Luxurious Vanilla Banana Walnut Cake Recipe for Sweet Moments

Baking a decadent banana walnut cake with rich vanilla brings pure comfort to any kitchen.

This heavenly cake blends ripe, sweet bananas with crunchy walnuts in a delightful harmony of flavors.

Moist and tender, each slice promises a delectable experience that warms the heart.

Fragrant vanilla adds depth and complexity to the classic banana bread profile.

Walnuts contribute a satisfying crunch that elevates every single bite.

Simple ingredients transform into an extraordinary dessert that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Serve this cake warm and watch smiles spread around the table.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 400 kcal

Servings: 12

Vanilla Banana Cake Ingredient Rundown

• All-Purpose Flour: Builds the cake's tender structure, selecting unbleached flour ensures natural, rich flavor.
• Baking Powder: Creates soft, airy texture and helps cake rise evenly.
• Baking Soda: Neutralizes acidic banana and provides extra lift.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor profile.

• Butter: Delivers luxurious richness and smooth, creamy consistency.
• Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create golden-brown caramelized edges.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients together and contribute to cake's delicate structure.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds deep, warm aromatic undertones.
• Bananas: Infuse natural sweetness, moisture, and create dense, tender crumb.
• Milk: Softens batter and helps ingredients blend smoothly.

• Walnuts: Introduce delightful nutty crunch and wholesome, earthy depth to cake's profile.

What You’ll Need for a Nutty, Fruity Bake

• Large mixing bowl: For combining and mixing cake ingredients thoroughly.
• Medium mixing bowl: Perfect for whisking dry ingredients.
• Electric mixer or hand mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar to light, fluffy consistency.
• Whisk: Helps blend dry ingredients evenly and smoothly.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Ensures precise ingredient measurements.
• 9×13-inch baking pan or two 8-inch round cake pans: Provides proper baking surface.
• Spatula: Helps fold walnuts and scrape batter into pan.
• Toothpick: Checks cake doneness by testing center.

How to Make a Banana Cake That Stays Moist

• Warm Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 350 degrees. Lovingly coat your baking dish with a thin layer of grease and dust of flour to prevent sticking.

• Whip Together Dry Elements

Grab a mixing bowl and playfully whisk flour, rising agents, and a pinch of salt until they’re perfectly blended.

• Create Creamy Base

Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until they transform into a cloud-like, fluffy dreamscape. Crack eggs one by one, then splash in vanilla for extra.

• Embrace Banana Goodness

Mash ripe bananas and fold them into your creamy mixture, letting their sweet aroma fill the kitchen.

• Blend Ingredients

Gently marry dry and wet ingredients, alternating with splashes of milk. Stir just until everything hugs together – no aggressive mixing allowed!

• Sprinkle Nutty Surprise

Tenderly fold chopped walnuts throughout the batter, creating delightful crunchy pockets of flavor.

• Bake to Perfection

Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Slide into the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick – it should emerge clean and pristine. Let cool completely before serving your delectable creation.

Tips for a Golden Top and Smooth Texture

• Ensure ingredients are at room temperature for smoother mixing and better cake texture.
• Use overripe bananas with dark brown spots for maximum sweetness and deeper flavor profile.
• Replace walnuts with toasted sunflower seeds or skip nuts entirely for those with allergies.
• Swap all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend and add xanthan gum for best results.
• Substitute butter with coconut oil, eggs with mashed banana or flax eggs, and use plant-based milk for a completely dairy-free version.

Serve With a Cup of Coffee

• Sweet Slice of Comfort: Pair each slice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a creamy, indulgent dessert experience that melts in your mouth.
• Breakfast Buddy: Transform leftover cake into a delightful morning treat by toasting a slice and spreading a thin layer of cream cheese or almond butter on top.
• Elegant Party Presentation: Dust the cake with powdered sugar, arrange fresh banana slices around the edges, and sprinkle extra chopped walnuts for a stunning dessert centerpiece that'll impress guests.
• Cozy Afternoon Companion: Serve warm with a steaming cup of coffee or chai tea, creating a perfect relaxing moment that highlights the cake's rich banana and walnut flavors.

Store Covered or Refrigerated

• Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days to maintain its soft, moist texture.
• Wrap the cake tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to one week, ensuring it stays deliciously fresh and prevents drying out.
• Slice the cake, wrap individual portions in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months for quick dessert access anytime.
• Remove frozen cake slices and let them sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before serving, restoring their original tender and delectable quality.

FAQs

• Why are ripe bananas best for this cake?

Ripe bananas with brown spots have more natural sugars and softer texture, which create deeper flavor and moister cake. They break down easier and provide more intense banana taste compared to firm, green bananas.

• Can I substitute walnuts with another nut?

Absolutely! Pecans work wonderfully and have a similar texture and flavor profile. They’ll provide the same crunch and nutty undertone as walnuts in the cake.

• How do I know if I'm overmixing the batter?

When you see the batter becoming too smooth and elastic-like, stop mixing. Overmixing develops gluten, which makes the cake tough and dense instead of tender and soft. Stop mixing as soon as dry ingredients are just incorporated.

• What makes this cake extra moist?

The combination of ripe bananas, butter, and milk creates incredible moisture. Ripe bananas naturally add moisture, while butter and milk contribute to the cake’s rich, soft texture.

Rich Vanilla Banana Walnut Cake Recipe

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4.7 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Vanilla banana walnut cake delivers a harmonious blend of comforting flavors from ripe bananas and toasted walnuts. Rich, moist layers promise a delightful dessert that nourishes both palate and soul.

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup (114 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 ½ cups (600 ml) all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (240 ml) mashed ripe bananas
• 3 large eggs
• ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk
• 8 oz (227 grams) cream cheese, softened
• 3 cups (360 grams) powdered sugar
• 1 cup (120 grams) chopped walnuts
• ¼ cup (30 grams) chopped walnuts (for garnish)
• 1 ½ tsps baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and meticulously grease a rectangular or two circular baking pans with butter and dust with flour to guarantee effortless cake release.
2. Dry Ingredient Fusion: Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl, creating a homogeneous dry mixture that promises a smooth cake texture.
3. Creaming Process: Utilize an electric mixer to whip butter and sugar until the mixture transforms into a pale, voluminous cream, establishing a luxurious foundation for the cake.
4. Wet Ingredient Integration: Gently incorporate eggs one at a time, blending thoroughly after each addition, then infuse vanilla extract to elevate the flavor profile with aromatic complexity.
5. Banana and Walnut Incorporation: Thoroughly mash ripe bananas until silky smooth, then fold them into the butter mixture. Introduce chopped walnuts, stirring delicately to distribute them uniformly throughout the batter.
6. Batter Refinement: Progressively combine dry ingredients with the wet mixture, alternating with milk to maintain a velvety consistency. Mix minimally to preserve the cake’s tender crumb.
7. Baking Procedure: Pour the batter into prepared pans, leveling the surface with a spatula. Bake for 30-35 minutes in a rectangular pan or 25-30 minutes in round pans, verifying doneness with a clean toothpick test.
8. Cooling and Serving: Allow the cake to cool completely at room temperature, enabling the structure to stabilize and flavors to meld before serving or frosting.

Notes

• Optimize Banana Ripeness: Choose extremely ripe bananas with deep brown spots for maximum natural sweetness and moisture, enhancing the cake’s flavor profile.
• Prevent Overmixing: Stir batter gently and minimally to maintain a tender, soft crumb, avoiding tough or dense cake texture by preventing gluten overdevelopment.
• Enhance Walnut Preparation: Lightly toast walnuts before chopping to intensify their nutty flavor and prevent them from sinking to the cake’s bottom during baking.
• Moisture Retention Technique: Cover cake with aluminum foil midway through baking if edges brown too quickly, ensuring even cooking and preventing excessive dryness.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 30 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 45 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg