Browned Butter Banana Cake
The browned butter banana cake is a game changer! Browned butter adds a toasty nutty rich flavor that is to die for. Eat it plain or add a brown sugar frosting.
Browned Butter Banana Cake
I set out to make blondies with some ripe bananas that needed to be used to bring to a family reunion.
Instead, this moist and tasty browned butter banana cake happened!
It may not be a bad thing when I get my travel dates mixed up. Good things can happen in the kitchen!
Sorry familia to tease you, but I’ll be making something equally as delicious, assuming I get my event dates straight!
Browned Butter Is A Delicious Game Changer
If you haven’t ever added browned butter to a recipe, you will be changed forever when you give it a try.
You basically cook the butter, toasting it until it turns a light amber color which gives you a nutty decadent burst of flavor.
Your kitchen smell fantastic too!
So why stop at cake?!
For the frosting I used the same technique; browning the butter before adding the sugar.
Doubly browned butter delicious!
This cake is a great one to take to your potlucks or picnics this summer.
Cut them in small taster sizes or serve a big piece with some plain vanilla or cinnamon vanilla bean ice cream!
Browned Butter Banana Cake
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter 1 Stick, cut up
- 1 1/2 cups 2-3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup nuts pecans, walnuts coarsely chopped and toasted (optional)
FROSTING
- 1/2 cup butter 1 stick, cut up
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 4 Tablespoons milk
- 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a small saucepan melt the butter over medium heat until it begins to foam. As the foam lessens, constantly stir butter until butter is light golden brown and smells amazing. Immediately remove from heat and if necessary put in a heat proof pan so it doesn’t continue to brown (it can easily burn).
- In a small bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the browned butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla. Beat with a mixer on medium speed until thick and smooth. Stir in mashed bananas. With the mixer on low, add flour mixture a third at a time, mixing just until combined. Stir in toasted nuts (optional). With a rubber spatula, spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool. Enjoy plain or add frosting.
- FROSTING
- In a medium saucepan melt the butter over medium heat until it begins to foam. As the foam lessens, constantly stir butter until butter is light golden brown. Add brown sugar and milk stirring until mixture begin to boil. Remove from heat and let cool slightly (2-4 minutes). Whisk in sifted powder sugar and top cake.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that the nutritional information provided are guidelines and may vary based on the brand of products used. For your specific nutritional goals use My Fitness Pal or Verywell Fit recipe calculators. All content within this site is not intended as medical diagnosis or treatment and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical expertise.
Adapted from these Brown-Butter Blondies.
Do you love the smell of browned butter? How about trying another treat, Brown Butter Caramel Snickerdoodles from The Tip Toe Fairy!
Brown butter is such an indulgent flavour that can really transform a dish! 🙂 I LOVE the look of your cake!
Thanks, Anyonita! I can smell that brown butter now! So delicious!
Just the word gets me hooked. I love using browned butter in my cooking and baking. Love that nutty flavor!
It’s browning butter the greatest technique?! Such a delicious flavor!
Thank you, Joanne! I’m addicted to the browned butter flavor!
Awww your poor little family. You will have to hurry and make these again. Thank you for sharing these delicious browned butter bars with us. They look so moist and delicious.
At least my co-workers got to enjoy my mistake 🙂
The browned butter must have added a very deep flavor to this cake! Delicious!
It sure did, Katerina! I was really pleased with the flavors.
I am gaining weight just reading this recipe.
Believe it or not, I actually cut out some of the sugar and fat since I used ripe bananas to moisten the cake!
I’m sure your blondies would have been good but you banana cake sounds terrific with the browned butter flavor in the cake and icing.
It really is a terrific flavor when you add browned butter. I’ll give the blondes another try!
Love this Sandra! The flavoring! So great for a picnic, a party, dessert, weekend BBQ.
Thanks, Matt! It’s definitely a great cake to share!