Once you sink your teeth into this easy banana cake topped with a banana-flavored whipped cream frosting, there’s no going back. With the help of a boxed cake mix and a handful of ingredients, you can be eating this irresistable cake this afternoon!
Why this recipe works
If you have bananas on the counter that are turning brown, and you just aren’t feeling banana bread, you need to make this easy banana cake!
I love to bake from scratch, but sometimes there just isn’t enough time in a day. That’s where this banana cake comes in. I always have a stockpile 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
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitute Suggestions
CAKE – For this banana cake recipe, you will need the ingredients from the back of the cake mix as well. An 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.
FROSTING – For the frosting, you will need a box of instant banana pudding mix, some milk, and whipped cream. If you prefer, you can use buttercream frosting or cream cheese frosting for this banana cake.
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!
Making the 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 seconds 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. Allow cake to fully cool before frosting.
Making the Frosting
- In a medium bowl, whisk together milk and pudding and place in refrigerator.
- Beat the heavy whipping cream with a mixer set to high until stiff peaks form. Fold pudding into the whipped cream and spread onto cake.
- Garnish with sliced bananas if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
We have not tested this recipe in cupcake version, though I would imagine it would be just fine. I would suggest filling the cupcake cavities 2/3 full to allow room for the cupcakes to rise. Bake for around 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. You can also refer to the back of the cake mix box you are using to see the suggested bake time for cupcakes. Some oven temperatures run hotter than others, and you definitely want to keep the cupcakes nice and moist, not overdone – so keep an eye on them in the oven around the 20 minute mark.
Serving Suggestions
Serve at room temperature for birthdays, parties, potlucks, or really for any occasion you want! 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)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ 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
Before You Begin
- 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.
Instructions
- 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.
- 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 seconds 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. Allow it to fully cool before frosting.
For the Frosting
- In a medium bowl, whisk together milk and pudding and place in refrigerator.
- Beat the heavy whipping cream with a mixer set to high until stiff peaks form. Fold pudding into the whipped cream and spread onto cake.
- Garnish with sliced bananas if desired.
Nutrition
This post originally appeared here on Apr 8, 2014 and has since been updated with new photos and expert tips.
Amanda Davis
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FrannyD says
Has anyone tried this recipe with buttercream chocolate icing? Yay or Nay on the taste. Second question, will any cake pan work
Judy plummer says
My grandson’s girlfriend can’t get enough of this cake, she loves it. But I don’t use the cream cheese frosting I make a buttermilk glaze.
Carlee Rees says
I’m not a huge banana fan but my daughter is and this is now officially my favorite banana anything. Recipe is amazing and would recommend to anyone.
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks so much! If she loves banana that much I HIGHLY recommend the Banana Cookies I just posted this month, they are AMAZING!! https://amandascookin.com/banana-cookies/
Kimberly says
Absolutely fabulous recipe!! I made it into a fluffer nutter cake. I made peanut butter icing and filled it with marshmallow fluff. My family went “bananas” over it 🤗
Ann says
Best banana cake I’ve ever made. This will be my go to from now on! Thanks for sharing Amanda
Esther says
Made it just as recipe. Good. Second time I was out of spices but made it any way. And we loved it! Tasted more banana-y
Like my banana bread but light and fluffy. Have made it several times that way and it is a keeper. Thanks.
Martha Lopez says
I made your cake recipe everyone love it. I’m glad I found it because no bakery where I live makes banana cake I just add walnuts to it.. Thank you for sharing your cake recipe.!
Jane Marie Gramza says
I’m sorry but for some reason I’m not following the part about the milk. My cake mix doesn’t have a measurement for milk. I’m probably not understanding something very simple. My brain is on low fear today I guess!
Amanda Formaro says
Sorry that was confusing! It says in the recipe to use the milk in place of the water. So whatever measurement there is for water on the back of the box, use that same measurement – but use milk instead :) Hope that helps!
Janet Seana says
I make this recipe with sugar free cake mix since my husband is diabetic. No one knew the difference and it was a big hit!
Lynda says
I made this to give to our neighbors and it was so delicious that my son made me promise not give it away! We loved it! Note: I did not have to bake this for as long as stated in the recipe so just keep an eye on it in the oven. This is a keeper, thank you!
Jennifer says
HUGE hit! This was a super easy recipe and my family looooovvved it!
Amanda Formaro says
Hooray! I’m so glad you guys loved it, thank you Jenn!
Aria Simpson says
This was very good. I made it for my mother-in-law’s birthday. It was a big hit. I used almond milk instead of regular milk for the cake and I used condensed milk instead of regular milk for the icing. Everything was delicious.
Amanda Formaro says
Sounds amazing! So glad you loved it!
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!