Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

I found a huge bags of ripe bananas at the Farmer’s Market for 99 cents. ย It was a bargain, so I grabbed the bananas and brought them home. ย That’s when I thought, “What am I going to do with all these bananas before they get over ripe and mushy?” I knew the usual ideas; smoothies, frozen banana slices, and banana pops, but I wanted something different. I found this banana cake with cream cheese frosting recipe in one of my cookbooks. I adapted it to make it gluten free and changed the frosting slightly. It was a huge hit with the entire family, although I saw my gluten free daughter sneaking pieces whenever she thought no one was looking. It’s definitely earned a place in our permanent dessert rotation!
Gluten Free Banana Cake Recipe

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

This recipe sounds more complicated to make than it is! It can be mixed together in around ten minutes. If you don’t need a gluten free version, simply use all purpose flour instead of the gluten free all purpose flour. The sour cream in these bars helps to give this cake a rich moist texture.
banana sheet cake
Be sure to store these bars in the fridge (if they last that long!)

Printable Recipe:

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (can substitute almond extract for a different taste)
  • 2 cups gluten free all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 ripe bananas, mashed (I used medium sized bananas)
  • FROSTING:
  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 teaspoons almond extract (if you prefer a less almond-y taste, reduce the amount of extract to 1 teaspoon.)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350ยฐ. Mix the butter and sugar in a large bowl until mixture is light and fluffy. Add the eggs, the sour cream and the almond extract.
  2. In a separate bowl, combine the gluten free (OR regular) all purpose flour, baking soda and salt. Slowly add the flour mixture to creamed mixture. Stir in the mashed bananas.
  3. Spread the batter evenly into a greased 13″ by 9″ baking pan. Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Allow cake to cool before frosting.
  4. To make the frosting:
  5. Beat the cream cheese, butter and almond extract until fluffy. Slowly beat in enough confectioners’ sugar to your desired consistency. Frost the bars with the cream cheese frosting.
  6. Important: Store the bars in the refrigerator.

Important: Store the bars in the fridge!
banana cake with cream cheese frosting

This cake has been declared the best gluten free banana cake with cream cheese frosting by my family. Try it yourself and let us know what you think! What are your favorite uses for over ripe bananas?

You might like these recipes:
Southern Style Banana Pudding (with gluten free option)
Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Bread (gluten free)
Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter “Ice Cream” (gluten free)

 

38 Comments

  1. ascendingbutterfly

    I would like off all the frosting! LOL I like to eat banana’s but just plain, I don’t eat them in cakes or bread, I know, weird right?

    Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly

  2. I love banana cake and this recipe with the sour cream looks wonderful. The cream cheese frosting is just too tempting. I have never had banana cake with frosting and now this gives me ideas.

  3. I will be honest I cant eat bananas so maybe I can substitute this recipe for something else like maybe pineapples. Its still looks good and glad its made without gluten.

  4. The cake looks delicious and so spongy. My nieces love banana cake and they’ll be spending time with us this weekend, so I might try your recipe soon ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. I would love a piece right now! You don’t often find something this tasty sounding that is also gluten free!

  6. I love banana cake – it’s such a good, unexpected flavor! I have a recipe on my blog with nutella frosting, I love the cream cheese idea as a chocolate-free alternative!

  7. I have not had banana cake in so long! I love that you made a gluten free version. Sounds delicious.

  8. Everybody in the house loves banana. This will surely be a hit!

  9. My youngest loves all things banana so I’ve always got a bunch in the kitchen. It’s good to have another recipe to use up the ones that are looking a little overly ripe.

  10. Wow this banana cake looks so moist and flavorful. Just delicious. Goes perfectly with afternoon tea right?! ๐Ÿ™‚ It’s a keeper for sure. Pinning! ๐Ÿ˜‰

  11. This is going to be perfect for dessert this week. I will have to get the ingredients I need to make it. I love banana everything.

  12. I make banana cake almost every week now! Love this gluten-free one! That frosting makes it irresistible!

  13. I have made banana bread not that long ago. I like the bread and also try to keep it gluten free.
    I will have to check into your recipe here and give it a go.

  14. This looks SO good! A sure hit with my kids!

  15. Delightful combination of banana and cream cheese, I need to try this soon.I like to bake easy cakes to have a slice with my coffee.

  16. I bet this tastes awesome. Cream cheese and bananas together just sounds like it would taste oh so good. I need to try this recipe.

  17. I love banana cake! I might have to add a drizzle of salted caramel on top but the recipe for the cake sounds so good!

  18. Banana cake is one of my favorites! This one looks absolutely delicious. So light and fluffy

  19. Banana bread is my all time favorite. Love how delicious this is

  20. Oh this sounds like such a treat! I could really go for those flavors right now. This is an awesome way to use bananas!

  21. Oh how I’ve done that same thing! “This is too good a deal to pass up!” then get home and think “What on earth am I going to do with all of this xyz?” You found a great solution to your banana situation with this recipe! Nice job!

  22. I love and dessert made out of bananas. Cake, bread, and pie. Yum. Even better when it has cream cheese frosting. One of my favorites.

  23. I’m always looking for ways to use up overripe bananas!!! This sounds so tasty.. If only I had any bananas left!!!

  24. I eat a lot of banana pudding with my ripe bananas, but haven’t had a cake yet. This one sounds amazing. I’ll definitely have to try it with the family soon!

  25. strawberryblondiekitchen

    Your banana cake looks moist and delicious. My MIL makes a banana bread cake that reminds me of this but she using peanut butter frosting which I also think would be awesome on yours. However, I prefer cream cheese frosting so next time, I’m making this for her!

  26. We love anything Banana in our family so I’m totally on board with this recipe. Saving it for later..Yum yum yum.. Can’t wait to try. Thanks

  27. I love using bananas in so many things. They just add a lot of natural sweetness to things. And anything with cream cheese has to taste great ๐Ÿ™‚

  28. Looks delicious! I always end up with tons of ripe bananas and freeze them for smoothies. Now I have another option!

  29. We love banana bread or muffins and isn’t it great you got the bananas on sale. We freeze bananas as soon as they begin to get too ripe. They are so handy for making delicious breads like yours.

  30. I usually end up making banana pancakes but the cake idea sounds look a great choice next time.

  31. For me, baked items with banana remind me so much of my mom. She made the best banana bread and banana cookies. And, her banana pie was to die for. I’m so on board with everything about this recipe. It looks delicious.

  32. I am a big fan of plain frozen bananas but I have to admit that that banana cake and frosting looks so good I may try it. Will keep looking for the DIY and pets posts.

  33. Cream cheese frosting is my absolutely favourite! My mouth is watering just thinking about it…

  34. I think banana cake might just be my favorite cake of all time. Such a lovely flavor and all that moisture, just perfect. Love that frosting.

  35. I bet my son would enjoy this. He’s gluten-free and baked goods are where I feel he loses out the most.

  36. robin masshole mommy

    This sounds so tasty! I am drooling over here. I want to make this ASAP.

  37. I can’t wait to make this! I have a friend who can’t have gluten, and she’s never been satisfied with the gluten free desserts that she’s tried. I can’t wait to make this for her!

  38. That looks amazing! Banana bread is one of my favorites, but I’ve never heard of banana cake before. I must try this!