A coffee cake can be so much more—when you add bananas, that is. Our banana coffee cake recipe features cream cheese and ripe bananas for a delectably moist treat. Enjoy it with coffee, a glass of milk or even on its own. The hardest part of this recipe is waiting for the cake to finish baking so you can indulge!
Ingredients for Banana Coffee Cake
- Cream cheese: Softened cream cheese makes the cake texture somewhat creamy and also adds a slightly tangy note to the flavor.
- Butter: Butter makes the cake rich and tender. Let the butter soften for about an hour before you start.
- Sugar: Sugar helps lock in moisture, which keeps the cake soft.
- Eggs: Eggs contribute to the mouthfeel and texture of the cake.
- Ripe bananas: Ripe bananas bring their flavor to the cake and also make the cake moist.
- Vanilla extract: This extract adds a hint of vanilla flavor to the cake.
- All-purpose flour: Regular all-purpose flour works well for this cake recipe.
- Baking powder: Baking powder helps make the cake light and airy.
- Baking soda: Baking soda neutralizes acids in the cake and also helps keep the cake tender.
- Pecans, sugar and cinnamon: This trio creates a scrumptious topping for banana coffee cake.
Directions 
Step 1: Start the batter
Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and sugar until they’re blended. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the bananas and vanilla.
Step 2: Combine the dry ingredients
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda, then gradually add this dry mixture to the creamed mixture.
Step 3: Make the topping
In another bowl, combine the pecans, sugar and ground cinnamon for the topping, then add half of that topping mixture to the batter.
Step 4: Bake the cake
Transfer the batter to a greased 13×9-inch baking pan. Sprinkle the batter with the remaining topping. Bake the cake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool on a wire rack.
Banana Coffee Cake Variations
- Serve it with ice cream: Serve each slightly warm slice of cake with ice cream. Vanilla, butter pecan or an ice cream with bananas plus chocolate or nuts is delicious with this cake.
- Add chocolate: Add 1/2 cup or so of chocolate chips or 1 tablespoon baking cocoa (or both!) to the cake for a delicious twist. Here’s a recipe that uses baking cocoa to make a banana chocolate cake.
- Mix in some raisins: Add about 1/2 cup of raisins to the batter for a banana raisin coffee cake.
How to Store Banana Coffee Cake
Store the banana coffee cake in an airtight container, or cover it with plastic wrap. In either case, keep it in the refrigerator, where it will last for three to four days.
Can you freeze banana coffee cake?
Yes, wrap the cake in two layers of plastic, then foil, and place it in the freezer, where it will keep for a month or so. Feel free to package it in small portions so you can take out just one at a time. When you’re ready to eat it, thaw portions in the refrigerator overnight and then on the countertop for a little while to bring the cake to room temperature.
Banana Coffee Cake Tips
What’s the difference between baking soda and baking powder?
While both baking powder and baking soda are leavening agents, which help add air bubbles to batter and make a cake rise, they’re a little different. Baking powder contains baking soda, cornstarch and an acid salt such as cream of tartar. They behave a little differently in how they rise within a cake, hence the use for both in this recipe.
What similar recipes can I make?
Try this banana upside-down cake, which has pecans and bananas on top once you flip the cake over, or this easy banana upside-down skillet cake that starts with a quickbread or muffin mix. For a surprising yet delicious variation, try this amazing cranberry banana cake recipe, which has cranberries, brown sugar and pecans on top.
Could I add an icing to banana bread coffee cake?
Yes, a simple confectioners’ sugar glaze drizzled over the top adds a special touch without being overly sweet.
