 Ounces (142g) Full-Fat Cream Cheese (Block, not tub) room temp
  • ¼ Cup (56g | 4 Tablespoons ) Unsalted Butter room temp
  • ⅛ Teaspoon Fine Salt
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Paste or Extract
  • 1 ¾ to 2 Cups (169g to 227g) Powdered Sugar
  • ½ Cup (42g) Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • 2 to 4 Tablespoons Milk or Cream

Instructions
 

  • Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350ºF (180ºC). Grease and line an 8-inch (20cm) square or round cake pan with parchment paper; set aside. see note below
  • Combine Dry Ingredients - In a medium bowl, combine all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and fine salt. Set aside. 
    1 ½ Cups (180g) All-Purpose Flour
    1 ¼ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
    ¾ Teaspoon Baking Soda
    ½ Teaspoon Baking Powder
    ½ Teaspoon Fine Salt
  • Combine Wet Ingredients - In a large bowl, finely mash the bananas with a fork or an electric mixer. Add the white sugar, brown sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla and whisk until well-combined. Then mix in the buttermilk.
    1 Cup (227g) Mashed Bananas, 2 large ripe bananas
    ½ Cup (100g) Granulated White Sugar
    ⅓ Cup (67g) 67g Light Brown Sugar
    2 Whole Large Eggs
    ¼ Cup (50g) Neutral Oil (like avocado, canola or vegetable oil)
    2 Tablespoons (28g) Unsalted Butter
    1 Teaspoon Vanilla Paste or Extract
    ½ Cup (113g) Lowfat Buttermilk (I used 2%)
  • Combine Wet Ingredients & Dry Ingredients -  In 2 additions, sift the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not over mix.
  • Bake - Pour the cake batter into your prepared cake pan and bake for about 30 to 35 minutes. It's ready when a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then remove from the pan and cool completely.
  • Make Chocolate Frosting - In a large mixing bowl, add room temp cream cheese, room temp butter, vanilla and fine salt. Whip on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. You can use a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a hand-held electric mixer.
    5 Ounces (142g) Full-Fat Cream Cheese (Block, not tub)
    ¼ Cup (56g | 4 Tablespoons ) Unsalted Butter
    1 Teaspoon Vanilla Paste or Extract
    ⅛ Teaspoon Fine Salt
  • Sift in the powdered sugar and unsweetened cocoa powder and 2 tablespoons of milk. Starting on low speed and then gradually increasing to medium speed, whisk the ingredients until combined. If you'd like a thinner frosting, add a bit more milk. Taste. If it's too sweet you can add a little more salt.
    1 ¾ to 2 Cups (169g to 227g) Powdered Sugar
    ½ Cup (42g) Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
    2 to 4 Tablespoons Milk or Cream
  • Frost and Serve - Once the cake is completely cooled, slather the top with chocolate frosting. You can also frost the sides as well. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

Tenting - If at any point your cakes gets too browned, you can loosely tent the top of the cake pan with a piece of foil. I usually tent mine after 25 minutes.
Cake Pan Size - If you're baking this cake in a round 8-inch (20 cm) cake pan, it will take about 35 to 40 minutes. 
Storage - Store the Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting in an airtight container, in the fridge for up to 5. Thaw at room temperature before serving. You can view freezing instructions in the body of the post.
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