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 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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Deborah says
Does this cake need to be refrigerated with the pudding icing on it?
Amanda Formaro says
It can stay out for several hours, but should be refrigerated after
Terri Renken says
Every time I make this cake everyone loves it!!!!! There is never any left.
Amanda says
I realized too late that I had ran out of milk so I used water like the original recipe called for, and for the frosting I used 2 boxes of vanilla pudding and 2 tubs of whipped cream with a few splashes of milk that I bought after I put my cake in the oven, it came out really well, I’m. It a big fan of anything overly sweet
Debbie says
I’ve made this cake a few times and it is delicious! It’s always a hit and leftovers don’t hang around for long. I’m not a fan of heavy sweet frosting and this whipped banana frosting is the perfect sweetness with the cake and is light and fluffy. It’s amazing that something that tastes so great is also easy to make. Thanks for sharing this Amanda!
Liz says
Can you please advise whether frozen bananas will work with this recipe?
Amanda Formaro says
I have not tested this recipe with frozen bananas. When bananas are frozen and then thawed, a lot of liquid is released. It’s possible it can change the cake texture.
Dianne says
I am using a yellow cake mix that is gluten free. IT does not call for milk or water. Just oil How do I handle this?
Amanda Formaro says
I’m sorry but I’m not sure. I think you should be able to eliminate the milk since the GF mix doesn’t call for a liquid. But I have not tested this.
Doris says
What a great nite! And what made it great was making this beautiful banana cake in my new pan!!! I got this Nordic Ware “Quartet Bundt pan”……So I used it with your recipe!! Your recipe quantity makes enuf for the four 6” bundt cakes!!! I am so happy! Unfortunately I only greased 3 of the 4 sections. Stupid….so sad. So they ‘overflowed’ alitte…. BUT ALL of the definition of the molds came out perfectly. Next time I will use your recipe quantity to divide between the FOUR sections. Ya’ know…..follow directions of how much batter each section takes per the Nordic Ware people. Sometimes I don’t listen. The cake tastes just yummy. Am considering drizzling the cakes with brown sugar rum sauce. Altho confectioners sugar would make the designs show up better. Whatever!! It is just delicious.
Doris says
….Its me Doris. Forgot to say—I used a butter pecan cake mix.
Christi Unker says
I used a yellow cake mix instead of white. It still turned out great. This was such a yummy recipe and everyone I shared it with loved it.
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.
Cindy says
I didnt see the part about the milk so I used the water for cake mix and I added a box of banana pudding to the mix. The most moist cake ever! Also, I made different frosting, cream cheese, butter, confectioners sugar and marshmallow fluff! This will be a new staple banana cake recipe for me.
Cindy P says
It would have been nice to know your replacing the water with the milk, whole eggs etc. Should be on top where you have cake mix and replaced ingredients!
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks for pointing that out. I’ve edited the recipe card.
Carolyn says
Question: I cannot find a box of banana pudding that is 4.3 ounces?
Amanda Formaro says
So sorry about that! It was a typo, should be 3.4 ounces. I’ve corrected the recipe!
Dana Marquez says
I have no white cake mix. But I have french vanilla mix. Can this be used
Amanda Formaro says
Absolutely!
Dana says
Absolutely delicious! I was looking for an easy recipe including bananas since I had some that were starting to brown, and ended up finding a recipe I’ll use again and again! I followed the recipe exactly and mine was done right at the 40-minute mark. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, Amanda!
Dana says
I forgot to mention that I topped it with a cinnamon buttercream. Delicious!!!!