Banana cake became especially popular in American kitchens during the early 20th century, when home bakers looked for creative ways to use overripe bananas rather than waste them. With the rise of baking soda and baking powder as household staples, tender fruit-based cakes like this one gained wide appeal. This banana cake stands out for its use of sour milk, which reacts with baking soda to create a soft, moist crumb. The note proudly claiming a blue ribbon suggests it was once entered in a local fair, an enduring symbol of community baking and classic American comfort.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups sugar (scant)
- ½ cup butter (softened)
- 2 eggs
- 3 ripe bananas (mashed)
- ½ cup sour milk (8 tbsp)
- 1 tsp baking soda (stirred into sour milk)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (sifted twice)
- 1 tsp baking powder (sifted into flour)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup nuts (chopped, optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat Oven
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease two 8-inch cake pans.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Step 3: Add Eggs
- Beat in eggs one at a time until fully incorporated.
- Step 4: Incorporate Bananas
- Stir in mashed bananas until blended.
Step 5: Prepare Sour Milk Mixture
- Stir baking soda into sour milk.
- Add to banana mixture and mix gently.
Step 6: Combine Dry Ingredients
- Sift flour twice.
- Sift baking powder into flour.
Step 7: Mix Batter
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet mixture.
- Stir in vanilla extract.
- Fold in nuts if using.
Step 8: Bake
- Divide batter evenly between pans.
- Bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Step 9: Cool
- Cool in pans 10 minutes.
- Remove and cool completely before serving or frosting.
Tips
- Frost with classic cream cheese frosting for extra richness.
- Toast the nuts before folding in for deeper flavor.
- Add ½ tsp cinnamon for warm spice notes.
- Substitute buttermilk for sour milk.
- Turn into cupcakes and bake 18–20 minutes.
- Add chocolate chips for a sweeter twist.
- Use very ripe bananas for maximum flavor.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar for a simple finish.
Nutrition
Calories: 360kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 5gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 220mgPotassium: 280mgFiber: 2gSugar: 35gVitamin A: 450IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 1.5mg