Banana Bread Snack Cake

4.5 from 845 votes

When life gives you ripe bananas, it's time to bake something delicious! This banana snack cake combines the flavors of classic banana bread with the convenience of a snackable cake. Soft, moist, and topped with a sweet, sugary crust, this easy recipe is perfect for afternoon treats, lunchboxes, or even a casual dessert.

By Danelle

Published on October 3, 2018, Updated January 14, 2025

Prep time

Cook time

Total time

Servings

4.5 from 845 votes

When life gives you ripe bananas, it’s time to bake something delicious! This banana snack cake combines the flavors of classic banana bread with the convenience of a snackable cake. Soft, moist, and topped with a sweet, sugary crust, this easy recipe is perfect for afternoon treats, lunchboxes, or even a casual dessert.

Banana bread cake in square pan with crunchy sugar topping.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

I have tried so many recipes for using up over-ripe bananas, and this Banana Bread Snack Cake is hands-down one of my absolute favorites!

Whenever I have ripe bananas, I look for a new banana bread recipe to try. I finally found my favorite! This is, without a doubt, the BEST banana bread/cake recipe I have ever baked! The sugar topping is an unbelievable surprise! This is now my go to banana recipe!

Barb

The secret to this “banana bread” is that it’s baked in a 9-inch square pan, and sprinkled with sugar before baking, which gives it that amazing, crunchy topping you see.

Which, if you ask me, kind of transforms it from bread to cake. But the kind of cake that it’s okay to eat for breakfast, or a late-night snack, if you know what I mean.

Seriously though, that sugar topping! I don’t know where that’s been all my life. I’ll be sprinkling sugar on every banana flavored bread or cake I make from here on out.

To say my family loved this would be a huge understatement. If I would have had enough bananas, I would have gladly doubled the recipe. This stuff disappeared within in a day.

And as soon as it was gone, I wanted to make it again. Alas, it really does need to be made with very ripe bananas, so I had to wait several days for my newly purchased bananas to ripen.

No matter what kind of pan you bake this banana bread in, the sugar topping is an absolute must!

I hope you love this simple (yet utterly amazing) banana treat as much as we did. Really, just make this Banana Bread Snack Cake. You won’t be sorry, and you can thank me later.

Love this recipe – and so does my husband. I’m on my 3rd cake in 2 weeks! It’s a keeper for sure!!

Dar

Ingredients

Butter – I use unsalted
Brown sugar -packed
Eggs
Vanilla – I recommend real vanilla extract
Bananas -you’ll need at least four ripe bananas
Flour – all-purpose
Baking soda
Salt
Pecans – substitute walnuts, or omit the nuts if you prefer
Sugar

Recipe Tips

The key to intense banana flavor is super ripe bananas! Look for bananas that are heavily speckled or nearly black—they’re the sweetest and mash up beautifully. If you’re in a hurry and don’t have ripe bananas, pop them in the oven at 300°F for 15-20 minutes until the skins turn dark. Let them cool before mashing.
Feel free to stir in chopped pecans, walnuts, or even chocolate chips. It’s also great with a dollop of whipped cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce on top.
I know it’s hard to wait, but allowing the cake to cool slightly helps it set and makes cutting into neat squares a breeze. Use a serrated knife for the cleanest cuts.

Be sure to save this recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.

FAQs

How many cups of mashed banana are in this recipe?

You’ll need roughly 1 1/2 – 2 cups of mashed banana for this recipe. More banana will make a more moist cake.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, if you have enough ripe bananas! In fact, I highly recommend doubling this recipe and baking it in a 9×13 pan.

What if I don’t have a 9-inch square pan?

A 9-inch round cake pan will work too. Just cut the cake into wedges. If you use an 8-inch pan, you may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time.

Can I use frozen bananas?

Frozen bananas work wonderfully in this recipe. Let them thaw completely, then drain any excess liquid before mashing. They’re often even sweeter after freezing, so it’s a great way to use up bananas you’ve saved for baking.

More Banana Bread Recipes to Try