The delicious combination of bananas and blueberries gets paired with a tangy cream cheese frosting in this Blueberry Banana Cake recipe.
Generally I consider myself to be a pretty thrifty shopper when it comes to anything for the home or photo/cake props. I think I’ve only paid full price ONCE for a cake stand, and it’s one that I’ve used a whole two times. Not worth it, right? So, I tend do do most of my shopping at thrift shops or discount stores like Homesense. Every once in a while I get suckered in at an antique shop and that’s exactly what happened with this cake stand.
While I was in Sydney, my sister took me to this massive (and amazing) antique store called Mitchell Road Antiques. I think we probably spent like 3 hours in there and still didn’t see everything. They have some killer mid-century modern furniture that I wish I could have fit into my suitcase. But alas, I stuck to smaller bits and pieces.
My sister and I both had our eyes on this pretty cake plate, but she graciously said that I should buy it because I bake more cakes than she does (lol). I loved the vintage vibe of it and had to have it. Totally worth the $25 price tag, or so I thought. It actually might be the only thing I bought from there now that I think of it… Anyhow.
The very next day, and I’m not even kidding you, we saw the exact same cake plate at the Paddington Markets for $2. $2!! Except that it was actually less, because the guy let us take 4 different items, whatever we wanted, for a total of $5. Seriously. Wtf Mitchell Road Antiques?! Not cool.
Did I feel ripped off?? Hellllll yes. But ultimately I was glad that my sister was able to get one as well and really, it was worth the $25 to me, so whatever. We literally saw the exact same cake plate a third time at a thrift store a couple days later for $2 again. Whatever! Mental note to stay away from “antique” shops in the future.
Anyhow, enough of my rambling, onto this pretty Blueberry Banana Cake!
Evidently I have a theme when it comes to making desserts for my mom’s birthday. I hadn’t realized it until this year, but three years in a row now I’ve made a blueberry something or other. I know that my mom prefers berry flavored desserts over chocolate, and I know she doesn’t like the seeds most berries have, so it’s a natural choice. Not that anyone is complaining, mind you. I actually think blueberries are now overtaking raspberries as my favorite berry.
The most common companion to blueberry seems to be lemon, but I wanted to try something a little different. Seeing as how blueberry banana happens to be one of my favorite smoothie combos, I figured I’d give it a shot in cake form to see if it works. Spoiler: It works! Ridiculously well actually.
How to make this Blueberry Banana Cake recipe
It’s very important to use overripe bananas for this banana cake recipe. If they’re not overripe, the flavor own’t be as strong. It really makes a huge difference! Banana’s have a very short shelf life for me, as soon as there are brown spots I consider them inedible, but you really want to wait until they are super soft and have a lot of brown on them.
You can also use frozen and thawed bananas instead if you stash them in your freezer like I do. Be sure to bring them to room temperature first though and do not drain the liquid.
I use cake flour in this recipe instead of all-purpose flour which is what I typically use. Bananas can have a tendency to make the cake more dense so the cake flour helps to counteract that a bit. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t have any though. All-purpose should work fine too.
I used fresh blueberries in this cake but you can use frozen (not thawed) as well. Either way, be sure to coat them in flour to help prevent sinking. This will sometimes happen regardless of your berry coating efforts, but thankfully the layers aren’t super tall so if there is any sinking it shouldn’t be too bad.
The banana flavor in this cake is delicious and it goes amazingly well with the blueberries!! I love this combo. The tangy cream cheese frosting was a must for this Blueberry Banana Cake recipe. It complements the cake layers perfectly well.
If you’re looking for a delicious and easy banana cake recipe, this one is for you!
Looking for more Banana Desserts?
- Banana Chocolate Chip Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
- Nutella Banana Cake with Hazelnut Meringue
- Banana Split Cake
Notes & tips for this easy Banana Cake recipe:
- Apr 14, 2022 – Cream Cheese Frosting recipe revised to make a more stable frosting.
- Be sure to use very overripe bananas for best flavor. You can also use frozen and thawed bananas instead if you stash them in your freezer like I do. Be sure to bring them to room temperature first though and do not drain the liquid.
- Be sure to coat your blueberries in flour before folding them into the batter so that they don’t sink!
- You can use frozen blueberries instead of fresh ones, but do not thaw them first.
- You can substitute any other berry if you prefer, or leave the berries out altogether for a simple and easy banana cake.
- Alternatively, you can use chopped nuts if you prefer. Chopped walnuts would be perfect!
- To help ensure your cake layers bake up nice and flat, see my Flat Top Cakes post.
Blueberry Banana Cake
Ingredients
Blueberry Banana Cake:
- 2 cups cake flour sifted
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 cup overripe bananas mashed, approx. 2 medium
- 1/2 cup buttermilk room temperature
- 1 cup blueberries fresh or frozen, tossed in 2 tsp cake flour
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 cup cream cheese 8oz, full fat, chilled, cubed
- 4 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1 tsp vanilla
- cornstarch or meringue powder optional
Instructions
Blueberry Banana Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour three 6″ cake rounds, line with parchment.
- In a medium bowl, whisk cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside .
- Beat butter until smooth. Add sugar and beat on med-high until pale and fluffy (2-3mins).
- Reduce speed and add eggs one at a time, fully incorporating after each addition. Add vanilla and mashed bananas and mix until well combined.
- Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour (3 additions of flour and 2 of milk). Fully incorporating after each addition. Do not overmix.
- Gently fold in blueberries, being careful not to break them.
- Spread batter evenly into prepared pans and bake for 30mins or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
- Place cakes on wire rack to cool for 10mins then turn out onto wire rack to cool completely.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Using a stand mixer or hand mixer beat butter until pale and creamy.
- Reduce speed to low. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time and mix on low until well blended. Increase speed to medium and beat for 3 minutes. Add vanilla and continue to beat on medium for 1 minute.
- Slowly add chilled cream cheese one cube at a time (about 1 tablespoon at a time). Beat well until blended and ensure no lumps of cream cheese remain.
- If needed, add cornstarch or meringue powder 1 tablespoon at a time to stiffen the frosting (I didn't but this is an option).
- Run mixer on low for a couple of minutes to remove any air bubbles.
Assembly:
- Place one layer of cake on a cake stand or serving plate. Top with 2/3 cup of frosting. Repeat with remaining layers and apply a thin coat of frosting all over the cake. Chill for 20mins.
- Use the remaining frosting to frost the cake, and do a rustic swirl on the sides and top with an offset spatula if desired.
- Top with fresh blueberries and thyme sprigs if desired.
Muna says
Hi. Great recipe, i really want to try it but i have bad experience with butter and egg that always turn to clumby . So is it possible to use oil instead of butter ??
Olivia says
Hi Muna! You can use oil instead but it will change the texture of the cake. It will be softer and have more of a greasy mouth feel, but it will also be more moist. It’s not a bad thing, just different.
Sherry Calderone says
Can you please tell me how/what to adjust to make 2 8″ round cakes instead of 3 6″ round cakes? Thank you so much!
Olivia says
Hi Sherry! The recipe as-is will work in two 8″ cake pans. Baking time will be similar.
Caitlin says
This sounds delicious! If I wanted to only make one cake layer instead, how could I cut the recipe down?
Olivia says
Hi Caitlin! For one 6″ cake layer change the Servings from 12 to 4. That should adjust the amounts.
Nora says
Love, love, love this cake! I’m trying to eat less sugar – do you think the cake (not the icing) would turn out ok if I use 1/2 or 3/4 the amount of sugar?
Olivia says
Hi Nora! I’m so happy you love it 🙂 I think using half the sugar should be fine!