Finest Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

What to Serve With It

Banana cake is fairly good all by itself (particularly with that dreamy cream cheese frosting), however for those who’re serving it as a part of a get-together or simply wish to spherical issues out a bit, listed below are some tasty concepts:

• Espresso or tea: A scorching cup of espresso or a comfortable mug of tea is the proper match for a slice of banana cake—particularly within the afternoon.
• Contemporary fruit: Serve it with a aspect of berries or sliced strawberries for a bit of recent, juicy distinction.
• Vanilla ice cream: Wish to take it excessive? A scoop of vanilla ice cream on the aspect turns this cake right into a full-on dessert second.
• Whipped cream: Gentle and fluffy whipped cream provides an additional creamy contact (particularly if you would like a change from frosting).
• Brunch unfold: This cake suits proper in at brunch subsequent to quiche, fruit salad, or muffins—it’s like banana bread’s fancier cousin.

Variations and Substitutions

• Bake as cupcakes: Pour the batter into muffin tins and scale back the baking time to round 20–25 minutes for banana cake cupcakes!
• Make it nutty: Stir in chopped walnuts or pecans for a bit of crunch. They pair fantastically with each banana and cream cheese.
• Add chocolate chips: Toss in a handful of chocolate chips to make it extra of a dessert cake—youngsters love this model!
• Add a splash of lemon juice: Stir 1–2 teaspoons of recent lemon juice into the mashed bananas earlier than including them to the batter. It brightens the banana taste and provides a delicate tang that pairs fantastically with the banana and cream cheese frosting.
• Add a touch of cinnamon: Stir ½ to 1 teaspoon of floor cinnamon into the dry substances for a heat, cozy taste that enhances the bananas completely.
• Swap the frosting: Not a fan of cream cheese frosting? Strive a traditional buttercream, a easy vanilla glaze, and even only a dusting of powdered sugar.
• Use entire wheat flour: For a barely heartier texture, you may change as much as half of the all-purpose flour with entire wheat flour.
• Add buttermilk for additional tenderness: Combine in ¼ to ½ cup of buttermilk for a fair softer, moister crumb. In case you do, barely scale back the mashed banana or butter to steadiness the moisture. Don’t neglect to maintain the baking soda—it reacts with the buttermilk to assist the cake rise fantastically.
• Go dairy-free: Use a plant-based butter and dairy-free cream cheese—there are some nice choices on the market now.
• Egg-free choice: Strive utilizing a flax egg or your favourite egg substitute for those who want the recipe to be egg-free.

Storage Directions

Received leftovers? Fortunate you! Right here’s the way to maintain your banana cake tasting recent:

• Freezer: Wish to avoid wasting for later? You’ll be able to freeze the cake (with or with out frosting). Wrap particular person slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer bag or container. It’ll keep good for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge in a single day or let it come to room temp earlier than having fun with.
• Room temperature: In case your kitchen isn’t too heat, you may retailer the cake (coated) on the counter for as much as 2 days. Simply ensure that it’s in an hermetic container so it doesn’t dry out.
• Fridge: Due to the cream cheese frosting, I often pop mine within the fridge after the primary day. It’ll maintain properly for about 5 days—simply let it sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes earlier than serving so it’s good and mushy once more.

Recipe Suggestions and Methods

• Use overripe bananas: The extra brown and spotty, the higher. They add pure sweetness and make the cake additional moist.
• Don’t overmix the batter: When you add the dry substances, stir simply till all the pieces is mixed. Overmixing can result in a dense cake.
• Room temperature substances are key: Softened butter, room temp eggs, and bananas all assist all the pieces mix easily.
• To examine for doneness: A toothpick inserted into the middle ought to come out clear or with just some moist crumbs—no moist batter.
• Let it cool fully earlier than frosting: If the cake is even a bit of heat, the cream cheese frosting can soften and slide proper off.
• Make it forward: This cake truly tastes even higher the subsequent day as soon as the flavors have had time to settle.
• Double it for a crowd: Want extra cake? You’ll be able to simply double the recipe and bake it in two pans.

Frequent Points (and The best way to Repair Them)

Even the very best bakers run into the occasional banana cake flop! Listed here are some frequent issues and the way to keep away from them:

• Cake is just too dense: This often occurs from overmixing the batter or utilizing an excessive amount of flour. Combine gently and measure fastidiously (spoon and stage your flour).
• Cake is dry: Overbaking is commonly the wrongdoer. Verify for doneness a couple of minutes earlier than the recommended bake time and use the toothpick take a look at. Additionally, ensure you’re utilizing sufficient mashed banana!
• Cake sank within the center: The oven door might have been opened too early, or the cake wasn’t absolutely baked. Strive to not peek till near the top of the baking time.
• Batter is just too moist or runny: This will occur for those who use frozen bananas and don’t drain the additional liquid. All the time thaw and drain properly earlier than including them to the batter.
• Frosting is runny: Both the butter or cream cheese was too heat, or the cake wasn’t absolutely cooled. Chill the frosting if wanted, and at all times frost a very cooled cake.

The best way to Ripen Bananas Shortly

Craving banana cake, however your bananas are nonetheless a bit too inexperienced? Don’t fear—listed below are just a few fast tips to hurry issues up:

• Paper bag technique: Place your bananas in a brown paper bag with an apple or ripe banana. Roll the highest closed. The ethylene gasoline they launch will assist them ripen sooner—often inside a day or two.
• Oven technique: Want them proper now? Place unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet and bake at 300°F for about 15–20 minutes, or till the skins flip black. Allow them to cool earlier than utilizing.
• Microwave technique: Poke the banana peel just a few occasions with a fork, then microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute. It received’t be fairly as candy as naturally ripened bananas, however it works in a pinch!
• Freeze and thaw: When you’ve got barely ripe bananas, freezing them in a single day after which thawing may also help break down the starches and make them softer and sweeter—good for baking.

Can I Use Frozen Bananas?

Sure, frozen bananas work nice on this recipe! Simply thaw them fully, drain off any additional liquid, and mash as common. They’ll be a bit mushier than recent bananas, however that’s good for cake. It’s a good way to make use of up these frozen extras you’ve stashed away!

What’s the Distinction Between Banana Bread and Banana Cake?

They may use comparable substances, however banana bread and banana cake are two very completely different treats.

• Texture: Banana bread is denser and extra hearty, typically baked in a loaf pan and sliced like, properly… bread! Banana cake is lighter, fluffier, and extra delicate—nearer to a conventional cake.
• Sweetness: Banana cake is often sweeter and infrequently topped with frosting (just like the dreamy cream cheese one on this recipe), whereas banana bread tends to be extra subtly candy and served plain or with a pat of butter.
• Event: Banana bread looks like a comfortable breakfast or snack, whereas banana cake is made for dessert or celebrations.

In brief: banana bread is the country, no-fuss cousin you seize on a busy morning. Banana cake is the mushy, candy showstopper you convey out once you wish to impress. Each are scrumptious—simply in their very own manner!

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