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!
Teresa says
Excellent recipe! So delicious and moist. It’s become my go to dessert. When I make it, everyone asks for the recipe. I recently substituted Greek yogurt for the sour cream, but I think it is better with the sour cream. So delicious!
Allison Mattina says
That’s great to hear! Thanks for sharing your experience with this recipe. 🙂
Cynthia T says
This cake is amazing! Of course, we didn’t wait for the cake to cool completely. I will definitely make this again and again.
Allison Mattina says
I’m so glad! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Patty says
This cake is hard not to eat ! Delicious! The icing and walnuts give it the sweetness. Everyone in my family was awaiting a piece !
Allison Mattina says
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Nicole Foy says
Good Morning I made this cake for our Remembrance Day ceremony luncheon.
People raved about it and asked for seconds and the recipe.
Very moist and yummy. I used 18% cream instead of milk for a more fudgey
glaze. and 2 cups mashed bananas.
Allison Mattina says
Thanks for sharing your experience! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Deb Grinaway says
Delicious! I only had 3 bananas, so I halved the recipe. Cooked the cake(s) in a mini bundt tray for 20 to 25 minutes. Sooo good! Will definitely make again. Cakes were super moist and frosting was perfect!
Allison Mattina says
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe. 🙂
Monique says
Can you double this recipe and make it in a baking pan ?
Allison Mattina says
You won’t need to double it. I think it will be plenty of batter for a 9×13 pan.
JoEllen Ford says
I gave this cake to neighbors, co-workers and family. Everyone loved it. The only change I made was to skip the nuts due to allergies. It was fabulous and will be our go to recipe. Thank you so much.
Allison Mattina says
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Lynette La Mere says
Really excellent! I was scouring for something quick that I could bring you to a meeting and beware this has to chill a bit before you put the icing on it, but I just put it in the fridge. I also added a cup of toasted walnuts, chopped, to the inside, as well as sprinkling them on top of the glaze, not mixed in. Everyone loved the cake. It’s definitely a winner.
Allison Mattina says
That’s great to hear! Thanks for the kind review. 🙂
Nicole Kostek says
This is the best recipe for banana bread I’ve tried….and I’ve tried quite a few. So moist!!
Allison Mattina says
Thanks for the kind review! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Jules says
Wow! The frosting is to die for! Such a moist cake. Came together easily. Thanks for sharing a great recipe!
Allison Mattina says
You’re welcome! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂