Just one look at this recipe for Banana Spice Cake with Chocolate Fudge Frosting is enough to know that this dessert won’t stay around for long!
The secret ingredient in this cake is sweetened condensed milk which makes it a moist, dense cake with just the right balance of sweetness.
This is my fifth banana recipe. I can’t be the only one who buys bananas for the whole family and all too often is left with a bunch of overripe bananas at the end of the week. Hence this being my fifth banana recipe. Check out my Mini Banana Bread Loaves or Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins, proof that bananas are an amazing baking ingredient!
I do not like to waste food so this week I baked not one but two banana cake recipes (the second will be posted in a couple of weeks) using up six bananas that didn’t end up in the bin – Yay me!
I had planned to make this recipe using buttermilk, but when I went to grab it from the fridge, I realized I was all out. I went straight to Google to see what substitutes there were and came across one result that said you can use evaporated milk and vinegar.
I didn’t have evaporated milk, but I did have sweetened condensed milk so, with a few adjustments to my recipe, I was well on my way. I decided on a spice cake because I love spice cake and because I thought it would go really well with the banana and chocolate combination. Let me tell you – I was not wrong!
The condensed milk makes a fantastic cake. I can’t tell you how impressed I was with the result! It was super moist and with the banana, it gave a lovely texture and structure without making it soggy and too heavy (which happens a lot with banana cake). The other thing is that the cake lasted a good few days without drying out.
Both my husband and son went wild for this cake (and my son thinks he doesn’t even like bananas) and I have to admit, I cheated on my diet multiple times to have another taste of this fantastic cake!
More Amazing Banana Recipes
- Award Winning Banana Bread
- Caramel Banana Cake
- Banoffee Pie
- Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
- Mini Banana Bread
Stay Updated
Receive new recipes & dinner ideas straight to your inbox!
Let's Make Spiced Banana Cake
Ingredients
- 3 very ripe bananas
- ¾ cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
For the frosting:
- ½ cup butter at room temperature
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 6 ounces semisweet chocolate roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2-3 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 3 banana chips for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350FGrease two 8 inch round cake pans
- Place the condensed milk and bananas in a mid-sized microwave-safe bowl. Place the bowl in the microwave on high for 45 seconds. Mash the warm bananas well into the condensed milk. Set aside.
- In a separate large bowl, beat the butter and both sugars until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Beat in the vanilla, vinegar, and banana mixture until combined. Beat in both eggs adding them one at a time until combined.
- Mix in the spices, salt, baking powder, and baking soda until combined
- Mix in the flour until combined
- Add the batter equally to both cake pans.
- bake for 25-30 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Leave to cool 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
For the frosting:
- Melt the butter and chocolate in a small pan on over a low heat stirring gently until melted. Once completely melted, remove from the heat and let cool.
- In a large bowl, beat the chocolate mixture with the softened cream cheese
- Add the vanilla extract and 1 cup of the powdered sugar adding another cup of the sugar until smooth and desired consistency.
- Place one of the cooled cakes on a cake plate and spread the top with 1/2 cup of the frosting. Place the second layer onto the first layer and cover with the remaining frosting. Decorate with the banana chips and serve.
Tips + Notes
- Always make sure you beat your butter and sugar for around three minutes. This step is important to the success of your baking.
- You can replace the condensed milk with buttermilk if you don’t have this on hand.
- Add some nuts to the cake mixture for extra textutre. Walnuts or pecans work really well.
- To avoid the banana cake sticking to the pan, use a good quality, non-stick pan that’s greased well with baking spray or shortening (butter can cause sticking).
- Check that your baking soda and baking powder are in date, this can affect the rise of your cake.
KK says
If using the buttermilk substitute for the condensed milk, is the vinegar still necessary in this recipe? Just wondering since you said that condensed milk with vinegar was your substitute for buttermilk.
Erren's Kitchen says
Good question! If you’re using buttermilk as a substitute for condensed milk, you can skip the vinegar in the recipe. The vinegar is typically added to react with the baking soda and help with the rise of the cake, especially when using condensed milk, which is thicker and sweeter. Buttermilk already contains acidity, so it will serve the same purpose as the condensed milk and vinegar combination. So, feel free to omit the vinegar if you’re using buttermilk.
KK says
Thank you for the quick clarification! I plan to make it this week.
Erren's Kitchen says
Anytime!! Can’t wait to hear how it turns out for you!
Alice says
Fantastic recipe, so much better than the average banana cake, great use of my old bananas
Erren's Kitchen says
I’m glad you think so Alice, thank you for letting me know how much you liked it 🙂
MandyM says
This is so great, I always have bananas left over, and this was so much better than making the usual banana loaf!
Erren's Kitchen says
Yes, it’s just a bit better with some frosting 🙂
Catherine maxey says
Wonderful recipe. Very easy . I used a Bundt pan baked about 40 minutes. 10.5 ounces of roasted bananas.
Erren's Kitchen says
That sounds amazing, so glad you liked my recipe 🙂
Marion Pratt says
Quick question: You mentioned adding coco but did not include how much in the recipe. Would you please advice on the amount of coco? Is it 1/2 cup? Thanks!
Erren says
Hi Marion, Sorry for the late reply. I’ve been away. I had a look, but I’m not seeing the coco. Can you tell me where you saw it? Thanks.
Des @ Life's Ambrosia says
You’ve got that chocolate frosting swirl thing down! This looks amazing!
Erren says
Thank you Des!
Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama says
I just love the banana/chocolate combination! This cake looks & sounds like perfection. 🙂
eat good 4 life says
I am so craving chocolate cake. I love the flavors you choose for your cake. Looks like a master piece!
Erren says
What a lovely comment! Thanks so much!
Lora @savoringitaly says
I never tried a banana cake with sweetened condensed milk, and now I’m so curious! Your cake does look so moist and gorgeous and yes, we also have ripe bananas at end of week. I just made banana muffins yesterday, lol.
Erren says
I do A Lot of banana recipes for that very reason!