You have got to try this homemade banana and nuts cake with pudding frosting in a 9×9 pan!! If you have tried our quick cheater boxed yellow cake mix banana bread and loved it this will become a new family favorite dessert (or breakfast) this week.
Overripe bananas should not be immediately thrown away. Many times they may look ugly but actually is sweeter than if enjoyed fresh and can add flavor and tenderness to a variety of baked goods. Here is one of our favorites. (post may contain affiliate links present)
What can you make with brown bananas?
Over the years we have made it all I feel, but seem to come up with new recipe ideas all the time….so we share them here when they turn out well. This is a new one we made this weekend when they turned brown and nobody wanted to eat them as is. Inside brownies makes your result more moist, in pancake batter, yogurt and on the top of oatmeal are easy ones.
One we probably make the most often would be our Banana Bread Bundt Cake. With yogurt or sour cream in the ingredients makes it even more tender with the mashed fruit so it is over the top delicious. That feeds quite a few though so this time we aimed for enough for just the 5 of us, in a 9×9 inch square baking pan.
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How to Make Bananas Cake with Nuts
As with other baked goods you always want to combine your wet ingredients into one bowl and dry ingredients in another. Then combine the two to create a smooth batter. In this case I always add the mashed (but leaving some smaller chunks in tact) and nuts in at the very end for a bit of added texture. You can also make a crumble on top with them like we did with our Cinnamon Banana Bread.
Line the pan with parchment paper to lift out easily, or spray with non stick spray. Then it is time to bake, and the last step is to make sure you do not bake too long, that would be a tragedy to dry this creation out. Check often at the end with a knife or toothpick. If you don’t have either touch the center with your finger once golden brown. If it springs back it is done.
Ingredients
- Butter should be unsalted, melted and cooled slightly
- Brown sugar packed
- Eggs will help it rise and become fluffy
- Vanilla extract or half almond extract is a nice touch
- All purpose flour serves as the batter base
- Baking powder helps it to rise
- Salt will actually bring out the sweetness and banana flavor
- Bananas should be brown, mashed, about 2 large are enough
- 1 c nuts walnuts were used and recommended
Banana Cake Frosting
You could add yet another flavor with a layer of pudding. Whisk 1 box of dry instant mix and milk. I have done this one other way too though to make it fluffier and kinda’ grow larger with our Cool Whip Pudding Frosting recipe too. Try both, add on top with some whipped cream and fresh slices when served.
For a store bought choice I would go with room temperature cream cheese frosting spread over the top of your cooled cake. You do want your banana walnut cake recipe to cool quite a bit or any of these will just slide right off and make a mess.
Cake Mix Banana and Nuts Cake
Now you can make a version of this not from scratch as well. 😉 You know how I love my cheater recipes so in that case use yellow mix to make this Cake Mix Banana Pudding Cake and fold chopped walnuts in at the end, or on the top of the frosting (or both).
What are the best nuts to add to cake?
- Almonds are great in almond, sponge cake, and as a topping or filling for layer cakes. Sliced, slivered, chopped, or ground into almond flour.
- Walnuts are excellent in carrot cakes, banana bread, coffee cakes, and brownies. Chopped or halved.
- Pecans are ideal for pecan pies, butter pecan cakes, and as a topping for coffee cakes and muffins.
- Hazelnuts are perfect in chocolate cakes, hazelnut tortes, and Nutella-flavored desserts. Chopped, whole, or ground into hazelnut flour.
- Pistachios are great in pistachio cakes, Middle Eastern desserts, and as a topping for cheesecakes and cupcakes.
- Cashews are really good in cashew cakes, vegan desserts, and as a creamy filling or topping.
Yes, mashed bananas is a great alternative to yogurt or sour cream in cakes and sweet breads. Fruit also adds great texture, moisture and flavor to desserts.
You do want more than just brown spots but not black. In between the two is ideal, the whole thing that has browned is just perfect. If you want to slow down the process put them into a bowl and store in the fridge until you’re ready to use them.
Banana and Nuts Cake
Equipment
- 1 9×9 pan
- 1 Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 c butter, unsalted, melted and cooled slightly
- 1 c brown sugar, packed
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 c all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 c bananas, brown, mashed, about 2 large
- 1 c nuts, walnuts, chopped are best
Banana Pudding Frosting
- 1 box banana pudding, instant, 3.4 oz.
- 1 3/4 c milk, whole is best
Instructions
- In a bowl combine the pudding mix and milk. Follow the directions on the back of the box whisking until it has thickened. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until thick and cold. A few hours is best.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9×9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray or parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine melted butter and brown sugar until well blended. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Fold in the mashed bananas and toasted walnuts until evenly distributed.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- If you want to top with the pudding, allow the base is cool for a good hour, serve each piece with a layer of the banana pudding on top and with whipped topping over that.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This banana nut cake looks so moist and delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Oh yum! Such a wonderful use for bananas. This cake looks especially fantastic with that banana pudding frosting over the top.