Old-Fashioned Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
PUBLISHED ON: 10.27.2011
My intentions are always good when it comes to using overripe bananas. Rarely do I manage to actually follow through on my romantic baking notions and I end-up discarding my bananas. This time I was on my game, and produced an absolutely delicious banana cake with a cream cheese frosting.
Old-Fashioned Banana Cake
Serves 8
Recipe from Ina Garten
Ingredients:
3 very ripe bananas, mashed
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Grated zest of 1 orange
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)
Walnut halves, optional
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 35 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9×2-inch round cake pan.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix with bananas, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on low speed until combined. With the mixer still on low, add the oil, eggs, sour cream, vanilla, orange zest. Mix until smooth.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Stir in the chopped walnuts. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45-50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, turn out onto a cooling rack, and cool completely.
Spread the frosting thickly on the top of the cake and decorate with walnut halves.
Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar (1/2 pound)
Directions:
Mix the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on low speed until just combined. Don’t whip! Add the sugar and mix until smooth.
Enjoy!
pam
Nothing beats a good old fashioned banana cake! I usually end up putting my bananas in the freezer. I can never coordinate their ripeness and my use of them.
Kalyani
Wow looks yummy and delicious ….
Sue/the view from great island
Delicious. I can see how moist it is from your photo.
Judy
You can always count on Ina to produce a delicious recipe. This looks great, and congrats on using your bananas for such a noble cause!
Rachana
I love banana cake and this looks perfect.
AikoVenus
This looks so tasty and better than most banana breads that I've seen! ^^ The frosting looks extra yummy too.
nanny
OK, I'm gonna make this one!! It Looks Wonderful!
The JR
I'd luv to have a slice of that right now as a pick me up!
Nutmeg Nanny
This look amazing! I'm always looking for new recipes using bananas…yum!
From Beyond My Kitchen Window
I have never had anything of Ina's that wasn't delicious. This banana cake looks moist and yummy. I'll put this one on my list.
tasteofbeirut
Excellent recipe! I love to convert bananas into cake or muffins; yours sounds delicious especially with the frosting!
Michelle
The cream cheese icing totally makes me want to make this.
scrambledhenfruit
I always have a few over-ripe bananas to make into something delicious. This cake looks really good! 🙂
Marguerite
Looks heavenly and I can't wait to try it! Thanks for the great recipe!
Big Dude
This sounds so good especially with the cream cheese icing.
Kim
Oh Velva! I've been wanting to make this cake for ages. I need to plan a get together so I can make it and share it with lots of other people. That way I can ensure I'll only eat one piece:) Looks awesome!
T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types
I'm the same way – too many things go bad before I get around to baking. However, I recently learned that you can freeze bananas and use them in smoothies. It worked, and I had less guilt with my last over-ripe bunch!
Cathy at Wives with Knives
What could be more delicious than this old fashioned recipe for banana cake! I have tried Ina's recipe and love it.
Barbara
Such a lovely moist cake, Velva. Sour cream seems to be the magic ingredient, doesn't it? Besides, you can't go wrong with a Barefoot Contessa recipe!
abbey
I've never had banana cake! Yum! But I make banana bread all the time and love it with cream cheese so I'm sure this is awesome!
trump
I'm just passing by and thought id say hello. We will be receiving some snow this weekend in Pennsylvania, and the leaves are just about at their peek colors. I hope everyone has a very nice weekend. Richard from Amish Stories.
SavoringTime in the Kitchen
Oh, this sounds great! I usually end up throwing out bananas too but next time I am going to try this. It looks beautifully moist!
That Girl
I have the same banana problem!
Claudia
Picture perfect! I usually make bread – but I love the touch of decadence and frosting in this. I just freeze my overripe bananas and then they are always there when inspired.
Jeannie
Love this banana cake, looks so moist and the cream cheese sure looks good!
Kat
I have two very ripe bananas on my shelf right now. But, alas, the oven element is broken……
Joanne
I'm the same way! We always seem to have rotting bananas around and they more often than not end up in the garbage. Sigh. Next time, they're going into this cake!
Jayanthy Kumaran
Mmmm….delicious with great flavors..;)Tasty Appetite
Beth
What a lovely cake. It's been a while since I baked a banana cake. Maybe I should try again!
Hungry Dog
I can never decide how I really feel about banana-flavored things, but banana cake (topped with this gorgeous frosting) is something I can get on board with. Looks like heaven!
Kitchen Belleicious
this is what I have been missing in my life- banana cake. You know I have had frosting with a hint of banana to it but never an actual banana cake- I love this! So making it for my banana obsessed dad who is coming here in a few weeks! thanks for an awesome recipe yet again
Anonymous
I'm sure the oven temp should be set at 350 deg, not 35 deg, right? 🙂 thank you for the recipe!