Packed with sweet banana flavour, a soft, fluffy texture, and a rich, buttery caramel-cream cheese topping, this easy homemade cake turns everyday ingredients into something special.

Slice of homemade banana bread cake with caramel frosting.

It’s also a brilliant way to use up overripe bananas sitting in your fruit bowl. Unlike traditional banana bread, this banana cake has a lighter, more tender crumb that pairs beautifully with creamy caramel cream cheese frosting.

Whether you’re baking for a family gathering, afternoon tea, or simply craving a homemade dessert, this recipe is sure to become a favourite.

Why You’ll Love This Banada Bread Cake Recipe

Incredibly moist and fluffy: Ripe bananas add natural sweetness and moisture, giving this homemade banana bread cake a wonderfully soft texture that stays delicious for days.
Rich caramel-cream cheese frosting: The buttery caramel and cream cheese topping adds a sweet and tangy, slightly toffee-like flavour that complements the bananas perfectly.
Easy and budget-friendly: Made with simple pantry staples and overripe bananas, this easy banana cake with caramel frosting is an affordable homemade dessert.
Perfect for any occasion: Serve it as an afternoon treat, a family dessert, or a homemade birthday cake. It’s delicious with tea, coffee, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Great for making ahead: This moist banana cake can be baked in advance, making it ideal for parties, bake sales, and weekend gatherings.

Removing a slice of homemade banana bread cake from a pan.

Ingredients Needed

Banana Cake:

3 very ripe large bananas
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cups unsalted butter (softened)
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
3 eggs (room temp)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups buttermilk (room temp)
1/2 cup caramel sauce (separate recipe)

Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 cup butter (room temp)
1/2 cup cream cheese (room temp)
3 cups icing sugar
1/2 cup caramel sauce (separate recipe)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt

How to Make Banana Bread Cake Extra Moist

The secret to a perfectly moist banana bread cake is using very ripe bananas. Look for bananas with plenty of brown spots on their skins, as these contain more natural sugars and mash easily into the batter.

For the best results, avoid overmixing your cake mixture once the flour has been added. Stir gently until the ingredients are just combined. Overmixing can develop too much gluten, resulting in a dense or slightly rubbery cake.

Sliced banana bread cake with caramel frosting.

Getting the Perfect Caramel CREAM CHEESE Frosting

A delicious caramel cream cheese frosting should be smooth, creamy, and easy to spread without being overly runny.

We have a wonderful recipe for making a simple homemade caramel sauce at home!

Why did my banana cake sink in the middle?

This can happen when the cake is underbaked, too much raising agent is used, or the oven door is opened too early. Make sure your oven is fully preheated and avoid checking the cake during the early stages of baking.

A Sweet Homemade Treat Worth Baking Again

This moist homemade banana bread cake with caramel cream cheese frosting is a delicious way to transform overripe bananas into something truly special. With its soft, tender crumb, naturally sweet banana flavour, and rich caramel topping, it’s a comforting homemade cake that’s perfect for almost any occasion.

Whether you enjoy it with your afternoon coffee, serve it as a family dessert, or share a few slices with friends, this easy banana cake is sure to be a hit.

So next time you spot a few overripe bananas in your kitchen, don’t throw them away. Turn them into a wonderfully moist banana bread cake with creamy caramel frosting instead!

Moist Homemade Banana Bread Cake with Caramel Frosting

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Author: Jane and Sonja

Ingredients

Banana Cake:

3 very ripe large bananas
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cups unsalted butter softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar packed
3 eggs room temp
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups buttermilk room temp
1/2 cup caramel sauce separate recipe

Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 cup butter room temp
1/2 cup cream cheese room temp
3 cups icing sugar
1/2 cup caramel sauce separate recipe
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray. You can also line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until smooth. Set the bananas aside.
In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, brown and white sugars on medium speed, until fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Beat in the eggs and vanilla until well combined, scraping down the sides as needed. Beat in the bananas.
Reduce speed to low. Starting with the dry ingredients, alternate adding the flour mixture and buttermilk in 3 instalments each, being careful to only beat until just incorporated. The batter will be lumpy.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Drizzle 1/2 cup of the caramel sauce over the batter and swirl around with a butter knife. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Set the pan on a wire rack to cool completely.

Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting:

Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth.
Lower the speed to low, and beat in the icing sugar, one cup at a time until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.
Add a 1/2 cup of the caramel sauce, along with the vanilla and salt, beat until smooth and incorporated.
Frost the cooked cake, and drizzle with extra caramel.

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