Banana Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

I can’t resist good deals from the Farmer’s Market. If I find a bag of something we like on sale or at a reduced price, I snatch it up. On my last trip, I purchased a huge bag of bananas. Like massively huge. I probably had 25 or 30 bananas. I’m not sure what I thought would happen; perhaps a group of monkeys would descend on my home and I’d have to feed them. Or maybe I’d go a strict only banana-eating frenzy. Neither of these scenarios happened.  Instead, I was left with a large stack of bananas. I asked my family to suggest dishes they’d like prepared with bananas. Banana Pudding won as a hands-down favorite.

This post has been updated with new tips and directions for 2021.

Even into my foray of making a boatload of banana pudding, I still had bananas to spare. I froze bananas to make smoothies, bread, and other desserts. With my last leftover bananas, I made a Banana Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe. Because who isn’t in the mood for dessert? Especially an easy semi-homemade one?

Banana Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

I created this cake in the spur-of-the-moment while digging through my pantry. I had a spice cake mix that needed to be used. I had bananas that needed to be used. Why not combine them? Spice cake mix + bananas? I wasn’t sure it would be a great combination. I decided to test my theory. After all, spice cake and bananas are pretty much the idea behind Hummingbird Cake. What could go wrong? Spoiler Alert: Thankfully, nothing.

banana spice cake with cream cheese frosting

I “spiced up” (ha! couldn’t resist) the cake by substituting milk for the water, adding real butter instead of oil, and using an extra egg. Then, I added three mashed bananas to the mixture. After the cake cooled, I added a homemade cream cheese frosting. I served a piece to my husband who is not a fan of spice cake or bananas. After his comment, “This is a good cake. What kind is it?” I knew this recipe was a keeper.

To make sure Bryan wasn’t trying to spare my feelings, I gave slices of cake to my neighbors. One of them called the next day to tell me “this cake was the best thing I ever put in her mouth.” She tells me this about a lot of my desserts, so that compliment could be taken with a grain of salt.

Ready to try the recipe for yourself?

Ingredients You’ll Need:

  • Spice Cake Mix
  • Bananas
  • butter
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Confectioner’s Sugar
  • Vanilla
  • Cream Cheese
  • Heavy Cream or additional milk

Banana Spice Cake Recipe

Cooking Tips:

  • If you’re in a hurry to soften cream cheese, unwrap the cream cheese and place it in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the cheese on high for 15 to 20 seconds.
  • My secret to a deliciously rich cream cheese frosting? Substitute cream instead of milk. It makes the cake over-the-top tasty.
  • This recipe used large eggs. If you have small eggs, add an additional two eggs to the batter. If you have medium eggs, add one additional egg.
  • To prevent the icing from melting, be sure the cake has cooled to room temperature before spreading frosting on the cake.
  • I made this as a sheet cake but you can also use two 9″ cake pans if you prefer.
  • The cake will keep up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

What is Powdered Sugar?

According to Bon Appetit, it is “granulated white sugar that’s been pulverized to a powder and mixed with a small but mighty amount of cornstarch.” You might find it called confectioner’s sugar, icing sugar, and 10X sugar, depending on where you shop.

Make Your Own Powdered Sugar:

It’s simple, although you will need a blender. For each cup of powdered sugar you need, mix:

  • 1 cup granulated sugar (just regular sugar)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • Place both ingredients in the blender and allow to process 10 to 15 seconds or until the mixture is smooth.

Printable Recipe:

Banana Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Recipe by Pam
Servings

16-20

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

30

minutes
Calorieskcal

An easy semi-homemade dessert with a delicious homemade cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients

  • For the cake:

  • 1 (15.2-ounce) box spice cake mix

  • 1 cup milk

  • 1 stick of butter, melted

  • 4 large eggs

  • 3 bananas, peeled and mashed

  • For the frosting:

  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

  • 2 cups confectioner’s sugar

  • 1/4 cup heavy cream (or as needed)

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, place the spice cake mix, milk, butter, and eggs. Using a mixer, stir until blended.
  • Add in the mashed bananas and beat until the mixture is well blended.
  • Pour the batter into a greased 9” by 9” baking dish. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove cake from oven and allow to cool completely before frosting.
  • To Make the Frosting:
  • Place melted cream cheese into a large mixing bowl.
    Add the vanilla and powdered sugar. Mix on medium speed until mixture is blended, 1 to 2 minutes.
    .
     
  • Slowly add the cream, beating constantly, until the frosting is the desired consistency. Spread the frosting on the cooled cake. Store the iced cake in the fridge.
     
Banana Spice Cake Recipe

I hope this Banana Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting adds a slice of sweetness to your next batch of bananas. What are your favorite ways to “spice up” a cake? Do you have a favorite easy cake recipe for those days you are in a hurry?

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19 Comments

  1. I’ve never made anything like this before. Looks like a delicious recipe!

  2. Oh goodness! This banana cake and cream cheese frosting makes my mouth water. Would be the perfect summer treat especially with the heatwave we’ve been experiencing.

  3. Looks good! I love banana flavor dessert. I can’t wait to try this!

  4. I love banana anything so this is right up my alley. Add the cream cheese frosting and we have heaven. mmm.

  5. This looks delicious! My mom likes banana cake so I bet she would love this. I’ll have to share it with her.

  6. I have a sweet tooth and that cake is making me drool. Can you please send a slice my way? 🙂 Can’t wait to try your recipe.

  7. I do love cream cheese frosting. I never thought of making a spiced cake with bananas.

  8. This sounds amazingly different! I’ve never seen another recipe similar to this one. It looks delicious.

  9. I love a good carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Can’t wait to give this recipe a try. It looks really yummy.

  10. My husband loves banana cake so I have to make this recipe and surprise him with a new way to make it. Looks delish

  11. Never would i have thought to make a spice cake with banana! This sounds like a great treat for my son, his two favorites in one!

  12. Well now that sounds amazing. I have to try some of that, it just looks and sounds so good. I love spice cake and I love cream cheese frosting, two of my favorites.

  13. This looks super yummy and flavorful. I think the kids are going to love it. One of my favorite cakes.

  14. This looks like a great recipe! I can’t wait to try it!

  15. This looks SOOO good! I love anything banana. Going to make this!

  16. This is my absolute favorite cake. I can’t wait to try your recipe it looks super moist and delicious.

  17. Please can I have a slice, this sounds incredible. There is nothing like a good piece of cake and this one sounds incredible, I’m going to have to try and make it.

  18. That banana flavor does sound really good. What a treat! I’d love to make some of this cake.

  19. What a tasty dessert! I know I’d love this–I’m a huge fan of bananas and I so love cream cheese frosting.