Banana Bundt Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze – Thick and soft banana cake with a tender buttery crumb, topped with a decadent Brown Sugar Glaze. The BEST Banana Cake EVER!
This here is the only banana cake recipe you will need from now until the end of time. This is the BEST banana cake I have ever (I mean, ever!) sunk my teeth into.
Note: I now buy bananas, ban my family from consuming them, then wait for them to ripen so I can immediately bake this cake.
Also to be noted, I might need to move up one pants size if this banana cake habit doesn’t quit. Wah.
Prefer a sheet cake? Try this Banana Cake topped with vanilla frosting.
Prefer a different flavor? Try this Pumpkin Bundt Cake.
I have been on a search for the perfect banana cake for months. I went back and forth about whether it should be a sheet cake or a bundt cake. What should I top it with? Cream cheese frosting? Brown sugar glaze? Chocolate? Decisions, decisions.
All my testing landed me on this recipe, which comes from the brilliant Dorie Greenspan.
Banana Bundt Cake
I made very few changes to the cake recipe itself, and I would call it perfect. Nearly two cups of mashed bananas add the banana flavor, sour cream adds moisture and balances out the sweetness, vanilla extract compliments the bananas, and the right amount of butter creates a tender crumb. See what I said about perfect?
I resisted the urge to add cinnamon or chocolate chips in order to really allow the bananas to shine. I am so, so, happy with how this cake turned out. Its flavor and consistency are spot on.
This cake can absolutely hold its own as-is, without the brown sugar glaze. You can serve it plain, dusted with powdered sugar, or with a smear of salted butter. But, because I am a “more is more” type of girl, I went ahead and whipped up a brown sugar glaze to pour over this beautiful Banana Bundt Cake.
Brown Sugar Glaze
This quick and easy glaze is made with butter, brown sugar and vanilla. It tastes like carmel-praline-brown sugar heaven. It slowly drips down the sides of the cake, coating each bite with sweet and buttery deliciousness. The glaze firms up quickly, which means you don’t have to wait too long before diving in.
Bonus: the glaze also acts like glue if you choose to garnish your cake with chopped walnuts or pecans.
Now, what are you waiting for? You know you want a slice of this cake. Bake, eat, share and enjoy.
P.S. There’s bananas in it, so it can totally be eaten for breakfast, right? Morning, noon, or night – I will never, ever turn down a slice of this beauty.
MORE BANANA RECIPES: BEST EVER BANANA BREAD – BANANA BROWN SUGAR FRENCH TOAST – BANANA BAKED OATMEAL
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Recipe
Banana Bundt Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze
Ingredients
Cake:
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ⅔ cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ¾ cups mashed very ripe bananas, approx 4 bananas
- 1 cup sour cream, I used light
Brown Sugar Icing:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup chopped toasted walnuts or pecans
Instructions
Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- With a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter until smooth and creamy. Add sugar and beat for another minute, at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary. Add vanilla, then beat in 1 egg at a time. Mix in bananas (the mixture might curdle, that’s ok).
- Add half of the dry ingredients, sour cream, and then the remaining dry ingredients, mixing between each addition.
- Thoroughly grease a 12-cup bundt pan and add the batter to the pan. Rap the pan on the counter a couple times (to remove air bubbles), then smooth out the top. Bake for 55-65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Loosely cover the cake with foil if it starts to get dark (this was around 30 minutes for me). Place the pan on a wire rack until it is cool enough to handle, then carefully unmold the cake and place it back on the rack to cool completely.
Icing:
- In a small saucepan combine butter, brown sugar and milk. Bring to a simmer, whisking frequently and cook until the sugar is dissolved, a minute or two. Remove from the heat and cool for 5 minutes.
- Add vanilla, whisking to combine. Add powdered sugar ¼ cup at a time, whisking vigorously, until you reach your desired consistency. The icing will start to firm up quickly so have the cake cooled and ready. Drizzle the icing over the cake and immediately sprinkle with nuts. The icing will set in a matter of minutes.
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Sylvie
Thank you for this wonderful recipe! I made it over the holidays, and it will be a go-to for sure. Delicious!
Allison
I’m so glad! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Illiana R
How do you store the cake?
Allison
Store in the fridge for 3 days and serve at room temperature.
Emory
This cake is incredible. My wife said it was the best thing she had eaten so far this year.
Allison
I’m so glad! Thanks for stopping by.
Nannette Rock
This cake was absolutely delicious! My family and friends loved it! So moist and flavorful. I did use 5 bananas because I had them. Not sure if that made a difference. This is definitely a keeper!
Allison
I’m so glad! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Jamie
Can I sub the milk for almond milk for the icing? I’m scared it’ll keep it from setting up properly
Allison
That should be fine. The butter and powdered sugar are what help it set. Enjoy!
Amy Martin
This bundt cake was delicious! My husband always wants chocolate chips added, but instead, I made a banana chocolate marble version of this. Before putting the batter in the pan I pulled out about 1/3 of it and mixed in some dark dutch cocoa to that portion. Then I alternated the batters and ran a knife through it to marble it before baking. Thanks for sharing! (I prefer banana alone, so next time I’m making it the original way for myself! haha)
Allison
Ha! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for stopping by!
Tami Toppen
This truly is the very best banana Bundt cake ever. Mine looked just like the picture. I added pecans to the batter and sprinkled walnuts on top of the icing which was also delicious. I think the sour cream adds a lot to this cake. I used baking powder instead of baking soda and it turned out great. This cake calls for four bananas which really makes it good. Kudos for this wonderful recipe.
Allison
Thanks for the kind review. I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
LaWanda M.
Bananas Bananas,this cake make everyone love bananas ~ my favorite is to serve a 1/2 “ slice top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream top With pineapple delicious tastes like a banana split for dessert, I have made it a couple of times comes and it comes out perfect every time. I even add a touch of cinnamon thanks Celebratingsweets.
Allison
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Ann
I don’t have a Bundt pan…. Can I use a regular cake pan with same recipe??
Allison
I have a banana cake recipe that uses a 9×13 pan: https://celebratingsweets.com/banana-cake/
Angel
Amazing dessert! I’ve made it again and again but it needs double the icing recipe given to cover the cake in my opinion.
New favorite! I add butterscotch chips in mine too.
Allison
Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂