I love to bake from scratch, but sometimes there just isn’t enough time in a day. That’s where my easy banana cake comes in. I always have a stock pile of cake mixes in the pantry, and I love to doctor them up and make them my own.
Easy Banana Cake Recipe
Banana cake is one of my favorite treats, and I have a few different recipes here on the blog that I like to make. But this easy banana cake using cake mix is faster and still uber delicious!
That’s why doctoring up a cake mix can be a real time saver for me. I love to bake from scratch, but I don’t always have the time to do that. This particular doctored cake mix recipe is one of my favorites to date, along with my Banana Pudding Poke Cake! I’ve added some tasty spices and yummy ripe bananas, then topped it with some banana flavored whipped cream frosting.
You will need these ingredients:
- 16.25 ounce box white cake mix PLUS ingredients on back of box
- Milk (replace water measurement on box with milk)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 medium ripe bananas mashed or broken into large chunks
For the Frosting
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 4.3 ounce package banana cream instant pudding
- 1 cup milk
Helpful kitchen tools:
Kitchen Tip
- Some white cake mixes have two versions, one with egg whites and one with whole eggs. If yours has this option, use the number of eggs called for in the whole-egg version.
How to Make Easy Banana Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 13×9 baking pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together dry cake mix, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt.
- Use milk in place of the water on the back of the cake mix box and use whole eggs instead of egg whites. Use oil as directed on box. Add milk, eggs, oil and bananas to the mixing bowl.
- Beat on low for 15-30 second to combine then increase speed to medium high and beat for two minutes, until well blended.
- Pour batter into prepared cake pan and bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until cake springs back when gently touched in the center.
For the Frosting
- In a medium bowl, whisk together milk and pudding and place in refrigerator.
- Beat the whipped topping in a mixer on high until stiff peaks form. Fold pudding into the whipped cream and spread onto cake.
- Garnish with sliced bananas if desired.
This easy banana cake is a great solution for when you need something different and fun but you don’t have time to fuss.
More Cake Recipes
Easy Banana Cake
This banana cake using cake mix is positively delicious, easy to make and is topped with an amazing banana flavored whipped cream frosting!
Print Pin Recipe RateServings: 24 pieces
55 mins
Calories: 142
Ingredients
- 16.25 ounce box white cake mix PLUS ingredients on back of box
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Milk use measurement on cake mix box
- 3 medium ripe bananas mashed or broken into large chunks
Frosting
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 4.3 ounce package banana cream instant pudding
- 1 cup milk
Things You'll Need
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 13x9 baking pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together dry cake mix, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt.
- Use milk in place of the water on the back of the cake mix box and use whole eggs instead of egg whites. Use oil as directed on box. Add milk, eggs, oil and bananas to the mixing bowl.
- NOTE: Some white cake mixes have two versions, one with egg whites and one with whole eggs. If yours has this option, use the number of eggs called for in the whole-egg version.
- Beat on low for 15-30 second to combine then increase speed to medium high and beat for two minutes, until well blended.
- Pour batter into prepared cake pan and bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until cake springs back when gently touched in the center.
- For the Frosting
- In a medium bowl, whisk together milk and pudding and place in refrigerator.
- Beat the whipped topping in a mixer on high until stiff peaks form. Fold pudding into the whipped cream and spread onto cake.
- Garnish with sliced bananas if desired.
Video
Expert Tips & FAQs
Some white cake mixes have two versions, one with egg whites and one with whole eggs. If yours has this option, use the number of eggs called for in the whole-egg version.
Nutrition
Serving: 1slice | Calories: 142cal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 243mg | Potassium: 86mg | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Vitamin C: 1.3mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Follow on Pinterest @AmandaFormaro or tag #AmandasCookin!
This post originally appeared here on Apr 8, 2014.
Amanda Formaro
President at Amanda's Creative Studio, Inc.
Amanda Formaro is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four grown children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years. She is also a craft book author five times over and product developer as well as the owner of FunFamilyCrafts.com. You can find her on social media by using the buttons to the left!
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Marcia A says
Can this recipe be doubled and made as a layer cake? I guess that’s a two part question. 😃
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Marcia :) No need to double it. A 13×9 cake makes the same as a round two layer cake. Just adjust the baking time. I would start checking it at 25 minutes
Mary says
This is the best banana cake I’ve ever made! I use a cream cheese frosting topped with pecans! YUM!
Amanda Formaro says
Hooray, so glad you loved it Mary!
Toni says
This is the best banana cake! It is so moist and delicious! I did not try the icing recipe. I used vanilla icing instead. I will have to try Amanda’s other recipes.
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Toni! Thanks so much, so glad you loved it! I am actually making it again this week. :)
Yvonne Kramer says
OMG! The best banana cake I have ever had, and I made it 🤗! Thank you so very much for this recipe. I have it committed to memory so I can make it anytime, anyplace. I frosted with Pillsbury vanilla-marshmallow frosting then I poured homemade chocolate ganache over that.
Amanda Formaro says
That sounds divine!
Marie says
Easy, straight forward, and delicious! I have requests to make this everyday🤣 I was curious, have you ever tried this box cake Method with apples? Do you think it would turn out good? Minus the frosting maybe?
Amanda Formaro says
I haven’t tried that, but thanks for the idea. I’ll add it to the list!
Connie says
Can you use instant chocolate recipe for icing?
Amanda Formaro says
You can use whatever frosting you prefer :)
Kristie Foreman says
Instead of the whipped cream on top I used chocolate frosting it definitely made the cake yummy!!!
Amanda Formaro says
Oh I have never had banana cake with chocolate frosting! I bet it was delish!
Tim K says
Thanks for helping a complete beginner make a delicious treat for family! Being able to tweak the boxed mix with confidence made me feel like a real baker!
Amanda Formaro says
Hooray, so glad you loved it as much as we do, thank you!
Shirley says
Can a yellow boxed cake be used
Amanda Formaro says
Yes!
Kim says
So delicious! I used vanilla frosting and this cake was yummo. Easy to make.
Amanda Formaro says
Yay, so glad you loved it!
Rita Weber says
So moist and delicious. One of the most requested desserts at our extended family Sunday dinner each week. We serve the whipped cream/pudding topping on the side to accommodate a variety of sweetness. Thanks for a great easy cake!!
Amanda Formaro says
The topping is my favorite part! Thanks for commenting, so glad you loved it!
Lena Elkins says
In boxed mix can I substitute something else for shortening in banana bread?
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Lena! Forgive me, but I’mm not sure what you are asking? I don’t have shortening as an ingredient in this recipe.
Jewel says
TheCake turned out fantastic. Sometimes banana cakes can be under cook this one was great. Still working on the icing
Amanda Formaro says
That’s great to hear Jewel, thank you!
Martha lopez says
Thank you for sharing your recipe this is the best banana cake I have ever eaten. And so simple to make.love
Amanda Formaro says
So glad you liked it!
Mary says
Delicious!!!
Amanda Formaro says
Thank you Mary!