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This PEANUT BUTTER BANANA CAKE is so moist thanks to the bananas! We top the cake off with my mama’s famous fudge frosting. The fudgy chocolate frosting is so good with the peanut butter and banana!
Yesterday morning my kids headed out with their grandma and I did what I always do…I headed straight to the kitchen.
I love baking in a quiet, peaceful house.
I had a pile of bananas that were begging to be baked, so I settled on a banana cake. As I got the ingredients out of the cabinets, I somehow grabbed the jar of peanut butter.
It was fate.
This peanut butter banana cake was destined to happen.
The cake is super moist with a strong banana flavor and a hint of peanut butter. The chocolate frosting is my mama’s recipe and it’s perfect for this cake.
How to make the cake:
Beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and add them alternately to the butter mixture with buttermilk.
Stir in mashed bananas until everything is well combined.
Bake in a 9×13 baking dish. Cool before frosting.
How to make the frosting:
Add butter, sugar, and milk to a small sauce pan and bring to a boil.
Boil for exactly 1 minute and then remove from the heat and stir in chocolate chips.
Pour the frosting over the cooled cake.
We like to top the cake with chopped walnuts. It adds a nice texture and they just look so pretty on that shiny chocolate frosting.
More banana recipes:
Peanut Butter Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Ingredients
For the cake
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 3 medium ripe bananas mashed
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the frosting
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons milk
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
For the cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick spray.
- In a large bowl beat together the sugar and butter with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, vanilla, and peanut butter.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until combined. Add 1/3 of the buttermilk and mix until combined. Repeat with the remaining flour and buttermilk. Stir in bananas.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.
- Cool completely before frosting.
For the frosting
- Add sugar, butter, and milk to a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil.
- Boil for exactly 1 minute and then remove from the heat.
- Immediately stir the chocolate chips into the hot mixture until the frosting is smooth.
- Pour the chocolate frosting over the cake and sprinkle with the walnuts.
- Let cool for 20 minutes or until the frosting has firmed up.
Nutrition Information:
This recipe was originally published in May 2010. It was updated with new photos and a video in June 2020. Original photo above.
Kris says
I just baked this! I love that your recipes use ingredients I have on hand. I can’t wait to try this. I am going to have it for breakfast with coffee as well as pack a piece in our lunches for work tomorrow.
Thanks Karly!
Karly says
So glad you’re enjoying the recipes, Kris! Cake for breakfast sounds like a great plan to me!
Jessica Docasar says
I had so much fun making this cake! I must have failed at the perfect boil also because I had to add more chocolate! 🙂 had no problem doing that. My son is turning 5 tomorrow and he helped me. He chose an Elvis theme himself and when I asked him what kind of cake he wanted, he said “I want and “El-bis” cake, I already told you that. So I was challenged. I decided to make an Elvis worthy cake and not one that just had his picture or cake topper. We made it for tomorrow so I can’t wait to try and I’ll come back to post how much we love it. It looks incredible and was so much fun to make and read your story. Thanks for sharing your love with baking. I don’t do it as much as I’d like but my pants are already tight even anyway 😉
Karly says
Hope you and your little one love the cake!! Happy Birthday to your little guy!
M Jarman says
I love the recipe for the chocolate, peanut butter, banana cake but would like to know the baking instructions if I wanted to make it in a tube pan or bundt pan. Do you know?
Thank you!
Karly says
@M Jarman,
Hello! I’ve not tried this recipe in a bundt pan. I think you’ll just need to adjust the cooking time. It will probably take quite a bit longer, so I would just keep an eye on it and test for doneness. I’m guessing it will take around an hour to bake. Hope that helps!
Sue says
How about chopped peanuts on top? Thanks! 🙂
Joanne says
From one peanut butter lover to another, this looks and sounds awesome! I stumbled upon your blog from Tastespotting and think you are so funny!
Mary says
Your cake looks wonderful. This is my first visit to your blog. I had planned only to say hello but ended up staying far longer than I intended. I love your recipes and like the tone of your blog. I’ll be back often. I hope you are having a wonderful day. Blessings…Mary
shelly (cookies and cups) says
I think it looks great with the thinner icing! I bet it tasted delicious!
ashley says
Just wanted to update saying I did make this and although Im waiting until after dinner to have a slice I did sneak a tiny bit and its heavenly! Thank you for sharing this recipe!!
grace says
the walnuts on top are the perfect touch. this is a powerful combination of flavors–hallelujah and amen. 🙂
valen says
I bet this was super delicious, it sure looks it!
Maria says
PB, Banana, and chocolate-this one has it all! Love it!
ashley says
My family would go crazy for this cake. My husband eats banana and pb sandwiches almost everyday and who doesnt love chocolate? Since i have all the ingredients I might just surprise them today with this!
genesis says
i love you! you always post recipes when i have all the ingredients on hand and need to use them up QUICK! you can bet ill be making this cake tonight!
JoAnn says
Oh my! I will definitely be making this. Great photos!
Jessica @ How Sweet says
You combined the 3 best flavors I could ever think possible. Give me some crumbled bacon on top and I’d be a happy girl. 🙂 Delicious!