This Moist Banana Cake is simple to make and incredibly delicious. Two 8-inch layers of tender banana cake are topped with a malted chocolate mascarpone whipped cream for a rich, silky finish.
Table of Contents
- Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients Needed
- How Do I Make Sour Milk?
- How to Make the Recipe
- The Best Baking Tools
- Recipe FAQs
- More Cake Recipes to Enjoy!
- The Best Banana Cake Recipe
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Classic banana and chocolate flavor pairing.
- Exceptionally moist, tender crumb.
- Easy to prepare with a whisk, hand mixer, or stand mixer.
- Two 8-inch layers—perfect for sharing or parties.
- Finished with a smooth malted chocolate mascarpone whipped cream.
- Optional garnish: malted chocolate balls for texture and visual appeal.
If you prefer smaller treats, try a banana snack cake or other layered cakes for more inspiration.
Ingredients Needed
Prepare the ingredients below for the two-layer banana cake and the malted chocolate mascarpone whipped cream.
- All-purpose flour — sifted for best texture.
- Baking powder and baking soda — for lift and structure.
- Salt — balances the sweetness.
- Vegetable oil — you may substitute melted butter or neutral oil; texture may vary.
- Granulated sugar
- Eggs — large, room temperature.
- Sour milk — whole milk plus lemon juice or vinegar (see below).
- Vanilla extract
- Bananas — 3 medium, very ripe and well mashed for moisture and flavor.
For the malted chocolate mascarpone whipped cream:
- Heavy whipping cream
- Sifted powdered sugar
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Malted milk powder
- Vanilla extract
- Mascarpone cheese — optional to omit for a lighter whipped cream.
How Do I Make Sour Milk?
Sour milk is a quick substitute for buttermilk. Stir 1 tablespoon lemon juice (or white vinegar) into 1 cup whole milk and let it sit for 5 minutes before using. The milk will thicken slightly and add a subtle tang that improves the cake’s texture.
How to Make the Recipe
Below is a concise overview of the baking process. Follow the ingredient amounts and full instructions in the recipe card further down.
Quick tip: Make the sour milk and mash the bananas before you begin. Preheat the oven and prepare the cake pans to keep the process smooth.
Step 1. Prep and combine dry ingredients. Sift or whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Step 2. Combine wet ingredients. Whisk vegetable oil and granulated sugar until slightly fluffy, then add the eggs and beat until incorporated.
Step 3. Alternate additions. Add the dry ingredients and sour milk to the wet mixture in alternating portions. Stir in vanilla and mashed bananas until just combined.
Step 4. Bake the layers. Divide batter evenly between two prepared 8-inch pans. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 28–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then invert onto wire racks to cool completely.
Step 5. Frost and chill. Beat the malted chocolate mascarpone whipped cream until stiff peaks form, spread between and over the cooled layers, and garnish as desired. Store the frosted cake covered in the refrigerator.
The Best Baking Tools
Useful tools: two 8-inch cake pans, parchment circles, mixing bowls, a whisk or mixer (hand or stand), and a cooling rack. Cake baking strips help reduce doming, but are optional.
Recipe FAQs
For best results weigh flour by metric measurement. If using a scale, sift directly into the bowl on the scale. If measuring by cup, spoon the flour into the cup and then sift if desired.
If a recipe lists “sifted all-purpose flour,” it usually means the flour is measured first, then sifted. If it says “all-purpose flour, sifted,” weigh after sifting.
Three common methods: use a heating core, wrap cake pans with baking strips, or tap filled pans gently on the counter to release large air bubbles before baking.
Yes. Freeze wrapped cake layers for up to a month. Double-wrap in plastic wrap and place in a labeled freezer bag on a level surface. Cakes can be frosted from frozen; they do not need to be fully thawed.
More Cake Recipes to Enjoy!
Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cake
Chocolate Cake with Oreo Buttercream Frosting
Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake
Marble Bundt Cake
If you try this Banana Cake, please leave a star rating and a comment to share your results. Thank you for reading!
The Best Banana Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Banana Cake
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour, sifted
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 large Eggs
- 1 cup Whole Milk (mix with 1 tbsp lemon juice for sour milk)
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice (for sour milk)
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 3 medium Bananas, well-ripened and mashed
Malted Chocolate Mascarpone Whipped Cream
- 3 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 cup Sifted Powdered Sugar
- 1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 2 tbsp Malted Milk Powder
- 3 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 16 oz Mascarpone Cheese
Cake Topping
- 2 cups Malted Milk Chocolate Balls, whole or chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Adjust rack to the second level. Spray two 8-inch pans with a flour-based baking spray and line with parchment. Optionally wrap pans with baking strips to reduce doming.
- Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl. Set aside.
- Make the sour milk by whisking 1 tablespoon lemon juice into 1 cup whole milk; let sit 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, whisk the oil and granulated sugar until slightly fluffy. Add the eggs and beat until combined.
- Alternately add the dry ingredients and sour milk to the wet mixture. Stir in vanilla and mashed bananas until just combined.
- Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and bake 28–30 minutes at 350ºF, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then invert onto wire racks to finish cooling.
- Once cooled, frost the layers with the malted chocolate mascarpone whipped cream and top with malted chocolate balls. Refrigerate the finished cake; it will keep covered for up to a week.
Malted Chocolate Mascarpone Whipped Cream
- Add heavy cream, sifted powdered sugar, cocoa powder, malted milk powder, and vanilla to a mixing bowl. Start on low to incorporate dry ingredients, then increase speed and beat to stiff peaks.
- Fold in mascarpone on low speed until fully combined and smooth.
- Use to frost the cooled cake layers and garnish with malted chocolate balls.
Video
Notes
For the best texture, sift your flour. If you prefer a lighter whipped cream, omit the mascarpone.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on ingredients used.