The Ultimate Moist Banana Layer Cake with Irresistible Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

You’re about to go absolutely bananas for this incredible two-layer Banana Layer Cake, generously covered in a sweet, tangy, and utterly irresistible Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting. Get ready to bake a show-stopping dessert that will have everyone asking for more!

This cake is truly spectacular. B-A-N-A-N-A-S, just like Gwen Stefani taught us with her catchy tune! And now that you’ve got that song playing in your head, let’s dive into the wonderful world of bananas – especially those perfectly ripe ones destined for baking.

The Banana Dilemma: From Countertop to Cake

It’s a tale as old as time for anyone who buys fresh fruit: you pick up a beautiful bunch of bananas, imagining healthy breakfasts and snacks. Yet, inevitably, they sit on your counter, slowly transforming from vibrant yellow to a spotted, then deeply brown state. Suddenly, they’re too ripe for a quick bite, leaving you with a delicious dilemma: use them or lose them?

I’m incredibly particular about my snack bananas. For me, they must be fully yellow, without even the slightest hint of green, to be truly enjoyable. The moment a tiny speck of brown appears, they’ve crossed the line into “overripe” territory. While some might call me crazy, it’s a personal preference that dictates the fate of my fruit. Once they hit that point, those soft, sweet bananas are immediately earmarked for a glorious dessert transformation.

While classics like banana bread, mini banana bread, and small batch banana muffins are always fantastic options for using up those sweet, spotted fruits, there are some days when nothing but a generous, decadent slice of homemade cake will do. And this, my friends, is where our Banana Layer Cake truly shines.

Crafting the Perfect Banana Layer Cake

Inspired by the overwhelming love for my strawberry layer cake, I embarked on a mission to create a repertoire of irresistible layer cakes in every imaginable flavor. For over a year, this Banana Layer Cake concept has been swirling in my mind. I even consulted my wonderful community on Facebook last year, asking for their frosting suggestions. Life, as it often does, got in the way, and this dream cake was put on hold – until now!

As the title (and your keen intuition) probably gave away, the resounding vote was for Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting. And honestly, could there be a more iconic pairing? Peanut butter and banana go together like Elvis and his legendary swinging hips! In fact, my own dad couldn’t resist making an Elvis joke when I served him his first slice. It’s a flavor combination that evokes nostalgia, comfort, and pure deliciousness.

So, go ahead – gather those ripe bananas patiently waiting on your counter. Bake this sensational cake, and prepare for your guests to exclaim, “Thank you. Thank you very much,” with every blissful bite.

Cake, Not Banana Bread: Achieving the Ideal Texture

My primary goal when developing this recipe was to ensure it tasted unequivocally like cake, not merely a sweetened banana bread. I’ve had the unfortunate experience of purchasing banana cupcakes from bakeries only to find they tasted exactly like banana muffins – a dense, crumbly texture that just doesn’t satisfy a cake craving. When I bite into a slice of cake, I expect a light, tender crumb, a delicate sweetness, and a truly celebratory feel. This recipe delivers exactly that, transforming humble bananas into an elegant dessert.

The secret lies in the careful balance of ingredients and baking techniques. Unlike banana bread, which often has a more rustic, dense texture, this layer cake focuses on creating a finer, more tender crumb. We use a combination of leavening agents (baking powder and baking soda) and precise mixing methods to achieve that coveted airy, yet moist, structure that defines a perfect cake. The result is a banana cake that is undeniably rich in banana flavor but still boasts the refined texture you expect from a classic layer cake.

The Secret to an Exceptionally Moist Cake

One of the absolute worst baking disappointments is biting into a dry, crumbly cake. Rest assured, this Banana Layer Cake is engineered for supreme moistness, staying tender and delicious for days after baking. The mashed bananas, packed with natural sugars and moisture, are the primary heroes here. As they bake, they release their sweetness and moisture into the batter, ensuring every bite is succulent.

Furthermore, the inclusion of brown sugar plays a critical role. Brown sugar, with its molasses content, adds not only a deeper, caramel-like flavor but also contributes significantly to the cake’s moist texture. Molasses is a humectant, meaning it attracts and retains moisture, keeping the cake fresh and tender long after it cools. This combination of mashed bananas and brown sugar works in harmony to create a cake crumb that is consistently soft, never dry, and always delightful.

The Perfect Complement: Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

For the frosting, I deliberately chose a cream cheese frosting over a traditional buttercream. While buttercream is lovely, the rich, slightly tangy profile of cream cheese frosting provides a perfect counterpoint to the sweet banana cake. This decision creates a delightful balance of flavors – the sweetness from the cake and the peanut butter, combined with the subtle tang of cream cheese, makes for a truly dynamic and unforgettable experience.

The Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting isn’t just delicious; it’s also incredibly creamy and easy to work with. It spreads beautifully, allowing you to achieve a smooth, professional finish on your cake. The nutty notes of the peanut butter elevate the banana flavor, creating a symphony of tastes that will have you coming back for a second slice (or maybe even a third!). It’s a frosting that’s rich without being overly heavy, making it the ideal partner for our moist banana layers.

Looking for a smaller cake or individual servings? Be sure to check out my Small Banana Cake or delightful Banana Cupcakes. They offer all the wonderful banana flavor in a different format!

Banana Layer Cake

Yield:
8-10 servings

Prep Time:
1 hour

Cook Time:
30 minutes

Total Time:
1 hour 30 minutes

You’re going to go bananas for this two layer Banana Layer Cake covered in a sweet and tangy Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (4 ounces or 8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups mashed banana (roughly 3-4 medium bananas)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• Double batch of Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare two 8-inch round cake pans (1 1/2 inches deep) by lining the bottoms with parchment paper, then lightly greasing the paper and sides with cooking spray. This crucial step ensures your cake layers release perfectly.
2. In a large bowl, meticulously sift together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Do not skip this step, as sifting helps to aerate the dry ingredients and prevents lumps, leading to a lighter, more uniform cake texture. Stir in the ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
3. In a separate large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined. This creaming process incorporates air, which is vital for a tender cake. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next, until the mixture is smooth and emulsified. Next, beat in the mashed banana and vanilla extract until just combined. Gradually add the dry flour mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Add the flour in three additions and the milk in two additions, mixing on low speed until just combined after each addition. Be careful not to overmix! Finally, gently fold in the semisweet chocolate chips with a spatula.
4. Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. The cooking time may vary slightly depending on your oven. Once baked, cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, carefully invert the cake pans and allow the cakes to cool completely on the wire rack. Cooling thoroughly is essential before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
5. To assemble your magnificent cake: If the cake layers have domed tops, use a serrated knife to carefully trim some of the cake off the top until they are flat. This creates a stable base for stacking and a level finished cake. Place one cake layer on your chosen cake stand or serving plate. For easy cleanup later, slide thin strips of parchment or wax paper underneath the edges of the cake.
6. Spread a generous portion of the Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting over the top of the first cake layer to create a delicious filling. Carefully place the second cake layer on top. Next, apply a thin “crumb coat” layer of frosting all over the cake – this seals in any loose crumbs and creates a smooth surface for your final frosting layer. Don’t use more than half of the frosting for this step. Refrigerate the cake for 15 minutes to allow the crumb coat to set, which makes applying the final layer much easier.
7. Once the crumb coat is set, retrieve the cake from the refrigerator and finish covering it with the remaining frosting, smoothing it out for a beautiful presentation. Carefully slide out the paper pieces from underneath the cake. For the best stability and firm frosting, refrigerate the cake until the frosting is firm. Store the cake covered in the refrigerator. For optimal flavor and texture, allow the cake to sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes before serving. Enjoy every delightful slice of this homemade masterpiece!

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Source: Adapted from my Caramel Apple Butter Layer Cake – a testament to how versatile a good cake base can be!

More Delicious Banana Dessert Recipes to Explore

If you’ve fallen in love with baking with bananas as much as I have, you’re in for a treat! These versatile fruits lend themselves to a myriad of delightful desserts. From quick snacks to more elaborate treats, here are some other banana-centric recipes you might enjoy trying. They’re perfect for using up those extra ripe bananas and satisfying your sweet tooth.

Banana Chocolate Chip Snack Cake

Banana Cupcakes

Roasted Banana Cupcakes

Banana Nut Blondies

Banana Walnut Biscotti

Mini Banana Split Cheesecakes