Banana Spice Cake With Walnuts & Cream Cheese Frosting

You might also like Pumpkin Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting, Frosted Brownies, and Coconut Carrot Cake.

The Best Banana Spice Cake Recipe

Banana spice cake with walnuts and cream cheese frosting is perfect for banana dessert lovers who want to go beyond the classic banana bread. Our easy banana cake recipe can be whipped up in under an hour!

This cake is super moist with a hint of spice and just the right amount of sweetness. The rich taste of warm spices and sweet banana flavor is the perfect combination. Topping it with a thick layer of homemade cream cheese frosting and chopped walnuts makes it so irresistible.

The best thing about this sheet cake is that you can bake, frost, and serve right from the pan. Not only does this save time and energy, but it makes this cake perfect for parties and get-togethers. This delicious cake is a long time family favorite at our house and we hope you love it too!

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Banana Cake vs Banana Bread

A lot of people wonder if there really is a difference between banana cake and banana bread. We’re here to tell you that there most definitely is, and it's more than just the cream cheese frosting!

Although banana cake and banana bread share many of the same basic ingredients, the biggest difference is their texture. However, they also generally differ in their level of sweetness.

Banana cake is usually lighter, sweeter, and often topped with frosting. A quick bread like banana bread is thicker, more dense, and usually less sweet. Additionally, banana bread is made in a loaf pan and banana cake is usually made in a cake or sheet pan.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This easy spiced banana cake is one of the quickest and easiest cakes to make. Here are a few reasons this will be your new go-to recipe:

• It’s a one pan wonder. You can bake, frost, and serve this cake in the sheet pan, making it super easy to share.
• You can feed a crowd. This recipe yields 24 servings, so it’s great for parties and events.
• Make the entire cake from start to finish in under an hour.
• Enjoy this dessert year round. The flavors are perfect for any time of year.
• It tastes AMAZING. With the perfect amount of sweetness and great flavor, this cake will leave you wanting more.

Ingredients

Each of these key ingredients contributes to the perfect flavor and texture of this moist banana spice cake.

For the spice cake

• Ripe bananas: The riper the better! The best bananas for this recipe are the ones that have turned totally brown because they have so much flavor. Overripe bananas are also the easiest to mash. 
• Side note: Freezing bananas is also a great option if you want to make the cake later! (Yes, they will probably turn black in the freezer. And yes, it’s fine. We promise!)
• Pure vanilla extract: Vanilla adds another layer of flavor to the cake and compliments the sweet banana flavor.
• Eggs: Room temperature eggs are an important ingredient that helps provide structure to the cake and bind all of the ingredients together.
• Flour: We love this banana spice cake with whole-wheat or all-purpose flour. Flour also provides structure and assists with leavening in baked goods.
• Baking soda/baking powder: Both baking soda and baking powder are leavening agents that make the cake rise, giving it a light and fluffy texture.
• Cinnamon/allspice/nutmeg/cloves: These spices provide additional warm, rich flavors to the cake, enhancing the overall taste.
• Salt: Salt provides additional flavor and brings out the sweetness from the sugar.
• Granulated sugar: Sugar is the main source of sweetness in this recipe but it also keeps the cake soft and moist.
• Oil: Not only does the oil keep your cake extra moist, but it also traps in air to give it a soft and fluffy texture.
• Milk: Milk adds moisture to the cake as well as contributes to the color and flavor.

For the Frosting

• Cream cheese: Cream cheese adds the perfect amount of creaminess and tang that pairs well with this banana spice cake.
• Butter: We like to use salted butter here but unsalted also works too. Just add a dash of salt to balance out the sweetness if you use unsalted butter.
• Pure vanilla extract: Vanilla extract adds another layer of flavor to the cream cheese frosting.
• Powdered sugar: Powdered sugar adds sweetness to the frosting and balances out the flavor of the cream cheese. Sift the powdered sugar to avoid any lumps in the frosting.
• Chopped walnuts: Chopped walnuts add a nutty crunch to this sheet cake. Chopped pecans are also a delicious option. You can omit the nuts if desired.
• Evaporated milk: Evaporated milk creates a super smooth, rich, and creamy frosting. You can substitute it with regular milk or heavy cream if desired.

How To Make This Recipe

Start by preparing the ingredients. Make sure all of the ingredients are at room temperature. This allows the ingredients to bind together more easily and contributes to a light and fluffy cake texture.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the bananas until they are fully mashed. (We like to use our KitchenAid mixer and paddle attachment.) Then, mix in the vanilla extract and eggs.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar, and spices. Whisk the flour mixture until fully combined.

Add your dry ingredients to the banana mixture and mix until fully incorporated. Next, add the canola oil and milk. Mix just until fully combined.

Finally, pour the cake batter into a greased 18” x 13” sheet pan (we recommend Nordic Ware Baker’s Half Sheet) and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes. Let the unfrosted cake cool to room temperature.

Prepare the cream cheese frosting by adding the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract to a medium mixing bowl. Cream together for about 3 minutes until light and fluffy.

Add the sifted powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture one cup at a time, mixing between each addition until it is fully incorporated. Add the evaporated milk as needed until the frosting is smooth and creamy.

Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly across the top of the cooled banana spice cake and top with chopped walnuts (if desired). Cut into 3” x 3” squares and serve.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Follow these baking tips to get the best banana spice cake every time.

Use room temperature ingredients to ensure they are fully incorporated and evenly mixed into the batter.

Use overripe bananas. These have the sweetest flavor and are best for baking cakes.

Mash the bananas using a stand mixer or hand mixer for quick and easy mashing. If needed, you can also use a fork to prep your mashed bananas.

Prevent overmixing by mixing the ingredients just until combined. Overmixing can create a dense, tough texture.

Bake in an 18” x 13” half sheet pan. Altering the pan size can affect the bake time and how your cake turns out.

Let the cake cool to room temperature before frosting to keep the frosting from melting off.

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How To Store Leftovers

For next day storage, you can keep this cake at room temperature overnight as long as it is completely covered. You can either cover your pan with plastic wrap or tin foil, or put leftovers in an airtight container. 

This cake can last up to 5 days if stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. However for long term storage, we recommend freezing your cake in an airtight container. Be sure to thaw completely before serving.

Recipe FAQ’s