Banana Crumb Cake

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This banana crumb cake includes a moist and tender banana cake made from scratch and topped with a buttery brown sugar crumb topping that will have you coming back for more. 

There’s nothing quite like the aroma of freshly baked Banana Crumb Cake wafting through your kitchen. This cake is the perfect blend of soft, moist banana flavor with a buttery, crumbly topping that adds just the right amount of sweetness and texture. Whether you’re looking for a cozy treat with your morning coffee or a dessert to impress friends and family, this recipe is sure to deliver.

Made with ripe bananas, this cake boasts a naturally sweet flavor, perfectly complemented by layers of rich brown sugar crumb topping. The use of self-rising flour gives the cake a lighter texture, and if you don’t have any on hand, don’t worry—I’ve got an easy guide in the notes for making your own with pantry staples. Paired with the creaminess of unsalted butter and the warmth of vanilla extract, each bite melts in your mouth.

Best of all, this Banana Crumb Cake is incredibly simple to whip up. With just a few basic ingredients—bananas, butter, sugar, and eggs—you’ll have a bakery-quality treat in no time. Whether you opt for light or dark brown sugar in your crumb topping, both will create a rich caramelized flavor that complements the banana base perfectly. Enjoy it warm from the oven, and it’s bound to become a household favorite!

What You’ll Need to make Banana Crumb Cake

Ingredients for Banana Crumb Cake

 

Ingredients
  • sugar
  • ripe bananas
  • milk
  • self-rising flour
  • light or dark brown sugar
  • unsalted butter
  • eggs
  • vanilla extract

How to Make Banana Crumb Cake

Peel bananas and add to bowl to mashTo start this unbelievable Banana Crumb Cake, peel the bananas and add them to a mixing bowl.

Add sugar and mash bananasMash bananas slightly and add granulated sugar to the mixing bowl and blend with an electric mixer until the bananas are liquified.

Add butter to banana mixtureAdd softened butter to the banana mixture and beat well.

Add eggs, milk, flour and vanilla.Add flour, eggs, milk, and vanilla extract and blend well.

Spray pans with cooking spray for Banana Crumb CakeSpray two 8 x 8 pans with cooking spray.

Add flour sugar and butter for crumb toppingMake the crumb topping by adding a cup of flour, a stick of butter, and a cup of brown sugar to a separate medium bowl.

Add pecans and stir gently togetherCut in the butter using a long-tined fork or a pastry cutter. Cut butter in until the largest pieces about the size of a pea, there will be lots of smaller pieces. 

Add walnuts and stir gently togetherAdd chopped walnuts and stir together with a fork.

Pour 1/4 of batter into each panPour 1/4 of the batter into each prepared pan to create each bottom cake layer.

Add crumb mixture into first batter layerTop each batter layer with 1/4 of the crumb mixture.

Top with remaining batter and crumb toppingDivide the remaining batter and crumb topping in half and top each cake with a batter layer and a crumb layer.

Bake Banana Crumb CakeBake at 350 for about 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. 

Banana Crumb Cake slice

Store leftover Banana Crumb Cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Notes for making Banana Crumb Cake

Banana Crumb Cake

  • Whenever you have bananas going brown, place in a plastic baggie and mash.  Write on the baggie how many bananas are in each bag.  If you want to simplify baking Banana Crumb Cake – add three to a bag! When you are ready to bake, thaw before using.
  • For an even more indulgent cake, top your banana crumb cake with a simple vanilla glaze. Make by combining 1 cup of powdered sugar with 12 tablespoons of milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and drizzling it over the cooled cake.
  • Adding spices create a further dimension and depth of flavor: add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and/or 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg to the streusel topping. 
  • For an extra moist cake, use buttermilk instead of whole milk.
  • To make your own self-rising flour, simply add 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt for EACH cup of all-purpose flour.
  • To soften cold butter, microwave one cube of butter in wrapper for approx 1 minute 30 seconds at 20% power. You may need more or less time depending on your microwave. It can take up to 4 minutes to soften. Be careful not to melt the butter!  Microwaving at such low power gives you the best control.

More Recipes You’ll Love Using Bananas:

Banana Crumb Cake

Banana Crumb Cake

This banana crumb cake includes a moist and tender banana cake made from scratch and topped with a buttery brown sugar crumb topping.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana, cake
Servings: 12
Calories: 404kcal

Ingredients

Cake

  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup chopped nuts, optional
  • 2 cups self-rising flour
  • 1 stick butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 bananas
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Crumb Topping

  • 1 stick butter
  • 1 cup dark or light brown sugar
  • 1 cup flour

Instructions

  • Spray two loaf pans or 8×8 pans with cooking spray.
  • Place peeled bananas in a mixing bowl and add sugar. Mix until bananas are liquefied.
    3 bananas, 2 cups granulated sugar
  • Add butter and mix until creamed together with the banana mixture.
    1 stick butter
  • Add all other ingredients and blend well.
    1 cup milk, 1 cup chopped nuts, optional, 2 cups self-rising flour, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • In a medium bowl, place all of the topping ingredients. Cut together with a long-tined fork until well blended.
    1 stick butter, 1 cup dark or light brown sugar, 1 cup flour
  • Pour 1/4 of the cake batter into each pan and top with 1/4 of the crumb mixture.
  • Pour in the remaining batter and top with the remaining crumb mixture.
  • Bake for 45 minutes to an hour at 350. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Nutrition

Calories: 404kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

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119 Comments

  1. Your banana bread recipe has become my staple. Tried different recipes for years and every one of them would turn out burned on the outside but gooey in the center. Yours is perfect every time. So glad I found your blog.

    Your crumb cake looks like another wonderful adaption. Because of something my husband said, I tried baking the banana bread recipe in 3 round cake pans and frosting it with cream cheese frosting. I do use nuts – lots of pecans – because we have trees and the pecan crop was abundant last fall. I still have bags and bags of them that won’t fit in the freezer. Anyway, we have taken the cake to potlucks several times and everyone is blown away. So thanks again for the recipe. I’ll have to try the crumb cake too.

  2. I just love your website–your writing, the pictures, and the recipes!! I never responded when you asked for names for your house, but ironically I was thinking “Southern Bounty.” “Bountiful” really fits your new house–and I wish you & your family bountiful blessings in your new home.

    p.s. Can’t wait to try the Banana Crumb Cake. I have a few ripe ‘nanners just screaming to be used.

  3. Bountiful is perfect because not only is your menu bountiful-so are your blessings, and so will be your memories as you make them. It is truly a winning name. The banana crumb cake looks like a winner too.

  4. Hey Christy!

    I love the name and pics of your new home! The banana crumb cake looks wonderful too! I will be making it soon. I have made your banana bread several times and even sold some at my church bake sale. Thanks for the great recipes!!

    Alisha

  5. Dear Christy,

    “Bountiful” what a perfect, glorious name for your haven! I wish you bountiful dreams come true, memeory-making days and joy in your new home!

    All my best,
    Maralee

  6. I am going to try this cake out! My bunch love their “nanners.” I have an absolutely decadent recipe for banana pudding. I got it from my sister in law’s grandma, so it’s “Mamaw Ellis’s Nana Puddin’.” She was a wonderful, Godly woman who we miss like crazy. She survived a tornado at age 85, hiding out in her little pantry. When she opened the door after it got still, that pantry was the only thing left standing- the rest of the house was gone with just the slab left. There I go rambling again, you know us southern women are just a story waiting to happen! I would be happy to send you the recipe if you would like. Your website is such a blessing, when I am having a bad day at work it’s just like talking to a girlfriend.
    God bless you, sweetie!
    Jane in lovely Dallas

  7. What a nice name! I think that’s so cool to name your house, I bet it would be too much to name our little apartment, lol! The cake looks fantastic I know my husband will be wanting some as soon as I tell him about it! Thanks for having such a wonderful blog and sharing all these great stories about your and yours. It really is a joy to read! 🙂

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