Moist Banana Cake (Printable)
Moist, tender banana cake bursting with ripe banana flavor and just the right touch of sweetness for any occasion.
# Ingredient List:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
05 - 3 ripe bananas, mashed
06 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1/4 cup milk
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Optional Add-ins
11 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
12 - 1/2 cup chocolate chips
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the mashed bananas with granulated sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and well blended.
04 - Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the banana mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
05 - If desired, gently fold in chopped walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
06 - Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and use a spatula to smooth the top evenly.
07 - Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
08 - Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. Serve plain or with your preferred frosting.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The batter comes together in one bowl with zero fuss, making it my go to when I want something homemade without the effort.
- Those dark, nearly black bananas you almost threw away are actually the secret to the richest banana flavor you can imagine.
02 -
- Overmixing the batter is the fastest way to end up with a dense, rubbery cake instead of the tender crumb you are after.
- Using bananas that are still slightly green will give you a cake that tastes vaguely of banana but lacks that deep, almost caramel sweetness.
03 -
- Mash your bananas with a fork right in the measuring cup so you can see exactly how much you have without dirtying an extra bowl.
- A handful of chocolate chips sprinkled on top of the batter just before baking creates a beautiful melted finish that looks effortlessly impressive.