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Buttermilk Banana Cake

Buttermilk banana cake with a tender, moist crumb and a tangy cream cheese frosting. This banana sheet cake bakes in a 9x13 pan and finishes with a thick, fluffy swirl of frosting.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 430
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cake
  • 3 ripe bananas Mash until mostly smooth.
  • 2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.5 cup butter Softened.
  • 1.5 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk
Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 8 oz cream cheese Softened.
  • 0.5 cup butter Softened.
  • 3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tbsp heavy cream

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Preheat and prepare pan
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 pan.
  2. Add the softened butter and sugar to a mixing bowl and beat until very light and fluffy.
Mix cake batter
  1. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then mix in vanilla and mashed bananas.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together.
  3. Fold in the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with buttermilk in three additions, until just combined and no dry streaks remain.
Bake
  1. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer.
  2. Bake at 350°F for 30–35 minutes, until the center bounces back when pressed and a toothpick comes out clean.
Frost
  1. Beat the cream cheese, softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream until thick and fluffy.
  2. Frost the completely cooled cake generously, swirling across the top.

Notes

For the lightest texture, mash the bananas until smooth and don’t overmix after adding the flour—stop as soon as the batter looks uniform. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 4 days; freeze frosted slices up to 2 months (thaw overnight in the fridge). For a dairy-light option, use plant-based butter and a vegan cream cheese-style frosting base in the same amounts.