Banana cake is a sweet, moist cake that is a favorite treat for many people. It has a pronounced banana flavor that makes it stand out from other cakes. But when making your own banana cake at home, one of the key questions is: how many bananas do you need?
What is Banana Cake?
Banana cake is a type of cake flavored with mashed bananas. It often contains walnuts or pecans as well. The mashed bananas provide moisture and flavor. Banana cakes are quick breads, meaning they do not require yeast to rise. Banana cake recipes often include baking soda and baking powder as leaveners instead.
Some of the key characteristics of banana cake include:
- Sweet, moist texture
- Pronounced banana flavor
- May include nuts for crunch and texture contrast
- Baked as a loaf, sheet cake, cupcakes, or bundt cake
- Tender, cake-like crumb
- Browning on top adds nice caramelized flavor
The ripeness of the bananas makes a big difference in the moisture, sweetness, and flavor of the finished cake. Using very ripe bananas results in the best, most pronounced banana flavor.
How Many Bananas for Banana Cake?
The number of bananas needed to make banana cake depends on the recipe size. Most standard sized banana cake recipes call for 3-4 ripe bananas.
Here are some guidelines for banana amounts based on recipe yields:
- 8-inch loaf pan: 3 medium or 2 large bananas
- 9×13-inch sheet cake: 4-5 medium bananas
- 12 cupcakes: 3 medium bananas
- Double layer 8 or 9-inch rounds: 4-5 medium bananas
- Bundt cake: 4-5 medium bananas
In general, you want enough banana puree to make 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups, depending on the recipe. Three medium or ripe bananas should give you 1 1/4 to 1 1/3 cups when mashed.
Tips for Ripe Bananas
Be sure to use very ripe bananas for the best flavor. Bananas with brown speckles on the peel are ideal. If your bananas are still slightly greenish or yellow, you can ripen them faster by:
- Placing them in a paper bag with an apple or tomato overnight
- Baking them in the oven at 300??F for 15 minutes
- Letting them sit at room temperature for a couple days
Avoid using overripe bananas with mostly black peel, as they tend to be overly starchy and moist.
How to Mash Bananas for Cake
Mashing the bananas well is important for integrating their flavor and moisture throughout the cake batter. Follow these steps:
- Peel the bananas and place them in a medium bowl. Mash with a fork until no large chunks remain.
- For a smooth puree, you can also use a food processor, immersion blender, potato masher, or electric mixer.
- Blend until the texture is mostly smooth. A few tiny chunks are fine.
- Measure out the amount of mashed banana needed for your recipe.
- Proceed with the rest of the cake recipe directions.
Be sure not to mash the bananas too early, as they will darken quickly. Mash them just before adding to the cake batter.
How Much Banana Flavor Will Come Through?
Using fully ripe bananas will provide the most flavor in your finished cake. Generally, banana cake has a mild banana flavor with subtle sweetness and moisture from the fruit.
Here are some tips for accentuating the banana flavor:
- Use very ripe, speckled bananas
- Mash thoroughly until mostly smooth
- Use butter instead of oil for richer flavor
- Consider adding banana extract or liqueur
- Add cinnamon, allspice, vanilla, or nutmeg to complement banana
- Top with cream cheese frosting for extra banana taste
- Serve cake warm or toasted to intensify flavors
Keep in mind that banana tends to be a mild flavor. Cake batters are often able to handle more mashed banana than the recipe calls for. Feel free to experiment with adding extra banana puree if you want more pronounced banana flavor and moisture.
How Does Altitude Affect Banana Cake?
Higher altitudes can impact baking recipes, including quick breads like banana cake. The lower air pressure causes moisture to evaporate more quickly and batters to rise faster.
Here are some tips for making banana cake at high altitudes above 3,000 feet:
- Lower oven temperature by 25??F
- Add 2-4 tablespoons more liquid
- Reduce baking powder slightly, to about 1 teaspoon
- Increase banana amount to add more moisture
- Bake for the shorter time range given
- Check for doneness early
The exact adjustments will depend on your specific altitude and recipe. Play around with banana amount, leaveners, and bake times to adapt your favorite banana cake recipe.
What Type of Bananas Work Best?
Creamy, ripe Cavendish bananas are the best type for banana cakes and breads. These bright yellow, sweet bananas have a subtle floral aroma when very ripe.
Other banana varieties that work well include:
- Apple bananas – Sweeter, softer variety
- Lady fingers – Smaller and sweeter
- Manzano – Tropical variety with apple-like notes
Plantains are starchy and not ideal for cake recipes. Avoid greenish bananas and those with no speckles, as they will lack sweetness and moisture.
Common Questions
Can you use banana baby food?
Yes, you can substitute banana baby food in cake recipes. Use one 4-ounce jar in place of each medium banana. The consistency and flavor will be similar to mashed banana.
Is banana bread the same as banana cake?
Banana bread and banana cake are very similar. They both contain mashed bananas for moisture and flavor. But banana cake recipes often contain more sugar and fat, making them lighter and sweeter like cake, while banana bread tends to be denser.
Can you use banana extract instead of bananas?
Banana extract can add great flavor, but lacks the moisture and texture of real bananas. For the best texture, use real bananas, but you can augment their flavor with 1-2 teaspoons of extract.
How do you keep bananas from turning brown?
To prevent sliced or mashed bananas from browning, you can:
- Squeeze lemon juice on them
- Toss them in pineapple juice
- Mix in a little honey
- Coat them in orange juice
The acidity helps delay oxidation and browning.
Banana Cake Recipes
Looking to bake up a delicious banana cake? Here are some top-rated recipes to try:
Ultimate Banana Cake
This moist, flavorful banana cake has brown sugar and sour cream for extra banana taste. Top it with decadent cream cheese frosting.
Hummingbird Banana Cake
Pineapple, coconut, pecans, and banana make this southern classic extra moist and tropical.
Chocolate Chip Banana Cake
Mix two favorites together with this easy recipe using chocolate chips and banana. Kids will love it.
Vegan Banana Cake
This eggless, dairy-free banana cake uses sunflower oil and plant-based milk for a moist crumb.
Banana Cupcakes
Whip up a batch of banana-licious cupcakes with banana puree in the batter and frosted with tangy cream cheese icing.
Tips for the Best Banana Cake
Follow these tips for moist, flavorful homemade banana cake every time:
- Use very ripe bananas – the riper the better
- Mash bananas thoroughly before mixing into batter
- Stir banana mixture gently into batter – don’t overmix
- If baking two layers, underbake slightly to stay moist
- Store banana cake tightly wrapped at room temperature
- Enhance flavor with cinnamon, vanilla, or nuts
- Top with cream cheese or banana frosting
With ripe bananas, a well-tested recipe, and a few enhancements, you can enjoy incredible banana cake. The tropical banana flavor pairs perfectly with so many frostings and mix-ins. Experiment with different combinations to find your favorite way to enjoy this classic treat.
