Banana Cake Recipe {Sheet Pan Cake} - Belly Full (2024)

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5 from 10 Ratings

Published: September 6, 2021Updated: November 15, 2023Author: Amy

This sheet pan Banana Cake is the best combination of a cake, banana bread, and chocolate chip cookies all rolled into one! Great for breakfast, brunch, or dessert with a glass of milk or cup of coffee.

Have other ripe bananas that need to be used up? Make a Banana Smoothie, THE ULTIMATE Banana Bread, or easy Banana Muffins.

Banana Cake Recipe {Sheet Pan Cake} - Belly Full (1)

I’m at it again with the bananas. Because I always have overly ripe bananas! Don’t we all?

This sheet pan Banana Cake was originally healthy banana bars, but after tweaking that recipe THREE times and none of us liking any of them, I made cake instead. Cake tells you no lies.

It’s basically a cross between chocolate chip cookies, a cake, and banana bread. So, naturally it’s awesome.

Banana Cake Recipe {Sheet Pan Cake} - Belly Full (2)

Easy Banana Cake – Why We Love It

So many great things about this banana cake recipe.

  • The combination of brown sugar and granulated sugar. When is that not good, right?
  • Overly ripe bananas give it that moist texture and awesome naturally sweet banana flavor.
  • Mini chocolate chips sprinkled throughout, so you get a little chocolate in every bite. Plus, aren’t mini chips just the cutest?
  • It’s light enough to eat with a fork, but dense enough to hold and eat with your hands.
  • The portability! Sheet pan cakes are just the best – you don’t need to worry about them being unbalanced or falling over. They’re perfect for any luncheon or potluck.
  • Freezer friendly, so you can save some for later…if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers.
  • It’s just plain easy and delicious.

Banana Cake Recipe

Here’s what you’ll need to this easy banana cake:
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

  • Bananas: The riper the better in baked goods, for natural sweetness. Tons of black spots are a good thing!
  • Flour: Just simple all-purpose flour.
  • Baking soda: This is the leavening agent that will help the cake rise.
  • Brown sugar: Light or dark, depending on your preference.
  • Granulated sugar: For sweetness.
  • Unsalted butter: We prefer unsalted butter to control the saltiness. It needs to be softened, not cold or melted.
  • Eggs: Acts as a binder and holds everything together.
  • Vanilla: For added flavor.
  • Salt: For taste
  • Mini chocolate chips: Because chocolate! We love mini chocolate chips speckled throughout. Regular size can be used if that’s all you have.
Banana Cake Recipe {Sheet Pan Cake} - Belly Full (3)

How to Make Sheet Pan Banana Cake

Nothing complicated here! This sheet pan cake is so easy to make. Here’s a brief summary:
(Don’t miss the detailed printable recipe card and video below.)

  1. Beat the butter and both sugars together until creamy. Then add in eggs, vanilla, and mashed banana until combined.
  2. Add in the dry ingredients until just combined (don’t over-mix.) Then stir in the chocolate chips.
  3. Spread batter evenly onto a 17×11 rimmed baking sheet that’s been coated with nonstick spray. Sprinkle with more chocolate chips.
  4. Baked until golden and a tester in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
  5. Let cool, cut into squares, and enjoy!

Tips for Success

  • Use overly ripe bananas: While you might not like to eat black bananas on their own, they’re ideal for baking. They add the best natural sweetness to this cake.
  • Spoon and level the flour: When measuring the flour, make sure to spoon and level, not scoop. Too much flour could result in a dry cake.
  • Use an 17×11 rimmed baking sheet: This recipe has been tested using a 17×11 rimmed baking sheet, so stick with that for best results.
  • Don’t over-mix-or over-bake: Be careful not to over-mix the batter or the cake will be too dense. Over-baking will make it dry.
Banana Cake Recipe {Sheet Pan Cake} - Belly Full (4)

How to Store

This cake will keep on the counter, covered tightly, for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for 5 days. To freeze, make sure it’s cooled completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or ziploc bag for up to 2 months. (We like to cut into portions before freezing, so we can take out whatever we want at a time.) Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then bring to room temperature before serving.

More Sheet Pan Cakes:

  • Sheet Pan Pancakes
  • Texas Sheet Cake
  • Brazilian Carrot Sheet Cake
  • Caramel Apple Sheet Cake

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full onFacebook,Instagram,Pinterest, andYouTube!

Banana Cake Recipe {Sheet Pan Cake} - Belly Full (5)

Sheet Pan Banana Cake

5 from 10 Ratings

This sheet pan Banana Cake is the best combination of a cake, banana bread, and chocolate chip cookies all rolled into one! Great for breakfast, brunch, or dessert with a glass of milk or cup of coffee.

Print Recipe Rate Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 24

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter , softened
  • 1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/3 cups mashed very ripe banana (about 3 medium)
  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 1/4 cups mini semisweet chocolate chips , divided

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 17×11 baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

  • In a large bowl, beat the butter and both sugars together until combined and creamy. Add in the vanilla, eggs, and mashed banana; combine until fully incorporated.

  • Beat in the flour, baking soda, and salt until just combined. Mix in 1 cup of the chocolate chips.

  • Spread batter evenly onto the prepared baking sheet; sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips.

  • Bake for 18-22 minutes until golden brown and a tester in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.

  • (If you find the top of the cakeis browning too quickly in the oven, loosely tent it with aluminum foil.)

  • Let cool and cut into squares.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 274kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 155mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 275IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1.6mg

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.

Other Notes

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: banana cake, sheet pan banana cake, sheet pan cake

Did you make this recipe?Snap a picture and mention @bellyfullblog!

Banana Cake Recipe {Sheet Pan Cake} - Belly Full (6)
Banana Cake Recipe {Sheet Pan Cake} - Belly Full (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you put too much banana in banana cake? ›

You Use Too Much Banana

Using too much banana could make your bread heavy and damp in the center, causing it to appear undercooked and unappealing. If you have bananas leftover, you can always freeze them for later use.

Why is my banana cake not fluffy? ›

Room Temperature Butter / Don't Over-Cream

Most cakes begin with creaming butter and sugar together. Butter is capable of holding air and the creaming process is when butter traps that air. While baking, that trapped air expands and produces a fluffy cake. No properly creamed butter = no air = no fluffiness.

Why is my banana cake so heavy? ›

Using too much butter makes for a heavier cake with less banana flavor. Using double the amount of butter that the recipe called for left me with a loaf that was dry on the outside and moist on the inside. The coloring was almost identical to that of the loaf made with too little butter.

How full should banana bread pan be? ›

Fill the pan until it's two-thirds full, and if there is any remaining batter, fill up a muffin tin. This ensures you get a beautifully risen loaf instead of a potentially flat loaf in a 9×5.

Can bananas be too ripe for banana cake? ›

While it's okay if the banana peel is dark brown or even black, if the inside is too, then the fruit is beyond ripe and now on its way to rotten. Another sign that bananas have gone bad is if they start leaking any fluids. When in doubt, just toss the bananas out.

What is the secret to soft fluffy cakes? ›

Leavening agents, such as baking powder and baking soda, play a crucial role in making cakes rise and achieve a fluffy texture. These agents produce carbon dioxide gas when combined with liquid and heat, creating air pockets that lighten the batter.

What is the secret to light fluffy cakes? ›

The most crucial tip? Instead of buying an entire box of cake flour, simply incorporate two tablespoons of cornstarch into 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour. This blocks the formation of gluten in the flour, which produces a lighter, fluffier cake.

What temperature is best for baking cakes? ›

Most typical cake recipes call for an oven temperature of 350 degrees. Dense cakes (like pound cakes, bundt cakes, etc) do better at 325 degrees with a longer bake time.

Why is my banana cake raw in the middle? ›

There's too much liquid. Opening the oven or moving pans during baking. Oven temperature is too low, or cake isn't baked long enough.

Does homemade banana cake need to be refrigerated? ›

To store: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The best banana cake can also be wrapped in plastic wrap or placed in an airtight container and frozen for up to 2 months! To enjoy, simply let the cake thaw in the refrigerator, or at room temperature!

How do I make my cake more dense? ›

Boxed cake mixes tend to be lighter in consistency, but if you're craving that thicker, moister, denser cake, then all you have to do is add an extra egg to your mix. The additional fat in the egg yolk helps create a more tender and moist cake that is full of flavor.

How do I make my cake more moist? ›

From ingredient swaps to unique methods, explore these ways to help make your cakes moist.
  1. USE THE CORRECT TEMPERATURE AND BAKING TIME. ...
  2. USE VEGETABLE OIL. ...
  3. USE BUTTERMILK INSTEAD OF MILK. ...
  4. ADD INSTANT PUDDING MIX. ...
  5. ADD MAYONNAISE. ...
  6. USE SIMPLE SYRUP OR GLAZE. ...
  7. USE CAKE FLOUR. ...
  8. DON'T OVERMIX.

What makes a homemade cake heavy? ›

Six common baking-fails, and how they can be prevented. Your cake is too dense A cake that is overly dense typically has too much liquid, too much sugar or too little leavening (not excess flour, as is commonly thought).

How do bananas affect baking? ›

One ripe banana replaces one egg in a cake recipe—the banana will flavor the cake, so only use them when they complement the other ingredients. Extra leavening may be needed. Bananas can also be a substitute for butter and oil in recipes. If using bananas for butter, replace in equal amounts.

Why is my banana cake watery? ›

Not measuring the flour correctly

If you use too much flour, you'll end up with really dry banana bread, and If you don't use enough flour, your banana bread will be way too wet. The secret lies in how you measure the flour.

What is the effect of banana in baking? ›

Bananas have several potential benefits when used in baking. They can improve the sensory preference of bread, enhancing flavors and textures . Banana peel powder (BPP) can be used as a low-cost substitute for wheat flour in cakes, providing nutritional value and acting as an antimicrobial and antioxidant .

Why did my banana bread deflate after baking? ›

The banana bread will not rise much during baking and may sink slightly in the centre on cooling, but should not collapse competely. If it did collapse then it is likely that the banana bread had not quite baked fully (and in light of the ingredient change may have needed a slightly longer baking time).

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