Plus LOTS of Banana Bread, Banana Cake
and
Banana Muffin Recipes!
Today, I am literally going bananas, as I try to cope with 2 kilos of varying degrees of very ripe (and black) bananas that my husband “forgot” to eat or use whilst I was away! Enter today’s recipe for Banana Bread Cake with Buttercream, which is a banana CAKE rather than a banana “BREAD”, which means it’s lighter and definitely more elegant for afternoon tea! It’s a cake of rustic elegance, with simple decoration and “naked” buttercream icing to finish it off, but, the buttery sponge base gives it a banana toffee kind of flavour, think Blue Bird toffees, and you’ll have an idea of the taste……rich and buttery but with a light texture.
I love banana bread, it’s that almost comforting taste of banana and cake in one bite that is an instant hit when eaten for elevenses or afternoon tea, and it’s a great treat to add to the school or office lunch box too. I have several recipes I make, and even a low sugar and calorie version for those not so naughty diet days, Coffee Shop Style Banana Bread. As well as all of my banana recipes, do have a look at all of the other FAB recipes my friends have shared at the end of this post too, it appears, we all love going bananas!
Banana Bread Scones with Brown Sugar Glaze
It’s clear that you can serve banana bread as a show stopper style cake for the afternoon tea-table, as my recipe today demonstrates; the recipes is baked in a round cake tin (instead of the usual loaf tin) and is then sandwiched and topped with a rich buttercream, resulting in an elegant but rustic cake that will please the most discerning of “afternoon tea takers”. I recently made a similar cake to take to a friend’s house for an informal dinner party dessert, and it went down so well that I only JUST managed to get a very thin slice myself. As with all banana breads, it’s nice to add the walnuts for texture and decoration, but I often add pecans too, when I have some to hand, and they work equally as well.
Black Banana Cake
I hope that you enjoy my recipe for Banana Bread Cake with Buttercream today, as shared below – don’t forget that you can freeze the cake before adding the buttercream icing, if you want to make this ahead – take the cake out to defrost overnight before adding the buttercream and serving it. And, please don’t forget to take a good look at all of the other banana cake, bread and muffin recipes at the end this post too! Have a FABULOUSLY relaxing Sunday, I’ll see you next week with more new recipes and traveller’s tales, Karen
Banana Bread Cake with Buttercream
Print recipe
| Serves | 12 slices |
| Prep time | 15 minutes |
| Cook time | 1 hour |
| Total time | 1 hour, 15 minutes |
| Allergy | Egg, Wheat |
| Dietary | Vegetarian |
| Meal type | Breakfast, Dessert, Snack |
| Misc | Child Friendly, Freezable, Serve Cold |
| Occasion | Barbecue, Birthday Party, Casual Party, Christmas, Easter, Halloween |
| Region | British |
| By author | Karen Burns-Booth |
Ingredients
Banana bread cake
- 225g self-raising flour
- 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- Pinch of salt
- 75g of unsalted butter, softened
- 175g of soft light brown sugar
- 2 free-range eggs, beaten (medium)
- 450g bananas, black or very ripe, peeled and mashed (weight after peeling)
- 100g of walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped
Buttercream icing
- 100g softened butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 200g icing sugar, sieved
Decoration
- 12 walnut or pecan halves
Note
A Banana Bread style cake, which is lighter than the usual banana bread, and is topped and sandwiched together with luscious buttercream. The cakes can be frozen after baking, and cooling and before icing - defrost before adding buttercream.
Directions
| Step 1 | Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Grease and line 2 x 18cm (7”) round cake tins with butter and baking paper. |
| Step 2 | Mix together the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt in a large mixing bowl. |
| Step 3 | Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy, then add the beaten eggs and flour mixture alternately, mixing well between each addition. |
| Step 4 | Stir in the mashed bananas and chopped walnuts (or pecans), and mix well. |
| Step 5 | Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tins and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until well risen and dark golden brown. |
| Step 6 | Take the cakes out of the oven and invert them on to wire cooling racks, allow them to cool completely before icing with the buttercream. |
| Step 7 | Make the Buttercream: Place all the ingredients for the buttercream into a large bowl and beat together until light and fluffy. (I use a hand held whisk for ease and speed) |
| Step 8 | Sandwich the two cakes together with half of the buttercream; spread the remaining buttercream over the top of the cake and then decorate with the walnut (or pecan) halves. |
“Going Bananas” Top Recipes:
Vegan Banana Cake by Fab Food 4 All
Banana, chocolate and walnut cake by The Ordinary Cook
Gooey Delicious Banana Cake by Kavey Eats
Banana, ginger and chocolate cake by Bangers and Mash
Ultimate Spiced Banana Bread with Almond Flour by Coffee and Vanilla
Bananatella Muffins by Munchies and Munchkins
BANANA BREAD WITH SALTED CARAMEL AND CACAO NIBS by Binny’s Kitchen
The Elvis Bundt by Frances Auty Bakes
Easy Gorgeous Chocolate Banana Bread by Eat Like a Girl
Chocolate and Banana Nut Cake by Farmersgirl Kitchen
Slow Cooker Blueberry Banana Bread by Baking Queen 74
BROWN BANANA MUFFINS BY Freycob
Caramelised Banana Bread by Glamorous Glutton
Gluten Free Banana and Chocolate Loaf by Sew White
Banana, Cranberry & Walnut Loaf by The English Kitchen
TRIPLE CHOCOLATE BANANA MUFFINS by Little Sunny Kitchen
Banana Bread with Streusel topping by Family, Friends, Food
FAIRTRADE Chocolate, Banana and Vanilla Muffins by Foodie Quine
Banana Bread, with Rum and Granola by Greedy Piglet
HONEY, BANANA & BLUEBERRY BREAKFAST BUNS
Janice says
Wow, what a beautiful cake! I love banana bread, cakes and muffins and sometimes even hide the bananas so they don’t get eaten before they fully ripen! This is a great resource to bookmark for next time I have bananas to ‘use up’.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Janice, I was VERY pleased with the cake type banana bread and Malcolm loved it too! Karen
Kavey at Kavey Eats says
I adore banana cake and banana bread! This cake looks so light and delicious, I’ll have to try it. I’m too prone to defaulting to my favourite banana bread when I have spare ripe bananas.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Bananas always seem to “go” all of a sudden don’t they Kavey? So, banana type breads etc seem to make a regular appearance in our house! Karen
Kath says
That looks delicious Karen, next time I have some overripe bananas this is the cake I will be making. Thanks for the link too.
Karen Burns-Booth says
This banana bread cake really was a huge hit here Kath! Thanks for your help with the ingredients list too! 😉 Karen
Jayne says
I wish I had seen this when I was contemplating what to do with three black bananas this morning! That scone looks amazing. I ended up making banana chocolate marble cake – looks jolly nice but much too decadent – it’s going to the local vets’ surgery tomorrow morning for their tea break. They definitely need the calories more than I do! BTW, I was looking at your coffee shop style cake recipe – have you tried using flax eggs or aquafaba (water from canned beans) in cakes – they both work really well in sturdy cakes, and it helps to keep the calories down. I’ve had some great results with things like gingerbread and carrot cake.
Karen Burns-Booth says
LOVE your ideas about using flax eggs and aquafaba water for those with dairy and egg intolerance Jayne! Never mind, next time you have black bananas and a cake to make for the vet or anyone else, you can make this cake then!
Thanks for popping by to comment, Karen
Dom says
Oh you’re know how much I love banana bread and this looks beyond divine! Look at that icing. Beautiful. Slice please!
Karen Burns-Booth says
I KNOW you are a BIG banana bread lover Dom! This icing is really the icing on the cake this time though! Karen
Mary Callan says
Oh my Goodness Karen, this is a beauty of a cake! I just made banana bread yesterday and was quite pleased with it – but I have to say yours takes it to another level! simply gorgeous!!
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Mary – this is just a lovely as a good, moist and squidgy banana bread but with a lighter texture and all of that naughty buttercream, icing! Karen
Charlene Flash says
Your banana cake looks amazing. What a fabulous way of using up lots of bananas x
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Charlene! It is a great way to use up black bananas! Karen
Lucy says
What an deliciius cake Karen, I love that banana bread that kitchen staple here can be made to look perfect for a special occasion too. Thanks for including my recipe with all the other delicious banana recipes.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks for letting me add your fab idea for a slow cooker cake too Lucy! I love that idea as I am a slow cooker addict! Karen
Agen Sabung Ayam says
I love food, people, traveling and thank you for sharing valuable information here.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks for popping by to leave a comment Agen! Karen
Judy Fryer says
Hi, I was at a coffee shop today and picked up a Sainsbury’s ( 2014) magazine to thumb threw whist writing for our food.
I found an article by you, talking about the 5.2 diet.
I was impressed with your weight loss and that of your husband…wow.
My question is, how do you lose weigh when you make such yummy cakes?
Karen Burns-Booth says
Ah yes, I remember that! I need to go back on the diet again! Lots of the things I make, I give away to neighbours, family and friends!Karen
Judy Fryer says
should read….whilst waiting for our food!
Karen Burns-Booth says
NO! LOL!
Galina V says
Fab cake! I have never made a banana cake with buttercream, must try it. And what an inspiring list of banana cakey recipes, just wow.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Galina, It tastes FAB with buttercream and looks like a proper posh cake! Karen
anna@annamayeveryday says
How funny, I made Banana Bread earlier this week, my go to solution for overripe bananas. Yours looks delicious Karen!
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Anna, yes, overripe bananas are a great excuse for banana bread or cake!
CakenGifts.in says
Excellent banana bread cake recipe!! Cake is looking so beautiful and very delicious. Surely, I will make your banana cake recipe.Thanks for sharing this good cake recipe.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thank you – it is a favourite cake here at Chez Lavender and Lovage!
nata de coco says
Excellent banana cake recipe!!
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thank you!