Imagine the scent of warm bananas and cinnamon filling your kitchen. The first forkful is tender, buttery, and sweet, with just the right crumble on top. This banana crumb cake is exactly what you need when ripe bananas sit on the counter begging for purpose. It’s moist and flavorful, layered with cinnamon sugar crumbs, and finished with a simple cream cheese drizzle. Perfect for coffee breaks, brunches, or just because.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Banana Crumb Cake
- Easy to make with pantry staples
- Moist and rich banana flavor
- Sweet cinnamon crumb layers throughout
- Cream cheese drizzle for a tangy finish
- Great use for ripe bananas
- Stores well and freezes beautifully
Key Ingredients Overview
Bananas make this cake incredibly moist and naturally sweet. Very ripe bananas work best, adding deep banana flavor. Butter gives richness and soft crumb. Brown sugar in the crumb topping melts slightly, giving that irresistible bakery-style texture. A touch of cinnamon adds warmth. Cream cheese in the drizzle adds tangy contrast to all the sweetness. You can swap for a classic powdered sugar glaze if you prefer. Each ingredient plays its part, and together they make this banana crumb cake unforgettable.
How To Make Banana Crumb Cake
Prepare the Batter
Start by preheating the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch pan. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, mash four very ripe bananas. Beat in soft butter until smooth. Add sugar, eggs, and vanilla, mixing well. Stir in flour mixture alternately with milk, starting and ending with milk. The batter will be thick but pourable.
Make the Crumb Topping
In a separate bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cut cold butter into the mixture using a fork or fingers until you have pea-sized crumbs. Keeping butter cold is key for that crumbly texture.
Assemble & Bake
Layer half of the batter in the pan, sprinkle half of the crumb topping. Repeat with remaining batter and crumbs. Bake 45-55 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before drizzling.
Whisk cream cheese with powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Pour generously over warm or cooled cake.
Expert Tips & Common Issues
Adjusting Sweetness
Reduce sugar in the batter or crumbs if you prefer a less sweet cake. Ripe bananas naturally add sweetness, so taste them first.
Crumb Topping Troubleshooting
Cold butter is essential for defined crumbs. If crumbs sink or melt, butter may have softened too much.
Avoiding a Dense Cake
Use fresh baking powder for best rise. If bananas are large, use less than four or adjust flour slightly to maintain texture.
Storage & Freezing Instructions
This cake keeps for up to three days at room temperature in a covered container. Note that crumbs lose their crunch after the first day. To freeze, cool the cake completely and skip the drizzle until after thawing.
What to Serve with Banana Crumb Cake
This banana crumb cake pairs perfectly with a hot cup of coffee or black tea. It also fits beautifully on a brunch table next to savory dishes. Serve leftovers with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a glass of cold milk for a comforting dessert.
Banana Crumb Cake Recipe Card
Print
Banana Crumb Cake – The Perfect Coffee Cake
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
Description
Moist banana crumb cake with cinnamon layers and cream cheese drizzle. Perfect for brunch or coffee.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
4 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup butter, room temp
2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup milk
CRUMB TOPPING:
1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
CREAM CHEESE DRIZZLE:
3 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk
splash vanilla
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 inch pan.
2. Whisk flour, baking powder, salt.
3. Mash bananas, beat in butter until smooth.
4. Add sugar, eggs, vanilla. Stir well.
5. Alternate adding flour mixture and milk; start and end with milk.
6. Make crumb topping by cutting cold butter into crumb ingredients until pea-sized.
7. Layer half batter, half crumbs. Repeat with remaining batter and crumbs.
8. Bake 45-55 min until toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 min.
9. Whisk cream cheese drizzle ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over cake.
10. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Use very ripe bananas for best flavor.
Keep butter cold for crumb texture.
Reduce sugar if preferred less sweet.
Store covered at room temp 3 days.
Freeze without drizzle for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 277
- Sugar: 31g
- Sodium: 235mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 39mg
More Such Recipes
Looking for more ways to enjoy ripe bananas? Try my chocolate chip banana bars recipe, perfect for snack time. Or check out these banana bread brownies for rich banana flavor. Craving cookies? You’ll love this soft banana oatmeal cookies recipe. And for something special, my banana pudding cheesecake bars dessert idea is sure to impress.
FAQ
What’s the difference between crumb cake and regular cake?
Crumb cake features a thick, buttery crumb topping, while regular cakes often have frosting instead. The crumbs add texture and extra sweetness.
How to make a banana crumble?
It’s easy! Mix cold butter with brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg until crumbly. Sprinkle over banana cake batter before baking.
What is the Japanese banana cake thing?
You may be thinking of Japanese-style castella banana cake. It’s much lighter, airier, and usually steamed for an ultra-soft texture.
Is crumb cake unhealthy?
Crumb cake is definitely a treat! It’s rich in butter and sugar, but enjoyed in moderation, it’s a comforting dessert.
Final Thoughts
This banana crumb cake is a wonderful way to turn simple pantry staples into something special. It’s a cake worth sharing and savoring, whether warm from the oven or enjoyed the next day. If you bake it, I’d love to hear how it goes—leave a comment or tag me on Pinterest or Facebook. Happy baking, friends!