A tender, ultra-moist banana cake crafted from overripe bananas and full-fat sour cream, then finished with a generous layer of silky cream cheese frosting. Perfect for birthdays, afternoon tea, or any time you crave a sweet-tangy treat.
😍 Why You’ll Love This
- Zero-waste hero: Transforms spotty, overripe bananas into pure dessert gold.
- Remarkably moist: Sour cream and bananas lock in hydration that lasts for days.
- Easy preparation: Basic pantry ingredients, no fancy gadgets required.
- Flavor balance: Sweet banana cake meets tangy, smooth cream cheese frosting.
- Make-ahead friendly: Bake today, frost tomorrow—taste even better after resting.
- Family favorite: Consistently the first dessert to disappear at gatherings!
🛒 Ingredients
For the Cake
- 115 g unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 300 g granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 240 g full-fat sour cream
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 250 g all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 240 g mashed overripe bananas (about 3 medium bananas with brown spots)
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 115 g unsalted butter, softened
- 225 g full-fat cream cheese, chilled
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 375 g powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 Tbsp heavy whipping cream, chilled
👩🍳 Preparation
- Preheat & Pan Prep
Preheat your oven to 175 °C (350 °F). Grease and line a 23 × 33 cm (9 × 13″) baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2 cm overhang for easy cake removal. - Cream Butter & Sugar
In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, cream together butter and granulated sugar on medium speed for 3–4 minutes, until the mixture turns pale and fluffy. This step incorporates air for a lighter crumb. - Incorporate Eggs & Sour Cream
Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the bowl, then mix in sour cream and vanilla extract until just combined and silky. - Fold in Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing until no streaks of flour remain—do not overmix or you’ll develop gluten. - Add Bananas & Finish Batter
Gently fold mashed bananas into the batter using a spatula. The goal is an even distribution of banana without deflating the air you’ve whipped in. Stop folding as soon as the banana swirls are incorporated. - Bake the Cake
Pour batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top. Bake on the center rack for 25–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted at the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. The edges will pull away slightly from the pan. - Cool Completely
Let the cake rest in the pan for 10 minutes. Then lift it out using the parchment overhang and transfer to a wire rack. Cool fully to room temperature before frosting—if you frost too soon, the frosting will melt. - Make the Frosting
In a clean bowl, beat butter and cream cheese on low speed until smooth. Add vanilla, then gradually add powdered sugar, alternating with heavy cream. Increase to medium-high speed and whip 2–3 minutes until light, fluffy, and spreadable. - Frost the Cake
Place the cooled cake on your serving platter. Use an offset spatula to spread the frosting evenly, creating swirls or peaks for texture. For extra flair, top with banana slices or chopped walnuts just before serving.
💡 Tips & Tricks
- Perfect Bananas: Choose bananas with ample brown spots—they’re sweeter and blend more smoothly.
- Room-Temperature Ingredients: Butter, eggs, and sour cream at room temperature blend more evenly and trap more air.
- Avoid Runny Frosting: Keep cream cheese and heavy cream chilled until mixing. If frosting softens, refrigerate 15 minutes and rewhip.
- Make-Ahead: Bake and wrap unfrosted cake up to 2 days ahead. Frost just before serving for maximum freshness.
- Freeze Portions: Cut into squares, wrap individually, and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
🎉 Final Thought
This Cream Cheese Frosted Banana Cake is the ultimate in comfort baking—rich, moist banana cake meets tangy-sweet frosting for a dessert that shines at any celebration. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or craving a simple treat, you’ll enjoy each forkful more than the last. 🤤