Whip Up Ina Garten’s Sunshine Banana Cake Recipe!

Banana cake emerges as a culinary hero for transforming languishing fruit into a mouthwatering delight.

Ripe bananas whisper promises of sweet, comforting magic in every kitchen.

Decadent and forgiving, this dessert turns potential waste into a celebration of flavor.

Soft crumbs tell stories of resourceful baking and nostalgic comfort.

No complicated techniques stand between you and this luscious treat.

Bakers of all skill levels can craft this crowd-pleasing dessert with surprising ease.

Your taste buds will dance with anticipation of this irresistible slice of pure happiness.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Calories: 570 kcal

Servings: 8

Ingredients List for Ina Garten’s Banana Cake

• Ripe Bananas: Select deeply speckled bananas with rich, sweet aroma for maximum natural sweetness.
• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Choose pure cane sugars for deeper caramel undertones.
• Vegetable Oil: Pick neutral-flavored oil for smooth cake texture.
• Extra-Large Eggs: Select fresh, room-temperature eggs for better incorporation.
• Sour Cream: Use full-fat version for richer, more tender crumb.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: Opt for high-quality Madagascar or Mexican vanilla for complex flavor.
• Orange Zest: Select bright, firm oranges with vibrant outer skin for intense citrus notes.

• All-Purpose Flour: Seek unbleached flour for better protein content and structure.
• Baking Soda: Ensure fresh, active leavening agent for proper cake rise.
• Kosher Salt: Use fine-grain salt for even distribution and balanced taste.

• Cream Cheese, Unsalted Butter: Allow ingredients to reach room temperature for smooth blending.
• Confectioners' Sugar: Sift to eliminate potential lumps for silky frosting.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: Choose premium extract to enhance overall frosting flavor.

What You’ll Need to Bake Ina’s Banana Cake

• Mixing Bowls: Large, sturdy bowls for combining wet and dry ingredients smoothly.
• Whisk: Perfect for blending and breaking up lumps in ingredients.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Precise tools for accurate ingredient quantities.
• 9-inch Round Cake Pan: Key for creating the perfect cake shape.
• Cooking Spray or Butter: Ensures cake doesn't stick to the pan.
• Flour (for dusting): Helps prevent cake from clinging to pan.
• Electric Mixer or Hand Mixer: Great for creating fluffy, smooth frosting.
• Cooling Rack: Allows cake to cool evenly and prevent soggy bottom.
• Spatula: Helpful for folding ingredients and spreading frosting.
• Toothpick: Crucial for checking cake doneness.
• Grater: Useful for creating fresh orange zest.

Step-by-Step: Ina Garten’s Banana Cake Method

• Preheat and Prepare Baking Space

Warm the oven to 350°F and grease a round cake pan with butter, then dust with flour to ensure smooth cake release.

• Blend Wet Ingredients

Mash ripe bananas in a large bowl and mix with sugars, oil, eggs, sour cream, vanilla, and orange zest until silky smooth.

• Combine Dry Components

Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together, whisking to eliminate any stubborn lumps.

• Create Cake Batter

Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, incorporating chopped walnuts for a delightful crunch if desired.

• Bake and Cool

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. Test doneness with a toothpick and let cake rest for 15 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

• Craft Creamy Frosting

Whip room temperature cream cheese, softened butter, vanilla, and confectioners’ sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.

• Finish and Serve

Once completely cooled, spread frosting across the cake’s surface and slice into heavenly portions ready to be devoured.

Baking Tips to Enhance Your Banana Cake

• Boost Banana Cake Brilliance: Expert Tips and Twists
• Customize Nut Crunch: Swap walnuts with pecans, almonds, or toasted macadamia nuts for unique texture and flavor profiles. Each nut brings its own delightful character to the cake.
• Master Moisture Magic: Ensure bananas are super ripe with dark brown spots for maximum sweetness and moisture. Overripe bananas guarantee a more decadent, tender cake texture.
• Frosting Flavor Fusion: Experiment with cream cheese frosting by adding a hint of orange liqueur, cinnamon, or maple extract. These subtle additions transform the classic topping into a gourmet experience.
• Storage Smart Strategy: Keep cake covered at room temperature for 2-3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. Always bring to room temperature before serving to restore its soft, luscious texture.

Ways to Present Ina’s Cake at Any Gathering

• Pair with Creamy Companion: Serve a generous slice alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delightful contrast of warm cake and cold, smooth sweetness.
• Elevate with Fresh Touches: Garnish the frosted cake with fresh banana slices, a sprinkle of toasted walnuts, or a light dusting of ground cinnamon to add visual appeal and extra flavor layers.
• Create Brunch Brilliance: Present this banana cake as a show-stopping centerpiece for weekend brunches, complementing it with fresh coffee or a citrusy mimosa for a complete morning spread.
• Store with Care: Keep leftover cake covered at room temperature for 2-3 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days to maintain its moist texture and delectable cream cheese frosting.

Storing and Freezing Ina’s Banana Cake

• Meal Planning & Storage Advice
• Slice and Serve Fresh: Enjoy the banana cake within 2-3 days when stored at room temperature in an airtight container. Cover the cake loosely with plastic wrap or place it under a cake dome to maintain moisture and prevent drying out.
• Refrigerate for Extended Enjoyment: Cream cheese frosting requires refrigeration. Store the frosted cake in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before serving to allow the cake to soften and reach room temperature.
• Freeze for Future Cravings: Wrap individual cake slices or the entire unfrosted cake tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before adding fresh frosting and serving.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the cake batter or bake the cake a day in advance. Store the unfrosted cake at room temperature, covered with plastic wrap. Frost just before serving to ensure maximum freshness and delightful texture.

Moist Ina Garten Banana Cake Recipe

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4.7 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s banana cake delights dessert enthusiasts with rich, moist layers of comforting sweetness. Creamy frosting and ripe bananas create a memorable treat that will satisfy anyone craving a classic homestyle dessert.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
• 2 extra-large eggs, room temperature
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 2 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 6 oz (170 g) cream cheese, room temperature
• 6 tbsps unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (cake)
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (frosting)
• Grated zest of 1 orange
• ½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350°F and thoroughly grease a 9-inch round cake pan with butter and flour for seamless cake release.
2. Wet Ingredient Fusion: In a large mixing bowl, mash ripe bananas and blend with granulated sugar, light brown sugar, vegetable oil, extra-large eggs, sour cream, vanilla extract, and orange zest until achieving a smooth, homogeneous mixture.
3. Dry Ingredient Integration: Sift all-purpose flour, baking soda, and kosher salt into a separate bowl, eliminating potential lumps for a consistent batter texture.
4. Batter Composition: Delicately fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, minimizing mixing to maintain a tender crumb. Gently incorporate chopped walnuts, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
5. Baking Process: Pour the batter into the prepared pan, ensuring an even spread. Bake for 45-50 minutes, verifying doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean.
6. Cooling and Frosting Preparation: Rest the cake in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. While cooling, create the cream cheese frosting by whipping room-temperature cream cheese, unsalted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually add sifted confectioners’ sugar, mixing until achieving a creamy, spreadable consistency.
7. Final Assembly: Once the cake has completely cooled, lavishly apply the cream cheese frosting across the top surface, creating an irresistible finishing touch.

Notes

• Banana Ripeness Matters: Use extremely ripe, soft bananas with dark brown spots for maximum natural sweetness and deeper banana flavor.
• Prevent Overmixing: Stir batter gently and minimally to maintain a tender, light cake texture and avoid developing tough gluten strands.
• Temperature Control: Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature to create a smoother, more evenly mixed batter and consistent baking results.
• Cooling Technique: Allow cake to rest in pan for 15 minutes before transferring to wire rack, preventing potential structural damage and maintaining moisture.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 570
• Sugar: 63 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Fat: 27 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 73 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg