If you have bananas on the counter that are turning brown, and you just aren’t feeling banana bread, you need this easy banana cake! With the help of a boxed cake mix and a handful of ingredients you can be eating this moist delicious cake this afternoon!
Why this recipe works
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.
Everyone that tries this cake loves it, and it’s topped with a banana flavored whipped cream frosting!
Ingredients you will need
- For this banana cake recipe, you will need the ingredients from the back of the cake mix as well.
- Important 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.
- For the frosting, you will need a box of banana pudding mix, some milk, and whipped cream.
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
How to Make Easy Banana Cake
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. Please scroll down to simply print out the recipe!
- 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.
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- 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 cream 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.
Expert Tips & FAQs
- This is a repeat from above, but wanted to make sure you saw it. 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.
- If you prefer, you can use buttercream frosting or cream cheese frosting for this banana cake.
- If you are going to garnish the cake with banana slices, wait until you are ready to serve so the banana slices don’t brown.
Doctoring up a cake mix can be a real time saver. 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!
This easy banana cake is a great solution for when you need something different and fun but you don’t have time to fuss.
What our readers are saying…
This is the best banana cake I’ve ever made! I use a cream cheese frosting topped with pecans! YUM!
~ Mary
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.
~ Toni
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.
~Yvonne
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!!
~ Rita
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Easy Banana Cake
IMPORTANT - There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Pin It Rate ItIngredients
- 16.25 ounce box white cake mix PLUS ingredients on back of box (you need milk in place of the water on the 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
- 3.4 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 cream 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
- This is a repeat from above, but wanted to make sure you saw it. 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.
- If you prefer, you can use buttercream frosting or cream cheese frosting for this banana cake.
- If you are going to garnish the cake with banana slices, wait until you are ready to serve so the banana slices don't brown.
Nutrition
This post originally appeared here on Apr 8, 2014.
Amanda Formaro
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Donna Duncan says
Hello! Do you think this recipe would work for cupcakes? Thanks!
Amanda Formaro says
Certainly! You’ll need to reduce the cupcake baking time by one-third to one-half.
Sally says
I love using cake mixes!!!
Fern says
All I can say is, “wow!” I’ve used many banana bread recipes, but still don’t have a favorite until now. I used boxed butter cake mix + 7 tbs softened butter + the rest of the ingredients in this recipe to fill a 13×9 pan. I used a wet strip of fabric outside the pan, so the batter would rise evenly and it did!
The cake is so very moist and has amazing banana flavor. The house smelled so nice while it baked. Everyone loved the cake by itself, so next time, I will bake this in a bundt pan for banana bread, no frosting.
So yummy. Excellent recipe. Thank you!
Bobbie says
I would like to make this as a layer cake. Are there any negatives to doing this? Would you use the time on the cake mix box as the baking guidelune?
Going to make for my husband’s birthday!!
Thank you
Amanda Formaro says
Should totally work. Check my baking time and compare it to the 13×9 baking time on the box. I say this, because the addition of fresh bananas usually lengthens the baking time.