Looking for a quick banana treat that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen? This Easy Banana Cake transforms a simple box of cake mix into a moist, tasty dessert that makes everyone ask for seconds. The secret is using ripe bananas to add natural sweetness and that irresistible banana flavour we all love.
This banana cake is perfect year-round but becomes especially popular during the summer months when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen. It's also a fantastic way to use up those overripe bananas sitting on your counter!
Ingredients
- Cake mix
- Bananas
- Eggs
- Vegetable oil
- Milk
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon (optional)
- Chocolate chips (optional)
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and thoroughly grease your cake or loaf tin to ensure easy removal after baking. In a food processor, combine your mashed bananas, eggs, vegetable oil, milk, and vanilla extract. Blend until the mixture is smooth and well incorporated.
- Gradually add the cake mix a little at a time. Mix using the food processor until fully combined.
- Add the cinnamon and chocolate chips (if using) to the batter, mixing gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a dense cake.
- Pour your batter into the prepared tin, spreading it evenly with a spatula for uniform baking. Bake in your preheated oven for 30-40 minutes for a round cake, or 50-55 minutes for a loaf. The cake is done when a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the tin for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Hint: For the best banana flavour, use very ripe bananas with lots of brown spots. The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your cake will be!
Substitutions
Milk - Use almond milk, soy milk, or even coconut milk for a dairy-free version
Vegetable Oil - Melted butter can be substituted for a richer flavour, or applesauce for a lower-fat option
Cake Mix - While vanilla or yellow cake mix works best, white cake mix or even spice cake mix can create delicious variations
Variations
Banana Chocolate Chip Cake - Add 100g of chocolate chips to the batter before baking for a delightful chocolate-banana combination
Banana Nut Cake - Mix in 150g of chopped walnuts or pecans for added texture and nutty flavour
Streusel Topping - Before baking, sprinkle a mixture of 60g brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, 2 tablespoons butter, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon on top
Equipment
A food processor makes this recipe incredibly easy. However, if you don't have one, you can mash the bananas by hand using a fork and mix everything with a hand mixer or even a whisk.
For baking, either a 20cm round cake tin or a standard loaf tin works beautifully. Metal pans will give you more even baking and crisp edges, while glass or ceramic dishes might require slightly longer baking times.
Storage
This banana cake stays moist and delicious for up to 4 days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to a week, though the texture may become slightly more dense.
This cake freezes exceptionally well! Wrap individual slices or the entire cake (once completely cooled) in plastic wrap, then aluminium foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or for a few hours at room temperature before serving.
Top Tip
Don't throw away those brown, spotty bananas! The darker and riper your bananas, the more tasty your cake will be. If your bananas aren't quite ripe enough, you can speed up the process by placing them in a paper bag with an apple overnight, or bake them in their skins at 150°C for about 15 minutes until they turn black.
FAQ
Yes! Simply mash the bananas well with a fork, then whisk together all wet ingredients in a bowl before adding the cake mix.
Insert a toothpick or skewer into the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, your cake is ready. If you see wet batter, continue baking in 5-minute intervals.
Absolutely! Pour the batter into lined cupcake tins and bake at the same temperature for approximately 18-22 minutes. This recipe will make about 18-24 cupcakes.
Definitely! A cream cheese frosting complements the banana flavour beautifully. Simply beat 250g cream cheese with 60g butter, 240g powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth, then spread over the cooled cake.
Pairing
These are my favourite drinks to serve with this banana cake:
📖 Recipe
Easy Banana Cake With Cake Mix
Ingredients
- 1 box vanilla or yellow cake mix approx. 425g
- 3 ripe bananas mashed
- 3 eggs
- 120 ml vegetable oil or melted butter for extra richness
- 120 ml milk or water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon optional
- 100 g chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and grease a 20cm cake tin or a loaf tin.
- In a food processor, mix together mashed bananas, eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Gradually add the cake mix, cinnamon and chocolate chips (if using), mixing until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 30-40 minutes (for a cake) or 50-55 minutes (for a loaf), or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve and enjoy!
Comments
No Comments