Easy Banana Snack Cake with Streusel Topping

Banana snack cake is a moist, easy to make banana cake made with ripe bananas and topped with streusel. For a fun brunch or snack, try this banana cake recipe.

Making this Banana Snack Cake

I sure have a few banana recipes (Orange Spice Banana Bread and Multi-Grain Banana Bread with Flax) on this site considering that I’m a person who doesn’t really care for the fruit.

I’d take a berry, peach, orange, nectarine…ok just about any fruit over a banana if given the choice. But maybe it’s about finding the right recipe.

I ate a lot of bananas in high school despite my dislike for them. I knew they were a healthy, portable snack to eat during my swim team days.

Mind over matter, I ate them anyway. In a way I think that made me like them even less, but now I’m turning back around. I’m not going to go eat a bunch of ripe, plain bananas anytime soon, but I do appreciate them in baked goods more.

Case in point: I’ve made this recipe for Banana Streusel Snack Cake three times in the past couple of weeks. The first time just because an entire batch of bananas turned brown very, very quickly, but after that I realized I quite liked this cake.

Tools Needed to Make this Banana Snack Cake

• Measuring Cups and Spoons – to measure the ingredients for this snack cake.
• Small Bowl – to make the streusel topping.
• Large Bowl  – to mix the dry ingredients in.
• Stand Mixer or Bowl with Hand Mixer – to beat the butter, sugar, and egg.
• Rubber Spatula – to scrape the sides down as the banana cake batter is mixed.
• Parchment Paper – to line the baking pan.
• Square Baking Pan – you’ll use a 8×8 or 9×9 square pan to bake this easy banana cake in.
• Wire Rack – for best results, cool the snack cake on a cooling rack before cutting.

What is in this Banana Snack Cake Recipe?

Streusel for the Banana Cake:

• All-Purpose Flour
• Light Brown Sugar 
• Butter
• Ground Cinnamon

Banana Cake Batter:

• Cake Flour
• Baking Powder
• Baking Soda
• Salt
• Mashed Bananas
• Whole Milk
• Vanilla Extract
• Butter
• Granulated Sugar
• Egg

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions to make this delicious snacking cake, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

How to Make Banana Snack Cake

1. Line a pan with parchment paper
2. Combine the ingredients to make the streusel topping. Then, in a separate bowl, you combine the dry ingredients.
3. In another bowl, mash the bananas. Then stir the milk and vanilla into the mashed bananas. Set aside.
4. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar. Then, beat in the egg. Stir the bananas mixture in to the wet ingredients. 
5. After that, slowly add the flour mixture to the banana mixture. Stir until mixed.
6. Add the banana cake batter to the prepared pan. Sprinkle the streusel on top and bake.

The above is simply a quick summary of this banana bread snack cake. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

Tips for Making the Best Banana Cake

• Make sure to pre-heat your oven when you start making this easy banana cake recipe so it is ready to go when the batter is prepared.
• Start with soft butter! Forgot to take your butter out? Check out these tips to soften butter quickly.
• Out of cake flour? Try this DIY cake flour substitute.
• Did you know you can also make your own baking powder if you’re out?
• Need help lining your pan with parchment paper? Check out this tutorial.

Easy Banana Cake FAQs

Got questions about how to make this moist banana cake? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.

Can I frost my banana snack cake instead?

Sure! Leave off the streusel topping and frost the cooled banana cake with cream cheese frosting

What else can I add to this cake?

You could add chopped nuts or make a chocolate chip banana snack cake by adding chocolate chips to the banana cake batter.

Is it okay to use whole wheat flour?

Yes, I have tested this cake recipe by substituting half of the white cake flour for freshly ground whole wheat pastry flour and it works fine.

Can this snack cake be doubled?

Yes, easily! Double the batter and bake it in a 9×13 inch pan instead.

The baking time will be longer. As ovens can vary, start by adding 5 extra minutes. Test the center of the cake with a toothpick and add more time in 3-5 minute increments as needed.

How should I store leftovers?

Store leftover banana cake at room temperature in an airtight container or on a plate covered with plastic wrap.

What Readers Say About this Easy Banana Cake Snack Cake

“Just made this yummy cake and it is delicious-my family is getting it for dessert..and it will make a great after school snack tomorrow.” 

“Thank you so much for this recipe. My mother used to make a cake like this when I was four years old. Yesterday I asked her for the recipe, but I didn’t know what it was called!”

Try this Banana Snack Cake Recipe!

Next time you’re looking for banana recipes to use your overripe bananas, give this banana snack cake a try!

Did you love the subtle banana flavor and the streusel topping? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this recipe.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of this delicious cake!

More Snack Cake Recipes

Lemon Ricotta Cake recipe has a subtle but lovely lemon flavor and can be topped with a simple dusting of powdered sugar and fresh berries.

Peach Cake is the perfect summertime dessert if those warm months have you craving fresh, juicy, sweet peaches.

Rhubarb Cake recipe is a delicious, seasonal spring coffee cake featuring rhubarb and a crumb topping. It would be perfect for any spring brunch gathering. 

Citrus Cardamom Cake is the perfect, cozy homemade coffee cake recipe. Your house will smell amazing while baking it!

This easy Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake recipe uses Bisquick as a shortcut and is ready in just 30 minutes! It’s the perfect fall breakfast or brunch.

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Banana Streusel Snack Cake

Yield: 12 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

I am not a fan of eating bananas plain, but they sure add a lot of moisture and flavor to baked goods! My kids love when I make this banana streusel snack cake for them.

Print

Ingredients

Streusel:

• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 6 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cake:

• 1 1/3 cups cake flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (255g) mashed ripe bananas
• 3 tablespoons whole milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten with a fork

Instructions

1. Make the streusel: In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, butter, and cinnamon with your fingertips until the mixture is lumpy; refrigerate.
2. Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter an 8-inch square pan then flour the pan, tapping out excess flour. Have all the ingredients in room temperature.
3. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a small bowl and set aside. Put the mashed bananas in a medium bowl and stir in the milk and vanilla; set aside.
4. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment beat together the butter and sugar on medium-low speed until fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add the egg and beat until completely incorporated. Add the banana mixture (it will look curdled, but that’s OK) and beat until combined. Reduce the mixer to its lowest speed and gradually add the flour mixture, beating just until incorporated. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface with a rubber spatula. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the batter.
5. Bake the cake until it springs back when gently pressed in the center and a round wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool in the pan completely before cutting and serving.

Notes

Adapted from Baking for All Occasions via Technicolor Kitchen

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  Stand Mixer
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  Spatula Set
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  Mixing Bowls
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  Square Baking Pan

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 267Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 192mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 1gSugar: 24gProtein: 3g

GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.

Did you make this?

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