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–+ servings

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
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16
Calories 85 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 3 cups all-purpose Flour
  • 1½ 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
  • 1½ 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
  • 3½ 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 9x13, banana cake with cream cheese frosting, banana nut cake, best banana pecan cake, easy banana cake recipe
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