Name: Banana Bread Cake
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 over ripe bananas (brown or frecked peels are best); 1 and 1/3 cup all purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/2 cup packed brown sugar; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 cup vegetable oil; 2 eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 1/2 cup sour cream; 3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut (from the bag in baking aisle); 4 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature; 4 tablespoons salted butter, softened to room temperatuer; 2 cups powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Get ready for a flavor explosion with this moist Banana Bread Cake topped with Cream Cheese Frosting and sprinkled with toasted Coconut. If you have old bananas laying on the counter, this is the best dessert you can make and it's easy too!

Banana bread with cream cheese frosting and toasted coconut topping.

I had three bananas on the counter and I was craving cake, as I often do 🤪 Cream Cheese frosting felt like the proper icing for this, but then I thought, "how about a toasted coconut topping?"

The coconut added the best texture and I'm obsessed. Oh, and so are my neighbors who I shared it with. They begged me for the recipe and I had to give it to them before I even wrote this blog post. They've already made it and sent me photos.

Let's get to it...

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Why You'll Love This Cake Recipe:
Ingredients:
Substitutions/Variations:
How to Make Banana Cake:
Expert Tips:
More Sweets You'll Love:
Recipe

Why You'll Love This Cake Recipe:

Amazing Year Round. I'm all about seasonal recipes, but this cake is incredible all year.
Uses up Old Brown Bananas. I can't stand throwing away brown bananas because they make the best baked goods.
Simple to Make. Easy step by step instructions and only one layer.
Delicious. Once you taste this, you'll think of it every time you see bananas on the countertop!

For more banana recipes, try these Banana Pecan Muffins, Banana Bread with Streusel Topping, Banana Pudding Cups, and Banana Peach Smoothies.

Ingredients:

Bananas: You want them nice and brown or at least freckled for this recipe. It keeps the cake moist with lots of sweetness. If you need to wait a few days, it's worth it!

Cream Cheese & Butter: Make sure these are softened at room temperature for at least an hour before making the frosting. It will lump up a bit if it's too cold when mixing.

Coconut: I like Sweetened Coconut for this recipe.

*Find the full recipe ingredients and quantities in the recipe card below.

Substitutions/Variations:

Not big on coconut? Leave it off or you can serve it on the side if anyone wants to top their slice.
Don't like cream cheese frosting? Try this Whipped Buttercream instead.

For more easy cake recipes, try this Peach Crumble Cake, Apple Oat Cake, and Blueberry Dump Cake.

How to Make Banana Cake:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Peel the bananas and place the bananas in a bowl. Mash with the back of a fork or potato masher until the texture is pureed like baby food.

Step 2: (1) Prepare an aluminum 8x8 pan (if using glass see expert tips below) and spray or wipe with vegetable oil. Cut a square piece of parchment paper to cover the bottom of the pan. (2) In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar and granulated sugar until combined well. (3) Pour in vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla and sour cream and stir with a wooden spoon until mixed well. (4) Add in the mashed bananas and stir again to combine.

Step 3: Pour the batter into the aluminum pan and bake at 350 degrees for 28-34 minutes until the center is fully cooked. For an easy test: Insert a toothpick in the center and look for crumbs with no wet batter.

Step 4: Once the cake is finished cooking, allow to cool for 30-40 minutes before removing from the pan.

Step 5: To Toast the Coconut Topping: Keep the oven temp at 350 degrees and spread the sweetened coconut out on a baking sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes until toasted, shaking well half way through. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool.

Step 6: For the Cream Cheese Frosting: In a stand mixer or use a large bowl and hand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar with the beater attachment on medium speed for about a minute. Scrape down the sides and beat for another minute. Add in powdered sugar and vanilla and beat again for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then beat for another 30 seconds.

Step 7: Once the cake is cooled to room temperature, carefully remove the cake onto a serving dish or baking rack. *You may need to run a butter knife around the edges of the pan if it's stuck to it. Use a frosting spatula to frost with cream cheese frosting. I like to smooth it out with a butter knife after. Sprinkle the top with toasted coconut.

Banana cake slice topped with cream cheese frosting and toasted coconut.

Step 8: Cut into squares, serve and enjoy!

Expert Tips:

Bonus Points for really brown bananas. They make the cake sweet and delish!
The coconut toasts quick. Keep your eyes peeking at it every few minutes.
I like to spray the 8x8 pan with vegetable oil first, then cover the bottom in parchment paper. This way it slips right out of the pan.
Make sure the cream cheese and butter are softened to room temperature for the cream cheese frosting.
If you use a glass pan, instead of aluminum, it can take an extra 5-15 minutes to bake. Check the center with a toothpick and look for crumbs with no wet batter before removing from the oven.

If you love desserts with cream cheese, try this Cream Cheese Fruit Dip, Cream Cheese Danishes, Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting, and Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie.

More Sweets You'll Love:

If you tried this Banana Bread Cake Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!

Recipe