Moist Banana Cake With Brown Butter Frosting—A Slice of Heaven!

Banana Cake With Brown Butter Frosting is one of those desserts you will want to bake over and over again. 

Simple, satisfying, and loaded with flavor from start to finish, the banana cake is light and moist, with just a tad bit of sweetness, while the brown butter frosting gives that rich contrast of taste that now allows you to savor in full glory. 

I’ve whipped this cake up for birthday parties, family dinners, and just a casual afternoon, and every occasion has been met with white smiles and empty plates! 

Whether you select to go with a banana bundt cake with brown butter frosting or stick to a simple classic moist banana cake with brown butter frosting, this stands as a recipe you’d quickly grow into as your new favorite for homemade cake excellence.

Why We Love This Banana Cake With Brown Butter Frosting

I have to say there’s something about this banana cake with brown butter frosting that is just divine, and here’s why I love this cake so much – and you will, too!

1. Perfectly Moist and Fluffy

The cake is so moist thanks to, especially ripe bananas and buttermilk. Its texture is soft and light, and it melts in your mouth with every bite. The banana taste is just sweet enough — not too pronounced but well-balanced.

2. The Richness of Brown Butter

Brown butter is the best! It contributes to a nutty, caramel-ly richness in the frosting that pairs so beautifully with the banana cake. It’s a minor note, but it has an enormous impact on how the dish tastes overall.

3. A Few Ingredients, A Lot of Flavor

The ingredients in this recipe are likely to already be in your kitchen. You don’t need anything fancy or difficult to find. It’s the stuff of simplicity and everydayness that converges to add up to something so very delicious.

4. Versatile and Adaptable

Whether you’re serving it for a birthday, a laid-back family dessert, or a treat to share with friends, this cake works for every occasion. And you can even personalize it by adding nuts or chocolate chips to either the cake or the frosting, so it’s really all you.

5. Easy to Make

No fancy techniques here! You don’t need any special equipment, just a few basic tools like a mixing bowl, whisk, and cake pan. The directions are easy to follow, so this is ideal for all skill levels of home cooks.

6. Guaranteed to Impress

Easy to make, the cake looks and tastes like something you’d be snatching up at a bakery. The rich and decadent brown butter frosting is simply beautiful . The cake can steal the show at any get-together.

7. A Homestyle Dessert That’s Comforting

Banana cake is just soothing, somehow. It has that very familiar and comforting homey feel and reminds me of the warmth of family gatherings. Add to that the duo of banana and brown butter, and it screams a warm hug in the form of a brownie.

How To Make Banana Cake With Brown Butter Frosting

Recipe Overview

This banana cake with brown butter frosting is a game-changer! The moist, flavorful banana cake is paired with a velvety-smooth brown butter frosting that has the most incredible nutty flavor. The brown butter adds a rich, caramel-like depth to the frosting, making every bite absolutely irresistible.

• Preparation time: 15 minutes
• Cooking time: 30 minutes
• Total time: 45 minutes
• Cuisine: American
• Course: Dessert
• Difficulty level: Easy
• Yield: 8-10 servings
• Calories per serving: Approximately 350 calories

Equipment Needed

• 9-inch Round Cake Pan
• Mixing Bowls
• Whisk or Sifter
• Electric Mixer or Hand Whisk
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Spatula 
• Cooling Rack
• Saucepan
• Toothpick or Cake Tester Butter Knife or Offset Spatula
• Parchment Paper (optional)

Ingredients

For the Banana Cake

• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk

For the Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Make the Banana Cake

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch pan.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
• In a separate large bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
• Stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla extract.
• Add half of the dry ingredients, mix gently, then add the buttermilk. Finish with the remaining dry ingredients. Don’t overmix—just until combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Let the cake cool completely before frosting.

2. Make the Brown Butter Frosting

• In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Keep stirring until the butter turns golden brown and smells nutty—this should take about 5–7 minutes. Pour it into a bowl and let it cool to room temperature (don’t skip this).
• Once cooled, beat the brown butter with cream cheese until smooth.
• Add the vanilla extract and gradually mix in the confectioners’ sugar until the frosting is creamy and spreadable.
• Frost the cooled cake and slice into squares.

My Secret Tips for Perfect Banana Cake With Brown Butter Frosting

• Use super ripe bananas—like spotty, dark brown ripe. That’s where the flavor magic happens.
• Don’t skip browning the butter. It adds a toasted, caramel-like depth that regular butter just can’t offer.
• Want to make it ahead? Bake the cake the night before and keep it covered. Frost it the next day once completely cooled.
• Out of buttermilk? Mix ½ cup milk with 1½ tsp lemon juice or vinegar. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using.
• No mixer? You can easily make the cake batter by hand. Just make sure your butter is very soft.

Exciting Variations and Serving Ideas

• Make it a bundt cake. Just adjust the baking time to 45–50 minutes.
• Top with banana slices and a drizzle of caramel sauce to turn it into a banana caramel cake.
• Sprinkle chopped walnuts or pecans on top of the frosting for a little crunch.
• Turn it into bars. Bake in a jelly roll pan and slice into banana bread bars.
  
• Mini cakes? Use a muffin tin for adorable individual servings—great for birthdays or bake sales.

Proper Storage

To keep your banana cake with brown butter frosting fresh and tasty, here’s how I store it

• Room Temperature (Unfrosted): If you haven’t added the frosting yet, you can store the cake covered at room temperature for up to 2 days. Just make sure it’s wrapped tightly or kept in an airtight container.
• Refrigerator (Frosted): Once the cake is frosted, store it in the fridge. The cream cheese frosting needs to stay chilled. Cover the cake with plastic wrap or place it in a covered container. It will stay fresh for 3 to 4 days.
• Freezer: Want to make it ahead? You can freeze the unfrosted cake. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to serve, thaw it overnight in the fridge, then frost it once it’s fully defrosted.

Tip: If the frosting feels a bit firm after refrigeration, let the cake sit at room temperature for about 15–20 minutes before serving. It’ll soften up nicely and taste just right.

Frequently Asked Questions

Video Tutorial

Conclusion

Banana cake with brown butter frosting is the kind of cake you can whip up on a Sunday and enjoy all week long. It’s comforting, flavorful, and just a bit fancy thanks to the brown butter cream cheese frosting. 

I’ve even experimented with a chocolate chip banana cake version, and let me tell you—it’s a winner. Whether you bake it in a pan or turn it into a banana bundt cake with brown butter frosting, this recipe is easy to love and hard to mess up. Give it a try and tell me how yours turns out!