Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

### Directions for Banana Bread Cake

1. **Preheat the Oven:**
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan (or line it with parchment paper for easy removal later).

2. **Mix Dry Ingredients:**
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon (if using). Set aside.

3. **Mash the Bananas:**
In another bowl, mash your ripe bananas with a fork or potato masher until smooth, with just a few chunks left for texture.

4. **Cream the Butter and Sugar:**
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed. Beat until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.

5. **Add Eggs and Vanilla:**
Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.

6. **Add the Dry Ingredients:**
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter-sugar mixture, mixing just until combined.

7. **Incorporate the Bananas and Sour Cream:**
Fold in the mashed bananas and sour cream (or Greek yogurt). The sour cream adds a lovely moist texture to the cake, but the Greek yogurt is a great healthier substitute.

8. **Bake the Cake:**
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it out evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Be sure to check it towards the end, as baking times may vary depending on your oven.

9. **Cool the Cake:**
Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. This is important so the frosting doesn’t melt when applied.

### Directions for Cream Cheese Frosting

1. **Cream the Butter and Cream Cheese:**
In a medium mixing bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Use an electric mixer on medium speed to ensure everything is well combined.

2. **Add the Powdered Sugar:**
Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, continuing to beat until smooth. This will help prevent the powdered sugar from flying everywhere.

3. **Flavor the Frosting:**
Stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. The salt balances the sweetness and enhances the flavor of the frosting.

4. **Frost the Cake:**
Once the banana bread cake has completely cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting generously over the top. You can either cover the entire surface or swirl it into a beautiful pattern for a more decorative look.

### Tips for the Best Banana Bread Cake

– **Use Overripe Bananas:** The key to making this cake extra flavorful and moist is using very ripe bananas. The more brown spots on the bananas, the better—they bring out the natural sweetness and banana flavor.

– **Mix Carefully:** Avoid over-mixing the batter once you add the dry ingredients. Over-mixing can lead to a dense cake, and we’re going for light and moist here.

– **Chill the Frosting:** If your frosting seems too soft or difficult to spread, chill it in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to firm it up before applying it to the cake.

– **Make it Ahead:** This cake actually gets better the next day! The flavors meld together, and the cake stays incredibly moist. Feel free to bake the cake a day ahead of time and frost it when you’re ready to serve.

### Variations and Add-ins

While this Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is delicious as-is, there are plenty of ways to make it your own:

– **Add Nuts or Chocolate Chips:** Stir in a cup of chopped walnuts, pecans, or semi-sweet chocolate chips into the batter for extra texture and flavor.
– **Spices:** Experiment with additional spices like nutmeg or cardamom to give your cake a warm, spiced flavor.
– **Caramel Drizzle:** For an extra indulgent touch, drizzle some caramel sauce on top before serving.

### How to Serve

This Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is perfect for almost any occasion. Serve it for:

– **A Dessert:** It’s a rich and satisfying dessert that pairs wonderfully with a cup of coffee or tea.
– **Brunch:** A slice of this cake would be an ideal addition to any brunch spread.
– **Special Occasions:** Birthdays, holidays, or family gatherings—this cake is versatile enough to impress guests on any occasion.

### Final Thoughts

Banana bread just got a whole lot better. With its soft, moist texture, rich banana flavor, and decadent cream cheese frosting, this **Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting** is sure to become a new favorite in your recipe collection. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or just indulging in a sweet treat, this cake is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.

Bake it, frost it, and enjoy a slice (or two) of pure banana bliss!