Banana Sheet Cake

Banana sheet cake with cream cheese frosting, perfect for a large gathering. This cake recipe, paired with the sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting, can't be beat!

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated October 19, 2022
Elise Bauer
Banana Sheet Cake Cut into Individual Pieces in a Pyrex Dish

Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker

Don't you love sheet cakes? They're so easy to make and are perfect for large gatherings.

Take this banana sheet cake . Like our banana bread it has wonderful banana flavor, but with a little more sweetness and a tangy cream cheese frosting.

One batch of this banana cake easily makes 30 servings, convenient for potlucks and tailgates.

This recipe comes from my friend Kelsey Fischer and her mom Janeen. It's is a family favorite of theirs.

I've made a few slight adjustments to the recipe by adding some lemon juice to the cream cheese frosting to give it more tang, and then added some vanilla to the banana cake batter.

My dad gives the cake a strong two thumbs up and declares it "a keeper." Enjoy!

Banana Sheet Cake Frosted and Cut into Portions in a Glass Baking Dish

Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker

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From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Banana Sheet Cake

Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 50 mins
Servings 30 servings
Yield 1 (10x15-inch) cake

Here's a tip, leave the cream cheese and butter for the frosting out while you make the banana cake, that way they will be softened by the time the cake is cooled and ready to frost. This banana cake is on the sweet side (it is a cake after all).

If you are trying to cut sugars, you may want to experiment dropping the sugar in the cake mixture by a half cup and cutting the amount of frosting in half.

Ingredients

For the cake

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

  • 1 cup white granulated sugar

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 vanilla bean (scraped clean, outside discarded), or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (2 large or 3 medium bananas)

  • 1/2 cup full fat sour cream

For the frosting

  • 6 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

  • 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature

  • 2 cups powdered sugar

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) .

    Place the oven rack in the middle of the oven.

  2. Whisk together the dry ingredients:

    In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

    Dry Ingredients Whisked Together in a Bowl for Banana Sheet Cake Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
  3. Beat together the butter, sugars, and eggs:

    In a mixer, beat together butter and the sugars. Add eggs one at a time and beat.

    Butter and Sugar Mixed Together in a Mixer Bowl

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
    Egg Added to Mixer Bowl with Whisked Sugar and Butter Mixture for Banana Sheet Cake Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
  4. Mix in the vanilla and bananas:

    Add vanilla and bananas and beat until just mixed in.

    Bananas and Vanilla Extract Mixed into Sugar Mixture for Sheet Cake Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
  5. Mix in the flour and sour cream:

    Mix in half of the flour mixture, then the sour cream, then the other half of the flour mixture.

    Dry Ingredients Mixed in with Wet Ingredients Using a Wooden Spoon

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
    Banana Sheet Cake Batter in a Bowl

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
  6. Spread the batter in baking pan:

    Spread batter evenly in a greased 10x15-inch baking pan. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20 minutes, or until nicely browned and the surface bounces back when you press it with your finger. Cool completely before frosting.

    Banana Sheet Cake Batter Evenly Distributed in Pyrex Baking Dish

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
    Baked Banana Sheet Cake

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
  7. Make the frosting and frost the cake:

    To make the frosting, mix all of the ingredients together with an electric mixer. If too stiff to spread, add a teaspoon or two of water.

    Spread the frosting evenly over the cake and slice to serve.

    Did you love the recipe? Leave us some stars below! 

    Cream Cheese Frosting in a Mixer Bowl for Banana Sheet Cake Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
    Banana Sheet Cake Frosted with Cream Cheese Icing

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
    Frosted Banana Sheet Cake in a Pyrex Dish (Uncut)

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
176 Calories
8g Fat
25g Carbs
2g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 30
Amount per serving
Calories 176
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 10%
Saturated Fat 5g 23%
Cholesterol 33mg 11%
Sodium 103mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 0g 2%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 1mg 3%
Calcium 18mg 1%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 55mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.