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Old Fashioned Banana Cake Recipe

November 12, 2019 by April Harris 62 Comments

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Easy Old Fashioned Banana Cake

Easy Old Fashioned Banana Cake

This Old Fashioned Banana Cake recipe is easy to make, a cinch to decorate, and it tastes amazing. You probably have all the ingredients on hand right now!

I love banana breads, loaves, muffins and cakes, and this Old Fashioned Banana Cake is one of my absolute favourites. It takes hardly any time to make and I always get compliments on how pretty it looks. I started with some inspiration and a recipe from Ina Garten, but as usual I’ve played around with a bit.

I first blogged the recipe 8 years ago in 2011. In the photo from 2016 below, you can see I’ve used pecans instead of walnuts for the cake. They both work really well.

Old Fashioned Banana Cake, a delicious traditional banana cake everyone will love

Easy To Make Old Fashioned Banana Cake

This Old Fashioned Banana Cake really is easy to throw together, but what I like best is that it’s easy to decorate too. I often use a Cream Cheese Frosting for this cake, but Buttercream Icing flavoured with either vanilla or almond extract also works really well. Whichever frosting I choose, I sometimes grate a little orange rind into it to echo the orange rind in the cake.

Although it not as beautiful without the frosting, this cake tastes great naked too, so don’t feel obliged to make icing for it if you are in a hurry.

Old Fashioned Banana Cake

Top Tips for Making Old Fashioned Banana Cake

I almost always reduce the sugar in banana breads and cakes, and this recipe is no exception. Bananas are pretty sweet as it is, and half a cup of white sugar is plenty.

I prefer to use mild olive oil in this cake but any mild vegetable oil will work in a pinch.

Feel free to swap the nuts around, depending on what you have on hand. While bananas and walnuts are a classic combination, pecans are lovely with banana too.

Did you know you can ‘mash’ bananas in an electric mixer? The last time I made Old Fashioned Banana Cake I was in a real hurry, so I just broke the bananas up a bit and put them in my KitchenAid mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. It mashed the bananas beautifully.

Of course, you can just mash the bananas with a fork and use a bowl and wooden spoon to make this easy Old Fashioned Banana Cake recipe as well.

Great For Last Minute Entertaining

I love to keep an Old Fashioned Banana Cake on hand for impromptu entertaining. It keeps really well at room temperature for up to 3 days, and it’s so nice to be able to offer unexpected guests a slice of cake with their cup of tea or coffee.

Old Fashioned Banana Cake

Definitely an oldie but a goodie, this Old Fashioned Banana Cake is one of the best go-to cakes for last minute entertaining I know. Quick to put together, easy to decorate and oh-so-delicious, I’m sure it will become as much of a staple in your home as it has in mine!

Old Fashioned Banana Cake – Printable Recipe

5.0 from 8 reviews
Old Fashioned Banana Cake
 
Print
Prep time
15 mins
Cook time
45 mins
Total time
1 hour
 
Author: adapted from a recipe by Ina Garten
Recipe type: Dessert
Serves: 8 to 10 slices
Ingredients
  • 2 cups all purpose (plain) flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3 very ripe bananas
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • ½ cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
  • ½ cup mild olive oil
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • ½ cup sour cream or crème fraîche
  • 1½ teaspoons vanilla
  • grated zest of one orange
  • ½ cup walnuts or pecans, chopped, plus extra nut halves for garnish
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Grease and flour or line a 9 x 2 inch round cake pan.
  3. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
  4. Break up the bananas and put them in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Turn the mixer on low to 'mash' the bananas.
  5. Add the white and brown sugars and blend well.
  6. Add the oil, eggs, sour cream or crème fraîche, vanilla and orange zest. Blend thoroughly.
  7. Add the sifted flour, baking soda and salt. Mix just until combined.
  8. Stir in the chopped nuts.
  9. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
  10. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until the top of the cake springs back when touched lightly and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
  11. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for ten minutes, before turning out to cool completely on a rack.
  12. When the cake is completely cool, frost with your favourite cream cheese icing and decorate with walnut or pecan halves.
Notes
Adapted from Ina Garten's The Barefoot Contessa How Easy is That
3.4.3177

 

More Recipes Using Over-Ripe Bananas

Vintage Banana Nut Loaf

Chocolate Banana Snack Cake

Chocolate Banana Bundt Cake

Banana Rum Raisin Cake

Banana and Chia Seed Muffins

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Filed Under: Cake, Desserts, Food, Recipes Tagged With: banana cake, cakes, desserts, Ina Garten's Old Fashioned Banana Cake, old fashioned banana cake, walnut and banana cake

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Comments

  1. Swathi says

    April 2, 2013 at 6:27 pm

    That is one of delicious cake Love it. I am in love as it is banana cake .

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      April 9, 2013 at 6:18 am

      Thank you, Swathi! Banana cake is one of my favourites too 🙂

      Reply
  2. Becky @ From Ministry to Motherhood says

    April 3, 2013 at 2:22 am

    This looks beautiful! I love a gorgeous banana cake and I have some bananas on the counter that were just about to go in the freezer. Now I think they’ll wind up in a cake. Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      April 9, 2013 at 6:17 am

      It’s a pleasure, Becky! I hope you enjoy it 🙂

      Reply
  3. Andrea says

    April 3, 2013 at 3:13 pm

    Yum- I want to convert this recipe to gluten free (and I wish it was ready right now!) It looks like a lovely cake April!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      April 9, 2013 at 6:19 am

      Thank you, Andrea. Barb from Frugal Local Kitchen is thinking of converting the recipe to gluten free as well. (Her comment is below.) Please let me know how it goes if you do 🙂

      Reply
  4. Alana says

    April 5, 2013 at 12:58 pm

    This looks delicious!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      April 9, 2013 at 6:19 am

      Thank you 🙂

      Reply
  5. Barb @ Frugal Local Kitchen says

    April 5, 2013 at 3:14 pm

    That looks decidedly delicious! Off the top of my head, I might go with a combination of almond flour and coconut flour to make it gluten free plus use unflavored coconut oil. I would hate to turn the cake into a more tropical dessert with the coconut flavor.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      April 9, 2013 at 6:17 am

      I’d love to hear how you get on converting the recipe to gluten free, Barb. Although my family can eat gluten, I am very interested in gluten free recipes 🙂

      Reply
  6. Rattlebridge Farm says

    April 5, 2013 at 4:02 pm

    April, your cake is beautiful. And it’s diet friendly since it uses less sugar. Thank you for including it! Foodie Friday will celebrate its 4th anniversary on April 11th (hard to believe we’ve been around that long, isn’t it?!), so please join us!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      April 9, 2013 at 6:16 am

      Thank you, Michael. Wow, four years! That’s wonderful – Congratulations 🙂 I’ll be there!

      Reply
  7. Kim says

    April 6, 2013 at 3:15 pm

    That sounds absolutely delicious! My mom makes a fabulous banana bread that contains sour cream. I wonder if this is more desserty version, especially with the frosting. Yum! Definitely going onto my Pinterest food board-Thanks!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      April 9, 2013 at 6:14 am

      Sounds like it may well be similar to your Mom’s recipe, Kim. It’s adapted from the Barefoot Contessa 🙂 Thank you for pinning it!

      Reply
  8. Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile says

    April 8, 2013 at 11:29 am

    Oh your pictures are great and your this banana cake delicious. New follower from Michelle’s, See ya at the Gumbo. I would love for you to link up to my party Tuesday Trivia tomorrow @ http://www.memoriesbythemile.com/
    Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      April 9, 2013 at 6:20 am

      Thank you, Wanda Ann! I’ll look forward to visiting later today 🙂

      Reply
  9. Michelle says

    April 9, 2013 at 1:41 am

    What are you doing to me with all of these irresistible desserts?!
    My MIL always made banana cake for my husband’s birthday. Don’t tell, but yours looks loads better. His birthday is coming up at the end of the month–I’ll make this for him. Thanks for linking…and for the birthday cake.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      April 9, 2013 at 6:12 am

      Thank you, Michelle, what a lovely compliment! I hope your husband loves the cake 🙂

      Reply
  10. Jennifer M. says

    April 9, 2013 at 12:10 pm

    I saw this on Tempt my tummy, it has been a long time since I have seen banana cake, I had to pop over! Yours looks delicious ! Thank you for sharing! I am going to pin this on my cake board!
    Have a great week.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      April 15, 2013 at 2:36 pm

      I’m so glad you like the recipe, Jennifer! Thank you for pinning it 🙂

      Reply
  11. Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat says

    April 9, 2013 at 3:18 pm

    Saw this cake on Recipe Critic and it caught my eye. What a great way to use up those super ripe bananas! Sounds wonderful!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      April 15, 2013 at 2:36 pm

      Thank you, Holly!

      Reply
  12. Esther Irish (@LaughWithUsBlog) says

    April 12, 2013 at 12:36 am

    It’s so pretty! I’ve never made banana cake, lot of banana bread, but not cake.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      April 15, 2013 at 2:37 pm

      Thank you, Esther. I find banana bread and cake very similar, banana bread is just a bit heavier and I always feel a bit less guilty when I eat it 😉 Banana cake is my favourite though.

      Reply
  13. Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes says

    April 14, 2013 at 9:36 pm

    Ooh! It has been awhile since I’ve visited you, April! Love your new look 🙂

    Your cake sounds so wonderful – my boys will purposely let the bananas turn brown – because they know those ones are for baking 😉 Thanks so much for linking up to All My Bloggy Friends!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      April 15, 2013 at 2:38 pm

      Thank you, Jamie! I’m really excited about the new look 🙂 I’m glad you like the sound of my banana cake. I always like to have bananas ready for baking too!

      Reply
  14. Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C says

    December 28, 2016 at 6:23 pm

    I was just thinking about all the ripe bananas in my freezer. This would be perfect! I appreciate your tip about using the mixer to mash the bananas.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      December 30, 2016 at 4:58 pm

      Thank you, Andrea 🙂

      Reply
  15. Platter Talk says

    December 28, 2016 at 6:45 pm

    I think I’ll choose the cake with the pecans! What a tasty sounding, beautiful cake!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      December 30, 2016 at 4:58 pm

      Thank you so much, Dan 🙂

      Reply
  16. Veena says

    December 28, 2016 at 7:37 pm

    I love Banana Cake and this looks so delish!! Can’t wait to try.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      December 30, 2016 at 4:58 pm

      Thank you, Veena!

      Reply
  17. Lisa | Garlic + Zest says

    December 28, 2016 at 7:57 pm

    I haven’t had banana cake since my nieces were down to visit two years ago — they inhaled it — now I want another one!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      December 30, 2016 at 4:59 pm

      I love banana cakes – I’m glad I’ve reminded you of what a treat they are, Lisa 🙂

      Reply
  18. Ali says

    December 28, 2016 at 8:18 pm

    That looks so yummy! I’ve never made a banana cake, but this would definitely be worth trying out!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      December 30, 2016 at 4:59 pm

      Thank you, Ali. It really is worth a try!

      Reply
  19. Amanda says

    December 28, 2016 at 9:39 pm

    This looks delicious. I’ve never had banana cake. I’d have to convert it to gluten free, too, but that orange rind in it sounds wonderful!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      December 30, 2016 at 5:00 pm

      I’m not doing as much gluten free baking as I should, Amanda, but I’m sure you would be able to convert this recipe. I hope you give it a try! Please do let me know what you think if you do.

      Reply
  20. Anne says

    December 29, 2016 at 4:07 pm

    Oh wow this cake! I need need need it! Love bananas especially in baking applications.

    Reply
  21. The Ninja Baker says

    December 29, 2016 at 9:48 pm

    Wow! Love your tips and I just happen to have 3 ripe bananas which are headed for the KitchenAid =)

    Reply
    • The Ninja Baker says

      January 4, 2017 at 5:49 am

      P.s. I made your delicious recipe into cupcakes! They are deeeeeelicious =) (Posting later this week.)

      Reply
      • April Harris says

        January 5, 2017 at 3:48 pm

        What a great idea, Kim! I’m excited to see your post 🙂

        Reply
  22. sue | theviewfromgreatisland says

    December 30, 2016 at 5:52 pm

    I’m a HUGE banana cake AND Ina Garten fan, so I’m all over this cake!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      December 31, 2016 at 9:30 am

      Thank you, Sue! I’m so glad you like it 🙂

      Reply
  23. Miz Helen says

    January 10, 2017 at 1:40 am

    Hi April,
    Your Old Fashioned Banana Cake looks amazing, we will love it! Thanks so much for sharing this awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday. Hope you are having a great week and come back to see us real soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      January 10, 2017 at 8:01 am

      Thank you, Miz Helen! Hope you have a great week too 🙂

      Reply
  24. Catherine Sokolowski says

    November 13, 2019 at 8:51 pm

    Everything you make looks and sounds so delicious. I am always looking for ways to use ripe bananas. This recipe looks like a perfect way to use them!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      November 15, 2019 at 12:24 pm

      Thank you so much, Catherine! What a lovely compliment!

      Reply
  25. Create With Joy says

    November 15, 2019 at 12:21 am

    This looks SO good April – going on my list of treats to try! 🙂

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      November 15, 2019 at 12:34 pm

      Thank you so much, Ramona!

      Reply
  26. mireille says

    November 15, 2019 at 3:04 pm

    I love finding new recipes with bananas. Thanks for sharing.
    http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      November 15, 2019 at 10:25 pm

      Thank you, Mireille!

      Reply
  27. Joanne @ No Plate Like Home says

    November 15, 2019 at 3:35 pm

    Looks and sounds delicious! I need to make this.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      November 15, 2019 at 10:25 pm

      Thank you, Joanne!

      Reply
  28. All That I'm Eating says

    November 19, 2019 at 2:14 pm

    You can never go wrong with banana cake! Really like the sound of the icing on your cake, I don’t tend to ice mine but I really should!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      November 20, 2019 at 11:09 am

      Thank you! It tastes great without icing, but I’m encouraged to ice this one as it’s so easy to decorate. (I’m not great at fancy cake decorating…yet! 😉 )

      Reply
  29. Miz Helen says

    November 19, 2019 at 3:16 pm

    Your Old Fashioned Banana Cake looks delicious, I love the older recipes! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday, 457. Hope you are having a great week and come back to see us real soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      November 20, 2019 at 11:09 am

      Thank you so much, Miz Helen! I think we share a love of vintage recipes 🙂 Hope you are having a great week too!

      Reply
  30. Marilyn Lesniak says

    November 22, 2019 at 11:51 pm

    Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Happy Holiday!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      November 23, 2019 at 5:13 pm

      Thank you, Marilyn!

      Reply
  31. Claire says

    November 23, 2019 at 8:24 am

    I need a slice of this right now April and it’s breakfast time! Ha, looks so yummy. Thanks for sharing at the weekly link up. Just pinned and shared on Twitter too 🙂

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      November 23, 2019 at 5:14 pm

      Thank you, Claire, and thank you for sharing too!

      Reply

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