It’s my friend Monica’s birthday and of course I made a cake. I went through the massive list of recipes I have bookmarked and decided on a banana cake. I made a few changes: I omitted the nuts (Monica doesn’t like nuts), opted for a cream cheese frosting, and threw in some chocolate shavings for decoration.
Banana Birthday Cake
-adapted from this recipe
- 2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 large eggs
- 4 bananas, mashed with a fork
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 cups sifted cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 12 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 5 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted
- chocolate shavings to decorate (optional)
Instructions-
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (325 degrees F with convection). Spray 3 (9″ round) pans with non-stick spray. Set aside.
2. Cream sugar and butter together with paddle attachment on mixer. Add eggs one at a time, beating well between each egg. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla, mixing just till combined. Don’t worry about lumps.
3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. Fold dry ingredients into wet batter, just until combined. Do not over mix.
5. Pour into prepared pans and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack and cool completely before frosting.
6. To make frosting, use the paddle attachment to combine butter and cream cheese at medium speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to low and add confectioner’s sugar gradually.
Notes on assembling and decorating:
While this cake is moist, the edges are crispy, so I decided to cut the edges off.


I’m marveling at how even your layers are! It looks devine!!!!! I wish I had a friend that can make a cake like that LOL -=D
WOWW! you have to teach me!
how did you get the chocolate shavings to stick like that?
i think just about any cake is made at least 100 times better with cream cheese frosting. chocolate shavings never hurt either. 🙂
Thanks wonders! This cake actually comes out very even on it’s own, I didn’t even have to cut the tops.
Pearl, chocolate shavings, nuts, or sprinkles will all stick to the frosting. You just put a big pile in your palm and press it on.
Beautiful! I love the chocolate shavings.
I wish I hadn’t missed it 🙁
Looks fantastic!!! I have to agree with Grace about cream cheese frosting!
Thanks! I will be making a similar one for my little boys 1st birthday party- looks delicious!