The Ultimate Banana Pecan Cake for Any Occasion
If you have ripe bananas sitting on your counter, this Banana Pecan Cake is the perfect way to use them. It’s incredibly moist, rich in banana flavor, and packed with crunchy toasted pecans for the perfect texture contrast.
Whether served as a simple snack cake or dressed up with cream cheese frosting for celebrations, this homemade banana pecan cake is guaranteed to impress.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 cup chopped pecans (lightly toasted)
For the Cream Cheese Frosting (Optional)
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Extra pecans for topping
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Oven
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and flour a 9×13-inch pan or two 9-inch round pans.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
Step 3: Cream Butter & Sugar
- Beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time.
- Mix in vanilla.
Step 4: Add Bananas & Sour Cream
- Stir in mashed bananas.
- Mix in sour cream until smooth.
Step 5: Combine & Add Pecans
- Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet mixture.
- Fold in chopped pecans.
Step 6: Bake
- Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Bake 30–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool completely before frosting.
Step 7: Frost (Optional)
- Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
- Add powdered sugar and vanilla; beat until fluffy.
- Spread over cooled cake and sprinkle with pecans.
Tips for the Best Banana Pecan Cake
- Use very ripe bananas with brown spots for maximum sweetness.
- Toast pecans for deeper flavor.
- Don’t overmix the batter.
- Let cake cool fully before frosting.
Delicious Variations
- Add chocolate chips for a banana chocolate pecan cake.
- Turn into cupcakes (bake 18–22 minutes).
- Make it a layered celebration cake.
- Drizzle with caramel sauce for extra indulgence.