Best Banana Pecan Cake

This is simply the best banana pecan cake! Freshly squeezed lemon juice and zest lend a fruity flavor, while pecans add crunch to this moist and delicious cake. The cream cheese frosting brings this over the top! It’s great as a breakfast or snack cake!

I love baking with Bananas. The fact that I have many recipes here that use bananas proves how much I love this amazing fruit. It just adds so much flavor and moisture to any baked good.

I love seeing the brown speckles in banana bread. I often buy bananas so that I can make banana bread! Yes, I am truly bananas over bananas!

Banana Cake

I already have a delicious, tried-and-tested recipe for Banana Bread on this blog, which has received many excellent reviews from our readers.

I thought of adapting that same recipe to make a Banana Cake. It would have the same citrus flavor as freshly squeezed orange juice, with grated zest added for that extra tang and yummy taste.

As expected, the cake was moist and delightful. Since it is a cake, I also decided to add some delicious frosting. This truly enhances the already delectable cake.

I also like adding toasted pecans on top of the cake – either whole ones just added on each slice or when I’m feeling indulgent – I sprinkle a lot more! 

Banana Cake

So, you can imagine how your taste buds will sing joyfully when they savor each delicious mouthful. Hope you try this truly tasty cake soon!

INGREDIENTS for BEST BANANA PECAN CAKE

  • all-purpose Flour
  • Baking Soda
  • Salt
  • Bananas (use super-ripe Bananas with dark spots on its skin)
  • Lemon Juice and zest  (fresh Orange juice plus zest may be used instead)
  • Butter
  • Brown sugar (can use white, too, and cake will be paler in color)
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Buttermilk
  • Pecans, chopped

*You can use a food processor to mash the bananas.
*You can also use regular white sugar (cake is slightly darker if brown sugar is used).

For the frosting  (The best and yummiest frosting!)

  • Butter (softened)
  • Cream cheese (softened and get a good quality one)
  • Confectioners or Icing Sugar
  • Vanilla Extract

How to Make the BEST BANANA PECAN CAKE

Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish and set aside.

Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Mix the mashed bananas with the orange juice and zest in a separate bowl. Set aside.

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract. Stir in the banana-orange mixture. On low speed, alternately add the flour and the buttermilk to the mixture, beginning and ending with the flour.

Gently fold in the nuts. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and bake in the oven for about 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat the softened butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. On low speed, add the powdered sugar one cup at a time and continue until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Beat in the Vanilla extract. Spread evenly on top of the cooled cake. Place 1 or 2 whole pecans on each slice. Enjoy!

It’s great with or without frosting! Enjoy!

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Best Banana Pecan Cake

This is simply the best banana pecan cake!  Freshly squeezed lemon juice and zest lend a fruity flavor while pecans add crunch to this moist and delicious cake. The cream cheese frosting brings this over the top! Great as a breakfast or snack cake!
4.84 from 25 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16
Calories 85 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 3 cups all-purpose Flour
  • tsp Baking Soda
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • 4 large very ripe Bananas, mashed*
  • 3 tbsp Lemon Juice and zest of 1 Lemon, or 4 Tablespoons fresh Orange juice plus zest of 1 Orange
  • 3/4 cup unsalted Butter, softened
  • cups brown Sugar, can use white, too but the cake will be paler in color
  • 3 large Eggs
  • 2 tsps Vanilla Extract
  • 1 cup Buttermilk
  • 1 cup Pecans, chopped

For the frosting 

  • ½ cup unsalted Butter, softened
  • 1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened
  • cups Confectioners or Icing Sugar
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish. Set aside.
    Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
  • In a separate bowl, mix the mashed bananas with the orange juice and zest. Set aside.
  • Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat the eggs one at a time then add the vanilla extract.
  • Stir in the banana-orange mixture.
  • On low speed, alternately add the flour and the buttermilk to the mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. Gently fold in the nuts.
  • Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for about 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

For the frosting

  • Using an electric mixer, beat together the softened butter and cream cheese until smooth. On low speed, add the powdered sugar one cup at a time and continue until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Beat in the Vanilla extract. Spread evenly on top of the cooled cake. Place 1 or 2 whole pecans on each slice. Enjoy!
    cropped-CreamCheeseFrosting-13.jpg

Notes

TIPS & TRICKS
You can use a food processor to mash the bananas.
You can also use regular white sugar (cake is slightly darker if brown sugar is used).

Nutrition

Calories: 85kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 2gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.04gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 0.5mgPotassium: 25mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.1gCalcium: 4mgIron: 1mg
Keyword banana cake 9×13, banana cake with cream cheese frosting, banana nut cake, best banana pecan cake, easy banana cake recipe
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Last updated on July 17th, 2024 at 09:53 pm

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37 Comments

  1. November 9, 2014 / 7:58 pm

    Yum, completely irresistible!

  2. November 9, 2014 / 10:52 pm

    The buttermilk and orange zest must this cake amazing. I have to try this.

    • November 14, 2014 / 1:20 am

      Thanks for the kind invitation and hope you enjoy it.

  3. November 13, 2014 / 7:43 pm

    should this be bake in the lowest level in the oven?

    • March 9, 2015 / 10:39 pm

      Leave your rack in the middle level of the oven.

  4. April 21, 2015 / 3:49 am

    I luv banana-anythings and fantastic addition of using the orange juice and zest, will definitely be trying too! Thanks for sharing. 😉

  5. April 21, 2015 / 4:37 am

    I LOVE bananas in just about anything. This cake looks especially moist. It's on my must-try list.

  6. April 21, 2015 / 6:26 am

    This cake looks amazing, my kids love anything that involves bananas, they'll be thrilled when I make it!

  7. April 21, 2015 / 12:58 pm

    You are so right the orange will really enhance the flavor of this dish greatly!

  8. September 4, 2016 / 6:41 am

    this just looks so moist and delicious…brown sugar is great for this recipe xoxo

  9. Yvonne
    February 11, 2018 / 7:23 pm

    Can’t wait to bake it!

  10. Kristi
    April 17, 2020 / 11:59 pm

    I made it and the icing with coconut sugar and used lemon for the buttermilk. It came out so moist and delicious!!! Thank you! 🙂

    • abigail
      Author
      April 18, 2020 / 5:43 am

      So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for letting us know.

  11. Chantal
    October 19, 2020 / 7:05 am

    Hi is there a way to make a Vegan version of this recipe? Let me know thank you! ^^

    • abigail
      Author
      October 19, 2020 / 8:16 am

      I haven’t made a vegan version of this. Sorry. However, it’s worth a try. You need to perhaps find an egg substitute and maybe use coconut cream for the frosting.

  12. Dannii
    February 17, 2021 / 12:08 pm

    5 stars
    I love anything with pecan in it, so this banana cake looks amazing to me.

  13. HEATHER PERINE
    February 17, 2021 / 1:39 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve made banana cake before but never with pecans…this gave such great flavor and crunch! Simple and delicious 🙂

  14. Sarah James
    February 17, 2021 / 1:39 pm

    5 stars
    You had me at bananas and pecans. Your cake looks delicious and I love the sound of the cream cheese frosting, thanks for sharing.

  15. Beth
    February 17, 2021 / 1:49 pm

    5 stars
    This looks so delicious and tasty! I can’t wait to give this a try! My kids and hubby are going to love this! So excited!

  16. Nart at Cooking with Nart
    February 18, 2021 / 2:20 am

    5 stars
    Great banana cake recipe! I always come back to this when I have lots of overripe bananas 🙂

  17. Dannii
    February 27, 2021 / 11:28 am

    5 stars
    I love any dessert with pecans and this looks delicious. I can’t wait to try it.

  18. Rachel
    February 27, 2021 / 11:50 am

    5 stars
    Love everything about this banana pecan cake recipe! So moist and delicious!

  19. Beth
    February 27, 2021 / 11:59 am

    5 stars
    Such a big hit here at the house! Definitely one of our favorites! So excited to make this again soon!

  20. Jacqueline Debono
    February 27, 2021 / 12:21 pm

    5 stars
    I love baking with bananas and often make banana bread and muffins. This cake looks so good. I’m definitely putting it on my to-make list! The addition of pecans and lemon juice and zest sounds delicious!

  21. Denay DeGuzman
    February 27, 2021 / 12:43 pm

    5 stars
    This banana pecan cake is moist and delicious with the perfect crumb. I made this for my parents and dropped it off to them last week. They’re already asking if I can make it for them again!

  22. Marilyn
    November 3, 2022 / 1:41 pm

    Can you freeze this cake with good results? If so, can you do it frosted or should it remain unfrosted for freezing?

    • abigail
      Author
      November 3, 2022 / 4:28 pm

      I have never tried freezing it as it’s gone so quickly when I bring it to potlucks. I would suggest freezing them unfrosted and if possible in slices (for easier thawing). Wrap each piece in saran or plastic first once cooled and then wrap all over with aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Store for up to 3 months then fully thaw before frosting.

  23. Nancy Wait
    July 3, 2023 / 5:23 pm

    Is the cake better with lemon juice or orange juice?

    • abigail
      Author
      July 3, 2023 / 8:57 pm

      I use lemons.

  24. July 4, 2023 / 11:40 am

    Can I use a sugar substitute, Splenda, instead

    • abigail
      Author
      July 5, 2023 / 1:35 pm

      I only use regular sugar for my baking so I’m not sure but you’ve used splenda for baking before – may be worth a try.

  25. Glenda
    July 18, 2023 / 6:01 pm

    I think I just messed up my cake. It’s in the oven now I just realized I put baking powder instead of baking soda is this going to ruin it. I’m so upset at myself!

    • abigail
      Author
      July 27, 2023 / 12:02 pm

      No, I don’t think it should. Sorry for late response, just seeing this. We’ve been having a busy summer with guests coming in and out. Hope it turned out well.

  26. Jackie Silbernagel
    November 4, 2023 / 8:43 pm

    5 stars
    This cake is scrumptious, it is delicious I could eat the whole cake.

    • abigail
      Author
      November 4, 2023 / 9:14 pm

      I am so happy to know this! My daughter loves this cake so I am glad you enjoyed this, too. Thank you for letting us know.

4.84 from 25 votes (14 ratings without comment)

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