Coffee cake is a breakfast staple and a great way to add a little sweetness to your day! More great recipes to try next: blueberry buckle, apple coffee cake, and coffee cake muffins!
Banana Coffee Cake Recipe
Recently I’ve been doing a lot of baking with bananas after finding myself faced with a mile-high pile of well-browned bananas. They were just past their prime and desperately needed to be baked into something or would shortly need to be thrown out (and my freezer was and always is way too full to even consider storing them there). I made batch after batch of my favorite banana bread, but eventually I wanted to try something different. So, this recipe for banana coffee cake was born! Trust me when I say that this is one of the best coffee cake recipes ever. It’s so moist and sweet, with a crumbly texture and delicious glaze on top that will leave you wanting more. This banana coffee cake is a great make-ahead breakfast or Mother’s Day brunch option, it’s simple, packed with flavor, and sure to be a hit with everyone. Let’s get into all the ingredients you need!
Coffee Cake Ingredients
I know it looks like a lot, but trust me, this banana coffee cake is so worth it! It’s the most delicious way to use up overripe bananas. See the recipe card below for all measurements.
Streusel
Melted Butter: Adds a rich flavor to the streusel and also helps everything stick together. All-Purpose Flour: Gives the streusel topping structure. Light Brown and Granulated Sugar: I use both for the perfect sweetness and flavor! Ground Cinnamon: You can’t go wrong with a little warm spice in homemade desserts.
Banana Coffee Cake
Unsalted Butter: Softened so it mixes together smoothly with the other ingredients. Sugar: Adds sweetness to the cake itself. Ripe Bananas: Have your overripe bananas mashed and ready to go. Large Eggs: Give the banana coffee cake structure. Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, sweet flavor to the cake. Use pure vanilla extract if you can! Sour Cream: The secret ingredient for an ultra-moist and tender cake! All-Purpose Flour: Gives the cake structure. All-purpose flour is great because it has a low protein content and will make your coffee cake light and crumbly. Baking Powder and Soda: Makes your cake light and airy. Ground Cinnamon: Another place to add a touch of this tasty spice. Salt: A little goes a long way to boost all the flavors in this cake.
Glaze (optional)
Powdered Sugar: Makes the glaze sweet and also gives it substance. Milk: For adjusting the consistency.
How to Make Banana Coffee Cake
I’ve broken it up into 3 parts: the streusel, the cake, and the glaze! Despite all of the instructions this delicious cake is actually super easy to make.
Streusel
Melt Butter: Melt butter in a medium-sized bowl on 10 second increments (stirring between) until just melted (you don’t want it to be too hot). Combine With Other Ingredients: Use a fork to whisk together the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pour melted butter over mixture and use a fork to stir until combined (mixture should be crumbly). Sprinkle Crumb Mixture on Top: Sprinkle crumb topping evenly over batter. Bake: Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 minutes, or until centers spring back to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with few moist crumbs or clean. Cool: Allow to cool before drizzling with glaze (if using) and slicing and serving.
Glaze
Use Overripe Bananas: The #1 tip is to find the ripest bananas you can! The browner and spottier they are the better; this is going to give your banana coffee cake the best flavor and soft texture. Mash them up well (you can use a potato masher or even just a fork) and add them to your butter, sugar, eggs, and other wet ingredients. Don’t Overmix Streusel: Take care not to overwork the streusel mixture, or you’ll end up with a paste! You want the mixture to resemble coarse crumbs that you can use your hands to drop evenly over your banana coffee cake. Mix-Ins: If you want your coffee cake to have more texture, add in chopped walnuts or pecans! Add a Drizzle: Instead of the powdered sugar glaze, try adding caramel sauce or white chocolate sauce!
At Room Temperature: Store wrapped with plastic wrap or in an airtight container for 2-3 days. In the Refrigerator: Store for up to 5 days in an airtight container. In the Freezer: Wrap in plastic wrap and then transfer to a freezer bag. Your cake will stay good for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then let come to room temperature before serving.
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