Heavenly Banana Walnut Cream Cake

I believe comfort food is a moral imperative. Also that cake can solve certain existential problems (or at least postpone them) — especially when it’s a Heaven-adjacent mash of bananas, cream, and walnuts, which is why I made this whole thing once while watching a 2008 romcom and accidentally learned how to level up my life. Also, did you see the headlines about brunch trends? This is my rebellion against avocado toast and tiny plates. If you want morning vibes, I also obsess over my sweet cream pancakes but that’s a tangent (I never stop tangenting).

How I Totally Ruined This Cake (But Learned Things)

Once I tried to make a banana cake with the emotional maturity of a sleep-deprived parent. It smelled like banana-scented regret and glue. The texture? A wet sponge that creaked when cut (is that a thing? it was). I used under-ripe bananas because I am stubborn and also impatient, and the batter sounded wrong — like someone clapping with mittens on. I frosted it too soon; the whipped cream liquified into sad banana soup. There was a moment where the walnuts slid off the top like they were escaping. Mortification. Guests smiled politely while their forks did tiny mechanical monologues about rescue. I learned to apologize to cakes, then to myself (kidding? maybe).

Why This version finally behaves (and why I’m suspicious of it)

I stopped apologizing and started listening. The difference? Ripeness and timing — three overripe bananas (not just kind-of-squishy, but the ones your neighbor would throw you a pity text for) and letting the cake layers cool like a patient ex. Also, whipped cream that’s cold and only just sweetened. Little practical things. Emotionally I gave up trying to make everyone like every iteration and accepted that sometimes a cake is just for the people who will cry at a walnut. This Heavenly Banana Walnut Cream Cake works because it balances banana sweetness with actual cream relief and crunchy walnuts that say "we’re responsible" in the way only nuts can. I am confident-ish. There is doubt (always) but also I want you to try it and then tell me everything that went wrong so I can commiserate.

Ingredients

• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

budget, texture, availability — walnuts are optional but they make it feel like you tried, and bananas should be cheap unless there’s a global banana summit. If you like things extra luxe, brown the butter. If you’re anti-nut, it’s still delicious but less crunchy-life-coaching.

Cooking Unit Converter

My brain is stubborn about measuring cups, so here’s a one-liner conversion nudge for the metric curious.

How to Make It (but with commentary and interruptions)

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla.
3. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually mix into the banana mixture until just combined.
4. Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
5. For the cream layer, whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form.
6. Once the cakes are completely cooled, place one layer on a serving platter, spread half of the whipped cream over it, and sprinkle with half of the chopped walnuts. Place the second layer on top, then add the remaining whipped cream and walnuts on top.
7. Slice, serve, and enjoy your Heavenly Banana Walnut Cream Cake!

Non-linear explanation: you can chill the pans (weird but true), press almonds instead of walnuts, or make the cream stiffer if you’re planning to parade this at a picnic. TIP: don’t assemble if the cakes are warm unless you like melty drama. ALSO — I once toasted the walnuts and then danced in the kitchen, which is optional but recommended.

Do you have kitchen chaos too? Let’s talk like we’re in the comments

Have you ever had a cake fail so spectacularly that you considered ordering pizza and never baking again? Same. What do you keep forgiving yourself for—overcooking, under-seasoning, saying yes to guests? Do you secretly prefer boxed mixes some days? (I do. Don’t tell.) Tell me your banana horror stories, or your triumphant moments when toasted nuts saved the party. Also: if you want a fan-favorite banana twist, there’s a ridiculous mashup I made with cookie butter that’s basically therapy in dessert form and probably illegal in some states: cookie butter banana pudding cheesecake. Okay rant over (for now).

Frequently Asked Questions

I don’t have everything together (shocking), but this cake stitches up a lot of little domestic failings into something forgiving. It tastes like comfort, like a quiet brunch where someone finally makes the coffee right. Also, if you’re wondering about frozen variations — I once made a hybrid with ice cream that was… ambitious; there’s an ice cream cake recipe that inspired me, and yes, I stole ideas like a renaissance thief.

Daily Calorie Needs Calculator

If you’re tracking, here’s a little helper for daily needs so you can plan your slice accordingly.

I keep thinking of the first time I fed this to someone who cried (in a good way) and whether food can fix loneliness — it can’t fully, but it can buy a minute, and sometimes a minute is exactly enough to remember the thing you were trying to forget, or to text an ex and then delete it, or to call your mom back, or to sit down and breathe while the walnuts make a tiny ruckus on top of the cream and you’re like — well.

Heavenly Banana Walnut Cream Cake

A delightful cake that combines overripe bananas, creamy layers, and crunchy walnuts for a comforting dessert experience.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Brunch, Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 8 servings

Calories 320 kcal

Ingredients

  

For the cake

• 3 pieces ripe bananas, mashed Use very ripe bananas for best flavor.
• 1/2 cup butter, softened Optional to brown the butter for extra flavor.
• 1 cup sugar Can reduce by 1/4 cup if less sweetness is desired.
• 2 pieces eggs Large eggs are recommended.
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For added flavor.
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour Can substitute gluten-free flour.
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the cream layer

• 1 cup heavy cream Should be chilled for better whipping.
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar For sweetening the cream.
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped Optional; can substitute with pecans.

Instructions

 

Preparation

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla.
• In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the banana mixture until just combined.

Baking

• Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.

Assembly

• For the cream layer, whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form.
• Once the cakes are completely cooled, place one layer on a serving platter.
• Spread half of the whipped cream over it and sprinkle with half of the chopped walnuts.
• Place the second layer on top and add the remaining whipped cream and walnuts on top.
• Slice, serve, and enjoy your Heavenly Banana Walnut Cream Cake!

Notes

Optional: Chill the pans before baking, substitute walnuts with almonds, or make the cream stiffer if presenting at a picnic. Don’t assemble the cake if the layers are warm to avoid melting the cream.

Keyword Banana Cake, Comfort Food, Cream Cake, Walnut Cake