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.
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.
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
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
16-20
servings30
minutes30
minutesAn 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.
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?
I’ve never made anything like this before. Looks like a delicious recipe!
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.
Looks good! I love banana flavor dessert. I can’t wait to try this!
I love banana anything so this is right up my alley. Add the cream cheese frosting and we have heaven. mmm.
This looks delicious! My mom likes banana cake so I bet she would love this. I’ll have to share it with her.
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.
I do love cream cheese frosting. I never thought of making a spiced cake with bananas.
This sounds amazingly different! I’ve never seen another recipe similar to this one. It looks delicious.
I love a good carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Can’t wait to give this recipe a try. It looks really yummy.
My husband loves banana cake so I have to make this recipe and surprise him with a new way to make it. Looks delish
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!
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.
This looks super yummy and flavorful. I think the kids are going to love it. One of my favorite cakes.
This looks like a great recipe! I can’t wait to try it!
This looks SOOO good! I love anything banana. Going to make this!
This is my absolute favorite cake. I can’t wait to try your recipe it looks super moist and delicious.
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.
That banana flavor does sound really good. What a treat! I’d love to make some of this cake.
What a tasty dessert! I know I’d love this–I’m a huge fan of bananas and I so love cream cheese frosting.