This Small Banana Cake recipe makes a cute little two-layer cake that’s soft and moist with just a bit of cinnamon in the batter and luscious cream cheese frosting.
We’ve chatted before about what to do with a slightly sad single brown banana.
You could make one banana, one bowl Banana Muffins
Or Chocolate Banana Muffins
Or Banana Pancakes
Or maybe even a thick and frosty Banana Milkshake
And today I’m adding cake to that one-banana recipe list. I think you should use that lone brown banana to make a cake.
One Banana Small Banana Cake
This recipe will make a very adorable, very delicious two-layer, 6-inch banana cake. If you don’t own 6-inch cake pans, it will also make an 8×8 square snack cake or a 9-inch single-layer round cake.
The cake will comfortably serve 4 (6 with smaller slices), or is just the right size for you and someone special to polish off over a weekend.
It’s incredibly soft and moist with just a bit of cinnamon in the batter and comes together quick and easy.
Best of all, you get to smother it with cream cheese frosting.
The Best Cream Cheese Frosting
The cake is topped off with my favorite Cream Cheese Frosting, which is tangy and rich and a cinch to throw together.
As written, the recipe will make enough to frost the entire cake (sides and all) or you can make your cake with naked sides like I did, and you’ll have a bit of frosting leftover in the bowl.
However you frost it, you really can’t go wrong with this cake and frosting combo.
More Small Cake Recipes
Recipe Notes
- This recipe calls for buttermilk, but if you don’t have any in your fridge, don’t worry, you can still make the cake. The recipe notes section includes a quick buttermilk substitute made with regular milk and lemon juice or vinegar.
- If you do have buttermilk and have some leftover, check out my post What to Do With Leftover Buttermilk for ideas on what to do with the leftovers.
- The frosting recipe will make enough frosting to frost the entire cake (you’ll have about 1/4 of the frosting leftover if you frost it with naked sides like I did), but if you want extra frosting for decorating, 1 and 1/2 the frosting recipe and add more powdered sugar as needed to get a frosting stiff enough for piping.
Small Banana Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
Banana Layer Cake
- 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup (56g) salted butter
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons (25g) brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large overripe banana mashed (about 1/3 cup)
- 1/2 cup buttermilk or buttermilk replacement*
Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup (113g) salted butter softened*
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cup (180g) powdered sugar sifted, plus more as needed
- 1 tablespoon milk optional, as needed
- Chopped walnuts optional, for decoration
Instructions
Banana Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F and butter and flour 2 six-inch cake pans and line with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine softened butter and granulated and brown sugars and cream together until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
- Beat in egg, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until well-combined, followed by mashed banana.
- Add half of the flour mixture and mix until just combined, repeating with all of the buttermilk and then the remaining flour mixture.
- Divide batter evenly between prepared cake pans and bake for 22-27 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
- Cool completely before frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, and vanilla and beat until smooth.
- Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth and creamy. If frosting is too thick for your taste, add milk by the teaspoon until it reaches your desired consistency. For stiffer, pipe-able frosting, add more sifted powdered sugar as needed.
To Frost the Cake
- Place bottom cake layer on cake stand or plate, using a small dollop of frosting to anchor it.
- Spread 1/3 of the frosting over the bottom layer. Place second cake layer on top and use the rest of the frosting over the top and body of the cake, starting at the top and spreading the frosting down the sides.
- Decorate with chopped walnuts if desired.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
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