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Classic Banana Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

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4.5 from 105 reviews

This Classic Banana Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is a moist, flavorful dessert featuring ripe bananas and toasted walnuts, topped with a rich and creamy frosting. Perfect for any occasion, this cake combines the warm spices of cinnamon with a tender crumb, enhanced by the crunch of toasted walnuts and the smooth sweetness of cream cheese icing.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Banana Walnut Cake

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 teaspoons baking soda
  • 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 0.5 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1.5 cups mashed very ripe bananas (about 3–4 large bananas)
  • 0.5 cup buttermilk
  • 1 cup chopped toasted walnuts

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter (softened)
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat & Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper with an overhang for easy cake removal.
  2. Toast Walnuts: Place chopped walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat and toast for 3-5 minutes, shaking frequently until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon to evenly distribute the leavening agents and spices.
  4. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk vegetable oil with granulated and brown sugars until homogeneous. Add eggs one at a time, whisking thoroughly after each addition, then mix in vanilla extract.
  5. Mash & Add Bananas: In a small bowl, mash the ripe bananas until mostly liquid but with some small lumps remaining. Whisk the mashed bananas and buttermilk into the wet mixture until combined.
  6. Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the dry ingredients into the wet bowl and fold gently with a spatula until just combined with no dry streaks, taking care not to overmix to keep the cake tender.
  7. Add Walnuts: Fold the toasted walnuts gently into the batter to distribute evenly without overworking the batter.
  8. Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly, and bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached.
  9. Cool Completely: Allow the cake to cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes. Then remove from the pan and ensure the cake is completely cool before frosting.
  10. Make the Cream Cheese Frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating continuously until light and fluffy. Blend in vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Spread evenly over the cooled cake.

Notes

  • To toast walnuts, keep the heat at medium to avoid burning; stir or shake frequently for even toasting.
  • Use very ripe bananas for the best sweetness and moistness in the cake.
  • Do not overmix the batter to prevent a dense cake.
  • Ensure the cake is fully cooled before applying frosting to avoid melting.
  • The cake can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • For a nut-free version, omit the walnuts and replace with an equal amount of chocolate chips or dried fruit if desired.

Keywords: banana cake, walnut cake, cream cheese frosting, classic banana cake, moist banana cake, toasted walnuts, cinnamon banana cake

Find it online: https://cookcrisis.com/classic-banana-walnut-cake-with-cream-cheese-frosting-recipe/